Cold backed - what causes it??

Rudey

Rudey

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Just as the title says
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I have just read this post... http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/5081421/an/0/page/4#5081421

It got me wondering how horses can become cold backed? Is it a case of the horse is just sensitive her/himself? Coldback cannot be avoided - yes? no? Can 'something/situations' induce it? Are there things we do which cause it? xx
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Having had a 'cold-backed' horse, I do not believe in the condition. I think thaat it is a symptom of something else and is just a demonstration of discomfort. Mine was super-sensitive to being girthed/groomed/rugged and was eventually found to be unable to eat sugar & cereals. I have heard of others who were eventually diagnosed with back problems, including Kissing Spines. If I ever had another which developed the 'condition' I should start investigating the cause immediately.
 
my youngster is what you would describe as 'cold backed' - he's VERY sensitive when you first mount him- during backing he was fine but if the leader walked away and wasn't leadning him anymore he would stick his head between his knees and leaps around til you came off....yet if you lunged him for 3 minutes first he didn't do this- so long as he is slightly warmed up now he is fine and i just have to be very quiet for the first lap of the arena- i think its psycological with mine if i'm honest- has had his back and saddle checked....
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Mine is only cold backed when clipped - so 'cold' backed in the truest sense. He has been checked by my saddler and vet and they can't see a physical cause. I use a sheepskin numnah and fleece girth guard and he is happier to be tacked up with these. His case is quite mild as he doesn't do it all winter - just on really cold days and has just had his rug removed. He is fine to mount and ride, but will make faces when the saddle is first put on, so girth up slowly and gently, and come summer the problem dissapears.
 
I think it could be any cause, can be something straight forward as saddle/back sore to not liking the numnah or girth being on etc (one peopl often dont think of!), i think sometimes htere is often no reason for it? A lot of youngsters are cold backed or 'backy' but get better when ridden consistently
 
I think mostly it is caused by pain, or at least remembered pain, certainly in my experience anyway.

I would class my horse as cold backed - I bought him as a 4yo and he was very fidgety to be mounted and would often grunt/hunch and bounce forwards when I got on. About a month after I got him I had a nasty fall where he freaked out while I was trying to get on, I was past the point of no return but not quite in the saddle and he started leaping about and I came off. I subsequently found out he had done this with his previous owner when just backed, so I think it was just a panic response/fear of pain, can only assume the original episode was caused by an ill fitting saddle but I dont know

5 years on he now has a lovely WOW saddle and is fine to mount....except when we go to parties and he is a bit hyped up - then the old issue returns and he starts to panic.

Also....another livery at our yard was always difficult to mount, would move away from the block/hunch/grunt etc and following back x-rays has now had kissing spine confirmed and following injections was perfect to mount.
 
One of mine had kidney failure.

Another only did it in winter - he was genuinely "cold" backed. If the saddle was warm enough he was fine.
 
Ah thanks guys, got some really interesting and cracking responses there!
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I was just so intrigued as I have a youngster and when he is finally old enough to break, this is the type of issue I would like to avoid if possible. Having said that, from reading these posts, sometimes it can be the inevitable!! **huff** .. I imagine the trouble is, trying to find the root of why your horse is cold backed BEFORE you can attempt to solve it- there are so many areas you would have to explore! It's alot more complexed then I first realised!! Thanks for educating me guys - muchly appreciated!! xx
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Mine is a bit cold backed though better now than he was. He was found to have spavins in both hocks which had made his back sore all along, hence not wanting to be tacked up. Much better now (he ought to be, I've spent 2.5K on treatment, physio, osteopathy and remedial shoeing
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) though he does still swish his tail. Funnily enough, I've just got rid of my Wintec saddle for a Henri de Rivell and he's 100x better to tack up...
 
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