Cold backed

C

catherine93

Member
Joined
19 February 2014
Messages
12
Visit site
I have a horse which was described as cold backed when I bought it, was usually fine but needed to be lunged off before I got on, he would often hunch his back up at first then slowly drop it down whilst being lunged, there have been an odd few times he has thrown me off once I'm on usually in first strides of canter or trot. Saddle definitely fits, he has had the winter off due to finding out he was younger than we thought, I'm now having trouble getting back on, he's putting his back up straight away whenever the saddle has been put on, managed to get on once only walked but could feel how tense he was the whole time. Does anyone have any tips or advice on getting him back into work or anything that has helped their cold backed horse? Also advice on wether to contact a vet or a back specialist would be better to get a better idea of what's going on, many thanks
 
How old is he? Does he have any health issues, has a chiropractor or physio treated him before? Really depends what you are dealing with. Sounds like he is in pain.
 
He is passported to be 7 but dentist and vet thinks 4/5, from what I have been told when the back specialist came while he was up for sale and said it's down to an old injury whilst out on loan an ill fitting saddle had been used and cut into withers you can still see a bit of a scar from it and that he is expecting It to hurt when a saddle is put on, think I will get someone out for a second opinion
 
Most horses that are considered to be cold backed have an underlying problem, has the saddle been checked since he came back into work? it could be that he has changed shape and that is why he has got worse.
I use a good physio who works with the vet if required, as your horse has been having issues for some time and it is getting worse I would get the vet first to check and then ask for a referral to a physio that they know and can recommend.
 
You need a good equine vet to look at the back .
I would not do any ridden work until you do this.
I would work long reining including walking over raised poles and lunge and lead from another horse until you know whether there's nothing nasty going on .
 
I've had two cold backed horses. The first had kidney failure, the second had kissing spines.

I'd get back xrays of this horse. kidney failure is very rare in horses.
 
[. Does anyone have any tips or advice on getting him back into work or anything that has helped their cold backed horse?]

I have a cold backed horse - had Xrays to rule out kissing spines.

I have found a 90 % improvement in symptoms such as hunched back on mounting, bucking on transistions until fully warmed up, - rushing around box during girthing, etc since starting to use a sheepskin gither cover and sheepskin numnah. I bought Bartl 100% sheepskin, so cant comment on whether synthetic would work.
I have mentioned this to a few people who have also tired these products with the same success.
 
Assuming you have had vet, dentist, saddle fitter etc to check no physical .......

Put saddle on gently, do up girth loosely
Put bridle on, then potter about sorting yourself out
Lunge until he's listening and responsive to voice commands, tighten girth a bit, lunge other side, tighten girth a bit.
Get on gently and sit for a few minutes

Then, either:
Have someone at your horses head to lead while you ride, if bronks, get person to walk forward faster, he should relax after a while and you should be able to go it alone, or (if you're on your own)

Walk a few footsteps, if he feels like he's going to poo ie, back raised. Get off and repeat the sitting there bit, if he bronks at all move him on forward (he can't bronk and go forward easily)

Few laps of walk until he's nice and relaxed, then carry on ....


Don't forget lots of wither scratches in relaxed state
Hope that helps
 
Last edited:
Another possible problem which presents as this is gastric (or rather hindgut) ulcers - typically present with sensitivity over the lumbar region and girth area. The sensitivities shown in this vid could be muscular or skeletal but they could equally be ulcers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr05hMmLCY4. Check him in this way and then look for stressors, other gastric issues etc.
 
JillA said:
Another possible problem which presents as this is gastric (or rather hindgut) ulcers - typically present with sensitivity over the lumbar region and girth area.
Click to expand...

Hm! I hadn't thought of this and should have done as one of our youngsters had gastric problems about 18 months ago. His symptoms weren't as severe as those shown by the OP's horse. He showed resistance to being girthed and was sometimes reluctant to go forwards when ridden. He didn't have ulcers but did show gastric sensitivity. It was my saddle fitter (who I'd called out to check if the saddle was the cause) who suggested this. My vet advised me to use of a probiotic to dampen down gastric acids, I started him on NAF 'Pink Powder' and the problem resolved. Obviously the OP's horse shows more pronounced symptoms which need investigating.
 
I had a cold backed horse, Joe.

We did all the usual saddle checks and a lameness work up but the vet agreed with me there was no 'pain' and it was a behavioural issue.

We knew he had a dodgy past and the cold backed-ness when being mounted seemed to be solved by lunging first and mounting via a leg up. Without this he would panic and bronc, although didn't do this in particularly hot weather or when he'd been out all night and was tired.
We only ever had issues three times in the 18 months I had him and he was ridden by numerous different riders including Ali16 and her OH and successfully competed BD and BSJA on a ticket during that time.

We sold him to a lovely local girl, he flew through a 5 stage vetting and she does not any have any issues with him being cold backed and mounts from the ground or a block without lunging first, thus proving it was a behavioural issue.
 
My PSD mare showed similar symptoms, so I would also add this to the list of things to investigate. Oh and numerous bodyworkers told me she was fine.

Please do a full vet workup.
 
Just a thought- my mare has EPSM and typical of her symptoms are what you could describe as cold backed….. For years I thought it was a back/saddle etc problem but had things repeatedly checked and all was fine….. it was only when she was diagnosed with EPSM that it all made sense as it effects their muscles….

When she is bad I have to lunge first (and let her buck to hearts content) then get on, sit very still and let her hunch etc until she relaxes- then she will work really well…..

This is just one of her problems associated with EPSM but it might be worth thinking about ?? A lot of horses are un diagnosed…. PM me if you want any more info xx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top