Getting on a cold backed horse at a show??Ideas please!

charlie76

charlie76

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Our new horse can be cold backed, we have sorted this problem at home by buying him a neoprene girth with a sheepskin cover. I girth him up slowley and get on him with the help of some one holding the stirrup ( as the girth is loose) and giving him a carrot. However, I have to get on him from a very high point( ie 2 bales of straw) as if I get on him from lower and my toe touches his side he hates it!
I also have the option of lunging him before I get on her I can't always at a show. Any suggestions??
PS he is well over 17hh and I am 5ft 4!
 
Hi, my boy can be a bit cold backed at shows so i started putting on my Equilibrium Massage pad in the lorry before i tacked up and it worked a treat.
 
My horse is a bit cold backed, I aways try and turn him out for a while before riding him so he is relaxed as he gets a bit stressy in the mornings.
I put his saddle on first even before I brush him off, just so that he has his saddle on for a while.
After I have tacked him up I walk him around for 5 mins or so just so that he gets used to the saddle on him before I get on.
It works for him!
smile.gif
 
My daughters first pony was cold backed and as you can imagine didnt like putting my daughter straight on as she was only 7 at the time so before putting the saddle on i used to give her a massage and then gently put the saddle on, we used to find this was sufficient for her to be ok for my daughter to get onboard.
 
I'd probably invest in an equilibrium massage pad and put that on for 15 mins before tacking up. Once tacked up walk around lorry park for a couple of minutes. Sometimes it helps to back them up a few paces too.

For mounting if your lorry ramp isn' high enough then keep a small set of step ladders in lorry
 
I'd say step ladders too!

But also, when my horse showed cold backed symptoms they were often helped by using a magnetic rug on the journey or for 1/2 an hour before I tacked up.

Turns out that my horse has KS though... so not cold backed at all!
 
Definitely invest in a really good set of steps or high stool. I have a great kitchen stool which is about 3' high.

I would suggest just taking your time tacking up and then take him for a good walk round the car park before you get on. Probably turn a few circles so he 'feels' the girth before you get on. I presume you dont always have to lunge at home before you ride. You need to get him so he is quite reliable to get home at home before you venture out. Maybe if its somewhere quite local travel him in his saddle so he has been wearing if you a while before you think about getting on.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hi, my boy can be a bit cold backed at shows so i started putting on my Equilibrium Massage pad in the lorry before i tacked up and it worked a treat.

[/ QUOTE ]

ditto
 
Thanks everyone. I have an equilibrum massage pad and the magnetic one so will stick it on tonight before riding and see if it helps. Just don't want to loose him in the lorry park!
 
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