If a horse is supposedly cold backed......

[ChestnutConvert]

Would it react to anything be girthed up on it's back or just a saddle??

I have been told that a horse i know of is 'cold backed' but i'm not so sure, it definitely reacts when a saddle it placed on, even sometimes when the saddle s taken near, but i have found no reaction when doing up the girth of lunging roller and bog saddle pad.
Is this normal for such a horse? Just trying to get my facts straight!

 

[Booboos]

The problem is that 'cold backed' is not a medical condition but a catch all phrase to mean the horse has some kind of problem or sensitivity with its back. It could be that it reacts to the saddle, or to the girth or that it is sensitive for the first 10 minutes of work or that it bucks like crazy. If it were my horse (or a horse I was riding) I would want to know why it is 'cold backed', i.e. get a vet to diagnose!

 

[Dizzydancer]

It depends i would say its more to do with either current saddle fit or previous saddle fit if it doesn't react to roller being girthed.
My boy is an ex racer he isn't cold backed as such but if i don't ride for while or chuck saddle on and girth up straight away very tight he will be very tense and takes a good 5 mins to relax. He is better when weather is warm and needs rug on in winter while working in. He has had all health checks there is nothin wrong with him it is just his quirk- i think it must stem back from racing and he has previously had ulcers which we now manage easily.