New horse did something strange...

[barkinghorse]

i bought a new horse a couple of weeks ago, he is a 4 yr old just backed arab, but only went to ride him today, as he needed shoes as was foot sore and was waiting for my new saddle
I tacked him up no problem but when i went to lead him out of the stable, he lay down shaking!!
i took his reins off his bridle in case he shot up and panicked, but he got up eventually and just freaked slightly at the creaking of the leather saddle.
Anyway i left him to get used to it, and within 30 mins i was walking him around, got on him and walked and trotted no problem!
So is this a case of serious cold backed? has anyone else had a horse do this?
He was checked out by the vets before i bought him, but was too unfit for a full vetting as only backed and turned away and all was fine.
I have decided to tack him up everyday and walk him out until he settles, and i have been lunging him so it's not like i have suddenly thrown work at him, and he has had a saddle on before.
Ideas guys?

 

[Bosworth]

could be that the new saddle is not right, i came across one horse that sort of collapsed when the saddle was put on. It was because it was catching on a nerve - rather like our Ganglion nerve which can knock you out. As soon as the saddle was taken off he would stand up, and carry on as though nothing had happened. I would ask your saddle fitter to check the saddle again. At 4 years old he will be changing shape quite frequently

 

[faerie666]

Yes it does sound like he is cold backed, we had a mare in Germany who would throw herself on the floor if the girth was done up in the stable. Used to scare the life out of people if they forgot

, she was absolutely fine to ride though. This is what we used to do with her: Try just putting the saddle on his back, lead him out of his stable, then do the girth up VERY loosely, walk a few more steps tighten girth one hole, walk again etc, keep going like this until the girth is tight enough for you to get on. He should slowly improve hopefully if you do this, just don't rush tightening the girth.
It may also be an idea to get the saddle and his back checked again if the above doesn't work.

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

I friend of mine had an arab gelding that did the same, he would just collapse, she did just as faerie666 says, and always sat lightly, weight on thighs not bum, for the first 100 yards - which was interesting as he was a bucker too!

 

[meandmyself]

Yup, he sounds cold backed to me too.