Very green or cold backed?

[piebaldproblems]

Friend is considering buying a horse. Horse is 6yo, 14hh, friend has been riding it for about two months. Previously, it had been backed for a month before owner passed away, so was inherited by non-horsey OH who has offered it to friend. Horse is fine to walk, trot canter, goes around with ears forward and no swishing tail. No problems with dismounting.

No issue with saddle on and not girthy, though ears do go back (not pinned, looks like this

)

Issue is just mounting. OH says that when his wife was bringing it on, it had a tendency to threaten to crow hop. Currently when friend gets on, someone has to hold its head, and it fidgets a lot, sometimes will spin around person holding it. You can't do the stirrups or girth for a couple minutes after getting on. This issue also happens when getting on bareback. Though, in sessions where friend has focused on mounting, by the third or forth time, fidgeting stops and you can get on without someone holding it. Again, once it's walking around, it's fine.

If you run your fingers along its spine, it does blink a bit but not sure if that's because of the flies (won't leave us be at the minute).

Should also mention that saddle is fitted, and that past owner and friend are definitely light enough to be riding it.

So, thoughts?

 

[Melody Grey]

I think I’d want a vet involved to look at the horse’s back before committing to purchase- and probably in more of a work-up than a vetting capacity. It could be worry about mounting, but it sounds like a bit more to me.

I think ‘cold backed’ is a term that was used in the past to mean/ gloss over ‘undiagnosed physical issue’- not saying that you’re using the term inappropriately, more that ‘cold backed’ isn’t just that.

if it was down to just being green, I think it would be diminishing, although it sounds like it’s a factor every time? I’m not sure the fact it lessens within a session is reassuring- it could be that the horse is just giving up objecting, not necessarily that they’re happy with the situation.

 

[Sossigpoker]

This sounds like a horse in pain.
A "cold backed " horse is either a horse in pain or a horse anticipating /remembering pain.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would get the back x rayed before I continue to ride her and possibly explore other areas so a good vet check and chat about what to check.

I actually don't get the cold backed thing if a horse is displaying such behaviour whilst being mounted it's pain in my view and needs to be investigated.

 

[piebaldproblems]

Probably should have been clearer. What I meant was “is this a green behaviour or is this a physical issue”. But thank you for the advice.

 

[Gloi]

If you think it is a green behaviour spend plenty of time just getting it to stand quietly by the mounting block with treating and repetition.

 

[Jellymoon]

I have had this before with young horses many times, particularly the ones from Ireland, but not exclusively. One from Germany was also terrible and I came off him mounting. I believe it’s because they have had uncomfortable saddles. People still tend to use some crappy old saddle for backing, which I cannot get my head around at all.
You say your saddle fits, but maybe it doesn’t. So my first port of call would be a very very reputable saddle fitter.
If you are 100% certain your saddle is comfortable, then it could be remembered pain and you have to show him calmly and methodically that is doesn’t hurt any more. I would go back to basics, almost pretend he hasn’t been sat on before, and teach him to stand quietly to be mounted while you lean over, progress to getting on, and move away only when you ask.
Everyone has their own methods, but I do this by repetition and praise. I am on my own so I don’t use a helper, which I guess means horse doesn’t feel forced to stand and learns to trust me. I don’t use treats either. But you will figure out your own way, or google it, lots of diff methods to read up on. Usually after a few days they are fine.
I have a very very good saddle fitter and very comfy saddles though!

 

[hock]

If the horse is improving with practise it could well be she’s just muscle guarding and this will eventually improve then stop as she realises the pain has gone. Have you stood behind her on a block and looked at her back just to see symmetry etc? So for me really good back person needs to see her, dentist amd then a saddler and once all clear just keep practising slowly with the mounting amd ground work.