Viewed potential new horse-have a question...

hannah9000

hannah9000

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So I toddled on down to the yard where the horse is kept, and the owner was just leading him up to the stable with another horse. He had impeccable manners and stood still the whole 40 mins we were nattering (in the rain!).
He is perfect, and he will be schooled for 2 weeks before he comes to me (I will continue the schooling) which is certainly more than I was expecting.
HOWEVER, he is currently being rested due to an ill-fitting saddle and he bruised his back.
The owner was very very honest, and she said the back lady had treated it and it was evidently recovering well (I was able to run my hands down/around his back without a flinch), she also admitted (which wasn't in the ad) that he is apparently cold backed although she's only seen evidence of this once. When he sat down as she got on him. He's a typical fidgety TB and requires a moving mount (not a problem) but how much of an issue is a cold back when treated properly?
 
Personally I wouldn't touch it. There are plenty of nice horses out there without back problems. I spent the best part of two years working with a horse with a back problem and ended up spending loads of money and then having to have him put to sleep. It's not worth the heartache.
 
I always find the term 'cold backed' ambiguous, so I would want to know more. Are you going to have the horse vetted? I think this might be a good idea and it might be worth asking the vet to pay particular attention to the back.

It might also be worth asking to speak to the physio directly to find out how much of a problem the ill-fitting saddle caused, how much time off work he needs etc. and whether there are any other underlying issues.

I am also slightly confused over the history: was the horse fine until this badly-fitting saddle? Did he play up only once and was this related to the saddle? Or is there a more long term problem?
 
The horse came from a racing yard last summer, and the owner has only hacked him out since then. The person she got him from said he was cold-backed but she's only see evidence of it when he sat down on the one occasion...But then she discovered the saddle was not fitting properly and he has been on rest for about 3 weeks. The physio said he is improving. My second visit will include the vet (my sister), and I'd see him being ridden and tacked up also and if I wanted to ride him myself.
 
This screams warning bells to me, the horse must have a significant back problem to be out of work at the min, that coupled with the fact the lady admits it sat on the floor when she got on shows that their is a pretty serious problem with the horse.

No horse is perfect but I wouldn't want to take that on. If you are going to then get your own back lady and vet out to give you a proper diagnosis of him.
Good luck
 
if he has raced he may not be cold backed in the proper sense.

we had a horse in who was an ex-racer turned eventer and the only way to get on was to lead him to the block, climb the block and jump on in one very quick movement as he trotted away!
if you got it wrong and had to line him up again he was a royal pain.

however, once you were in the plate he was a lovely horse to ride.

i would take your backman to see the horse and ask if their specialist would give you duplicates of their notes etc to show to your vet/ backman.

if he is going to be schooled for 2 weeks can you not assess him there once he is under saddle?
 
I'd say it all depends on how much they're asking for the horse and what you want to do with him. Is he worth taking a gamble on to see how he goes? How would you feel if the horse isn't suitable for more than light hacking in the long run?
 
I'm lucky in that the owner has agreed to let me loan him with view to buy. So there's a safety net if it goes wrong. I don't think from what she said he is wholly cold-backed. She was very honest with me and said that she'd had her back lady out several times who said his back was simply bruised and is improving.
I'm taking the vet out on the second visit which would be whilst he is being schooled. That way I could see him being tacked up, mounted and then ridden.
 
hannah9000 said:
I'm lucky in that the owner has agreed to let me loan him with view to buy. So there's a safety net if it goes wrong. I don't think from what she said he is wholly cold-backed. She was very honest with me and said that she'd had her back lady out several times who said his back was simply bruised and is improving.
I'm taking the vet out on the second visit which would be whilst he is being schooled. That way I could see him being tacked up, mounted and then ridden.
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I think that if you are really truly interested and your gut is telling you look at him again, then you should. It doesn't mean you have to buy him, just give it a chance. I'd say you are right to take the vet and see him as described, just be wary that the owners haven't warmed him up before hand? Maybe turn up a little early for your viewing appointment?

Loan with view to buy would also be a great idea, as you get time to really find out what its like for yourself. My old boy was 'cold backed' and was still being sat on at the age of thirty. A mare that I look after now is also a little cold backed, but I simply manage it by always using a good numnah and saddling her up about 15 mins before I want to ride. Then I get on using a high block and let her walk away straight away as that's most comfortable for her. Granted though, there are varying degrees of 'cold backed' and could be something else that might be sinister. But you have your vet with you and your eyes open, so you can but try, as they say. :D
 
I have this feeling that if he is cold backed, it's not a severe case, as the owner mentioned he only displayed signs of it once whilst he's been with her. And 2 months later she found out the saddle was hurting him-coincidence?
He's a 16.2hh TB and I'm a meesly 8 stoner so I know my weight won't aggrevate it.
 
I may go with my gut on this one....like I mentioned, I have the safety net of the loan :D he's worth a try and if everyone turned a blind eye to a 'cold-backed' horse there would be alot of genuinely cracking horses sent to slaughter :(
 
Some years ago I had an ex-racer. I had a new saddle fitted to him but after about 6 months he also sat down when I got on him. Had his back checked and he was very sore. Had the saddle checked and was told it had a twisted tree (?). When his back was OK again I started riding him in a different saddle and never had another problem.

I had a horse before him who was slightly cold backed. As already suggested I would put his saddle on early with the girth done up loosely and do it up slowly over about 10 minutes. When I got on him I would not sit down straight away and would walk him on immediately.
 
I wouldn't be happy trying a horse out thats recently had a back problem, If anything I would like to wait until you know hes definitely in the all clear.
 
So it sounds like part of his behaviour is typical racehorse, e.g. mounting while moving, and part of it has been caused by an ill-fitting saddle.

I think you are right to go back with a vet and see what she thinks about the severity of the back problem. If he is cleared to start ridden work then loan with a view to buy is ideal. However, if he still needs rest, I think the owner should keep him until he is ready to be ridden.
 
Do not go there!!!

You must see him ridden at home if you want to avoid potential issues. If the woman is serious then she won't mind allowing you to try him there once he's ridden again.
 
Thanks all. I've decided against this one as it transpired he also has hyperextending fetlocks. He just wouldn't be suitable for what I need.
 
I wouldnt touch!!! we all know buying a horse and the keep of a horse is expensive so why would you want to buy a horse with problems?? and spend more money??

If you really do like the horse then say to the owner you are interested but have some concerns about his back so would like to carry on looking at other horses but if he is still for sale in a months or so time when he is up and running in his work again you would like to come and have another look and ask for the back persons name and number so you can speak to them as well.

if its meant to be it will be or if not then you will have another horse hopefully with no problems!!
 
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