what is it called when......

[moodymare1987]

wel what it is my friends horse when tacked up tries to go down on the floor. i have seen this happen before ages ago and i cant think of the name of what it is called.
i know im being a bit vague, but is fine with saddle its when girth is done up??

 

[flyingfeet]

Might be cold backed

 

[barneyandem]

I agree it sounds like the horse is cold backed. My friends horse was terrible and really affected by this. It led to big mounting problems whereby it became too dangerous to get on.
My horse is slightly cold backed.He never threw himself n the floor but would really hunch his backlike a roach. I would still never get on him when his back is damo/wet!Seems to have got better with exercising.

 

[moodymare1987]

thanks i knew it was called something like that. her horse is not terrible he just has a bit of a reaction tacking him up but is fine otherwise. as i have seen horses much worse and as soon as you get on they buck etc. but he isnt like that.

 

[Tempi]

make sure she uses a thick numnah/saddle cloth and gel pad under the saddle - this helped with my (old) cold backed horse. also never do the girth up really tight before you are sat in the saddle. Leave it loose and always get on from a mounting block and get someone to hold your other stirrup so that the girth can stay loose until the horse is happy/comfortable.

My old horse used to throw himself on the ground, it was awful, he did it at a show once and we thought he'd broken his leg........he was fine and eventually got better with having his saddle on altho he was always tense and dipped when you put it on.

 

[GTs]

It is not cold backed - I know exactly what you are talking about. It is generally delicate horses when you girth them up too quick - some just stretch out their chest, others go down. I had one horse who was sick, and this was the final thing to call out the vet (the only other symptoms were slight), but I have also seen healthy horses do it..

 

[H-J]

I think you are right GT's!! I was going to say I have had a cold backed horse and he certainly didnt do this! He just arched his back and bronked and bronked when I did his girth up tight or even losely in the winter, and I think it is a horrid horrid thingto have in a horse and scary.

 

[moodymare1987]

well today she put a gel pad undersaddle with nice thick numnah, did girth up gently to bottom hole. he was fine no reaction, so took him to wall jumped on was happy as larry put girth up a bit more walked of the yard still fine and then got off yard and round bridge. did girth up to usuall hole and he didnt flinch. i think she was a bit rough tacking him up, i dont blame the poor boy for wanting to go down xxxx