What's your most effective way to deal with a 'cold backed' horse?

horsecrazytn · Foal

What's your most effective way to deal with a 'cold backed' horse?

Barbara F · Grand Prix

Can you walk the horse and slowly tighten the girth?

I ask because sometimes it's the girth and not the saddle that is bothering the horse.

If it is the saddle or the weight of the rider, I would have to wonder if the horse wasn't sore. Can you have a good massage therapist check the horse's back?

And last, but probably most important...when was the last time you had the saddle checked? Horses flinch and move away from pain and you be surprised at how often a saddle can really be hurting a horse.

Check out Jochen Schleese's blogs and videos on Barnmice. They'll be a real eye-opener.

I hope this is helpful!

myvanya · Yearling

I always worry about saddle fit first and foremost with any horse that seems cold backed inany way. I know that may seem a little extreme but it is such an easy thing to check and is a somewhat easy fix given the budget that I would check that first.

Assuming that isn't the case (health concerns and comfort issues such as girth or saddle problems eliminated), I do some stretches on the ground and allow a longer warm up time on a long rein to allow the horse to really warm up and stretch. I would also add in very short (like one or two strides) leg yields in the walk once I have shortened the reins. I would also do short leg yields (also just a few strides) in the trot once I was trotting. I would also do a variety of circle sizes and changes of directions in all gaits. Trot poles or cavaletti might also help. Anything to develop suppleness and elasticity.

I would really be concnerned about health or comfort issues first though as most cold backed horses I have encountered had some outside issue that was contributing to their behavior.

sally forth · Yearling

I'd definitely check with a saddle fitter and a chiropractor. Possibly a vet. If you get the all clear - it may be a habit the horse developed due to previous pain issues so he needs to let that go gradually. Put the saddle pad on to warm the back well before the saddle, then do the girth up very gradually. Stretch out his front legs to get rid of any wrinkles under the girth. Make sure you use a mounting block and do the final girth tightening while mounted.
If you want to add counter conditioning to the mix (for faster results) add a treat after every step of this and don't proceed to the next step until the horse is really comfortable with the first one. This means a few days of not riding but will definitely speed things up in the long run.

spirithorse · Advanced

Define coldbacked'

Sore muscles located in the lumbar region will make horses not wish to have a rider up.a

beach1horses · Foal

We had a cold-backed horse who was in a bad carting accident and became claustrophobic. We dealt with this by not really tightening the girth at first, having someone on the ground to feed treats and hold while mounting, and then after a few minutes of walking around, slowly tightening the girth.

We had another who we would just slowly tighten the girth after longeing her for a bit.

Horse-hearted · Advanced

have you considered ground driving? it's fantastic warm up, and supples your horse.

sedonasilver · Advanced

I agree with horse-hearted - longreining from the ground is very beneficial, or simply lungeing in a lungeing setup, or roller.

Works wonders for my boy, especially if Im bringing him back in to work after a few weeks off.

spirithorse · Advanced

First and foremost, check for muscle spasms. Once that issue is either found or discounted, then check out other options. If spasms exist, fix um.

Cheekyxoxo · Foal

:) i agree with most of you!

but i find what is most effective with my boy is the wonderful word LUNGING , :p at first we weren't
sure why every time i got on him , and went for a ride as soon as i got in the saddle he would buck me off or even bolt in till i came off , because it triggers a unwanted pain through there bay i mean hey! who wants thats so try either , lunging first , but don't then just jump on walk them around and depending on how badly cold backed they are slowly do up the girth and even when you first get on stay in 3 point position so he can level out his back and get used to the saddle been heavier :) and if that doesn't help them get a massage person and even a horse physiotherapist , hope it works :D

Horse-hearted · Advanced

Sounds like you know what's going down. Everyone finds what works for them!

Cheekyxoxo · Foal

r u talking to me :P haha x thanks if you r

prospect · Advanced

in the winter time I actually heat up my saddle pads before I put them on the back - maybe I am crazy - but we take off their warm blanket and throw on a cold pad - I just warm them up in front of the heater before I put it on the back.

Horse-hearted · Advanced

I was talking to you! My apologies, I should have put a name.
And Prospect, I don't think you are crazy, that sounds like a clever idea. I warm up bits, why not pads??

spirithorse · Advanced

Warm bits, warm pads.....fer shure

We like to be comfortable and so do our horses.

Horse-hearted · Advanced

That makes a lot of sense. I am going to start warming up blankets now....

SoftTouchTraining · Well Schooled

Definitely check the fit of your tack and check for sore muscles. Otherwise lunging works well on most horses. I had a mare in training last year that was mildly cold backed. Lunging didn't work on her, but tightening the girth as I walked her around the arena helped and then letting her walk on as I mounted worked the best for her case. I know you usually want them to stand quietly to get on but for some reason she would always explode if you made her stand to get on. We had chiropractic work done, massage, a saddle fitter, none seemed to really be the problem. But if you let her walk as you stepped into the stirrup she would only scoot or give a little hop. Gradually she got to where she would stop for a for about a count of six and if you weren't on or didn't let her continue to walk as you got on she reverted back to original form and provided unwanted entertainment.

Horse-hearted · Advanced

Just a word of caution with lounging- the repetitiveness can strain, especially with young horses. I like to use the full ring when I lounge- travel up and down the middle of it to keep the horse from working one beaten path.

spirithorse · Advanced

Never lounge young horses more than 15 to twenty minutes..............

Horse-hearted · Advanced

I agree.

Cheekyxoxo · Foal

yes i agree too ... and it is best to free lunge in a lunge yard ... if you have that facility

Horse-hearted · Advanced

Also, interestingly enough, one very common problem that horse people have is over-tightening the girth. I know I'm guilty. My equine massage therapist told me it's like wearing a too-tight bra- now that I can relate too!

Nikki Salo · Grand Prix

Horse-hearted, very good point! I was always taught to tighten the saddle enough in the barn to keep it in place, in the arena, stretch the horse's legs, check tack and tighten the saddle for riding. If you have to adjust the saddle during riding, then do so. But never punch the horse in the belly to get it to "suck up" hmm

Jochen Schleese · Yearling

Watch out for 'having to warm them up' for extended periods of time before they can be ridden properly. I have had several clients who always tell me that they need to do this before their evaluation; what is really happening though is that the horse is 'adapting' to the pain level of the saddle being used - essentially the back is becoming numb to the sensation. This is often what happens when the saddle gullet is too tight or the saddle is too long.