Help for the cold backed horse!
And what is a cold backed horse, anyway?
Calling a horse cold backed is a very general term that describes a lot of horses. Generally, a cold backed horse is sensitive along the topline, usually under the saddle area. They may have soreness in their back muscles and flinch when you groom there, or they may resort to bucking if you don’t allow proper time for them to warm their muscles up and relieve that cold back.
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A properly flocked saddle can help a cold backed horse immensely.
What is your horse saying that indicates a cold back?
- They’re tender on the back when you groom or pet them.
- They flinch, dance, stomp, shake, or otherwise tries to tell you something is causing discomfort when the saddle is placed on their back. This is also true for tightening the girth.
- They may also appear to walk around with a “hump in their back” when you lead them from the cross ties to the mounting block.
- They have a strange posture as you are grooming and tacking up, as if to brace themselves for tack.
- They may show reluctance to be mounted or move forward.
- Mounting from the ground is a source of major irritation for then and they to evade you even more than when at a mounting block.
- He may try and buck you off if you ask them for trot and canter too early in a ride.
- Stiffness and cranky behavior while being ridden. Sometimes they work out of a painful back, sometimes not.
**** All of these are also signs of other “stuff” that could be going on with your horse, too! **** Your vet is KEY in helping parse through different symptoms and other signs of discomfort. They may need some medical help, too, or just a saddle fit appointment.
Common causes of a sore back
You may never find the real cause of a cold backed horse, but it’s always good to investigate from all angles, especially if this is a new behavior.
Tack, mounting, and riding
- Poor saddle fit. A saddle that is too small, too large, or is just a poorly fitting saddle overall will be uncomfortable.
- Also consider the saddle pad – is there piping under the pommel or cantle applying pressure? Is the saddle pad not lifted off the withers and along the spine? A horse’s back must lift for their body to move, and that’s not comfortable when the saddle pad doesn’t allow room.
- A horse’s teeth may need a float or other dental work before the back feels good. A sore mouth because of dental issues or a poorly fitted bridle can show up as tension in the horse’s back.
- How the rider mounts can create a tweaking effect.
- The position of the rider in the saddle is causing pain, even if the fitted saddle is perfect.
Cold backed horse behavior due to medical issues
- The horse’s back has an underlying medical or physical issue – like a neurological issue or kissing spines.
- The horse’s back muscles are sore. This could be from playing, a field accident, the tack, memory of pain, or extra strain due to a new rider or new saddle. Sore muscles may even get worse in colder weather.
- Lameness in a hind leg sometimes seems like a back problem, or vice versa.
- A horse’s conformation may also influence a horse’s back – maybe it’s too long, too uneven, or has underdeveloped muscles for the work being asked.
Read this to learn about mounting from a block and why it’s best
Read this to learn about saddle fit or read this for bridle fit.
What’s the best cold backed horse treatment? Get your vet involved.
- Pain is a top reason for a cold backed horse. An exam from your vet is warranted, and maybe even some diagnostic tests.
- Talk to your veterinarian about the possible benefits of chiropractics on your horse. Many veterinarians are also equine chiropractors, but not always the other way around. Regulations vary by state, so plan on some due diligence before choosing a provider. Better yet, find an equine back specialist.
- Get your saddle fitter involved. I would flinch, kick and buck, too if I was forced to wear clothing that didn’t fit. And then exercise. With extra weight. A badly fitting saddle will only make things worse over time, including the relationship you have with your horse.
- Let’s assume that you and your vet have ruled out all medical reasons, your chiropractor is a regular visitor to your farm, and your saddle is flocked to perfection. It could be that your horse is just plain cranky. Or they take some time to warm up!
- You can also work with an equine physiotherapist to help with any muscular misalignment.
Ideas on how to warm up their back:
- Cover their back with a cooler or a blanket with ceramic threads to warm the muscles, but this may not be necessary in the summer.
- In cold weather, don’t take off their blanket without replacing it with something to keep the muscles warm. Think about getting out of your warm bed and running outside to get the paper in January with only your PJ’s on.
- Tighten the girth in increments. This also allows the saddle to “settle” as you walk to the mounting area.
- Also do saddle pad and saddle checks each time you tighten the girth in case something has slipped.
- Walk in hand or lightly lunge before you mount. Sometimes five minutes, sometimes three or ten. You will need to ask yourself – does your horse feel loosened up?
- Allow ample warm-up under saddle, whether your horse is in regular work or it’s a short walk day.
- Mounting blocks are preferred to ground mounting. I agree that every horse should be trained to be mounted from the ground as a matter of safety. I often remember this when I drop something on a trail ride. Every day mounting with a mounting block can save their back unnecessary strain.
- Try different grooming tools. Perhaps they just have thinner skin!
Consult a Vet! And a Chiropractor!
Are there any training techniques to help a cold-backed horse and change behavior?
Training techniques like gradual warm-up exercises, proper saddle fitting, gentle massages, lunging, and positive reinforcement can help cold-backed horses. Building trust through consistent routines and calm interactions during tacking up and mounting can also ease their discomfort. This is, of course, after you have discovered and addressed the obvious cause.
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