Cold Backed

togster

Hey all. Some advice plese. Got pelted of a 5 year old horse last night. First time riding him. Got on him, felt his back go up... In my head i went Crap! Walked a step and he exploded lasted a couple of minutes. He bucks but not in a straight line, he twists leaps and bucks at the same time. I asked the owner and was informed i should have lunged him first! WTF. I mean IMO you should be able to get on without having to kunge your horse.

So is he cold-backed? And what does that mean? And any suggestions.

Round two tonight. I really don't want to have to lunge him. He's almost 6 ffs:rolleyes:

fits

To be honest I'd be looking to see if he has any problems with his back.
How does his saddle fit? does he have any muscle atrophy?

It is my opinion that horses dont behave like this without a reason, and the reason is usually pain or remembered pain.

togster

His back is fine. He recntly passed a vet exam. I've been on a few before, they were´referred to as cold backedl. Always assumed that meant that the horse was always sat on when it was warm i.e after a lunge or something. Then they are fine. I don't know if this one is but he wanted me off quick and he got his way!!:rolleyes:

Does he react at all when the saddle is put on?

fits

togster wrote: »

His back is fine. He recently passed a vet exam.

I dont really think that such a problem would come up in a vet exam. An online friend of mine recently bought a horse who turned out to have this problem (after a 5 star vetting). He had a serious and dangerous broncing issue. The girl who bought him basically had to start from scratch and spent months long lining and massaging and training him from the ground. Basically his whole body had been messed up from too much training too early (and overuse of draw reins)... Its only recently that he has started working properly again, but it really took a year to bring him round.

I've been on a few before, they were´referred to as cold backedl. Always assumed that meant that the horse was always sat on when it was warm i.e after a lunge or something. Then they are fine. I don't know if this one is but he wanted me off quick and he got his way!!:rolleyes:

Often if a saddle is too tight, it can cause pain at the start, which then becomes numbness... If this were my horse, I'd be getting him looked at. I really dont think horses behave like this for the hell of it. There has to be a reason.

finbarrk

Definately give him a good lunging before you get up on him, have the saddle on also, if he is tierd enough he wont be as inclined to buck.

finbarrk

finbarrk wrote: »

if he is tierd enough he wont be as inclined to buck.

How is that going to help?

The horse isn't doing it for the craic - and trying to wear him out instead of trying to identify and solve the problem isn't going to help at all.

togster

Deleted User wrote: »

How is that going to help?

The horse isn't doing it for the craic - and trying to wear him out instead of trying to identify and solve the problem isn't going to help at all.

Yeah i don't want to do it that way. Here they check their backs in exams. I don't know... i agree with fits on some points. i have ridden horse with backproblems who bucked but this guy is a pro, not his first time to do it id imagine. TBH the owner didn't seem to surprised.... hmm. They way he bucked is not like a horse in pain he bronked. He bucked off his hind and front legs and levelled me. He snorted and trotted off. Not his first time. I agree fits horses don't do this for no reason but i think he may be used to being lunged and then ridden or else he has gotten someone of before a few times. I am goin in a few hours and will take him to some soft wet ground and see.

doctor evil

If your bored lunging you always long rein him.

paul666

lie over his back dont jump straight on him make it as gradual as u can. lying is also for your own safety
it could be that the horse is just been a brat, but its most likely a back or saddle problem did u check under your saddle to see if its smooth and your blanket too.
how long is the horse broken

finbarrk

Deleted User wrote: »

How is that going to help?

The horse isn't doing it for the craic - and trying to wear him out instead of trying to identify and solve the problem isn't going to help at all.

I wouldnt say there is too much wrong with him if he is bucking like that, a bit of hardship probarbly wouldn't do him any harm.

johnny_g

ive dealt with horses like this before.... some times you can tell a horse is cold backed if it reacts when you are tightening its girth ie, if you tighten it too quickly you will see his whole body tensing... .. im my cases, they usually have very fine skin/hair.... its important to tighten the girth slowly, sometimes making him take a step between each hole you adjust.... lead them first and make sure they are comfortable... for horses like this when starting it does help that they are lunged first and usually they grow out of it... but nearly 6 is begining to get old.... ive also noticed that if they've been off for a break, when you take them back in, they are most prone to do it...so be carefull...
some grow out of it others don't so it is important to get everything checked, and also consider who broke/backed the horse initially and did they do in in a correct way, without rushing and causing distress to the horse.

togster

So i went there yesterday and he did it again, got me off 3 times and i stuck with him the fourth. He is just spoilt. Round 3 tommorrow and hopefully he will have shown improvement. Pity because he is one of the best natural jumpers i've seen in a long time. Apparently a 14 y o girl had him after he was broken and things quickly got out of hand. Gorgeous horse but stubborn like a muel. I have a feeling though if he sees i won't give in he will start to work with me rather than against me. Fingers crossed. Thanks for the advice everyone!

johnny_g

hope ur getting well paid togster!!:D:D

togster

:rolleyes:
Not half enough! Great buzz though!;)

eth0_

togster - are you going to have an expert saddle fitter check him out or what? Almost every experience I had like this was a result of a back problem or ill fitting tack. The tree of the saddle could be broken and digging into him when the weight of a rider is applied, don't forget.

togster

Had a physio check him, nothing wrong. Used a different saddle no difference
Hes spoilt

Coonagh Cowboy

It could be a ill-fitted saddle,but from what you have stated sounds more like he wasn't properly trained or backed.I'd suggest starting over with him to weed out the bad habits he's developed from his first go.Also the one thing about getting a horse or any animal for that matter from someone else is you also get their bad habits.Just have to work with them sometimes from the beginning to get things right.His former owners could have been intimidated by his behavior and never disciplined him for him,so over time he thinks thats the way to get what he wants.And now he could be trying his luck with you in the same manner.I'd re-train him proper from the beginning,and yes it is time consuming but it's worth it in the long-run.Best of luck to you and the horse

togster

Thanks for the reply Cowboy but i don't have time to re-break him. He is 6 after-all and the owner wants him sold. He is getting better and is is pretty predictable in his ways. With the right rider he will be special.:)

finbarrk

You deserve a good cut if he is sold!

togster

finbarrk wrote: »

You deserve a good cut if he is sold!

Yeah but you know, you can't be in it for the money! :rolleyes:

FLASHDANCE

God what a bas*ard of a horse, Betcha feeling like a cowboy or something you see from a western, id tie his legs together haha tempting doh,
At first id say his back needs to be checked, but as you said the physio has givin him the all clear,
He was by the sound of it let away with it, and if the girl was 14 riding him he taught mmmm i can mess here and scare the girl, lets buck and see what happens, mission accomplished .....he won and has got away with being let buck like a wild mustang, and has got in to the habit of it, and by the sounds of it the horse is realising that you arent taking any sh*t from him as you where saying you stayed on after the 4th time well done to you, the horse will hopefully get respect and stop bucking for you soon,
Good luck and best of luck with that brat of a horse,

Siogfinsceal

Fair play to you Togster for sticking on him. Sounds like a brat. also sounds like they usually lunge him til he is tired so the problem disappears rather than treating the behaviour itself. Hopefully now he knows you can stay on he will realise its not going to go his way!