Cold back

[bayhorse]

Anyone had any experience of his and what did you do about it? Also what exactly causes it, or can it be many different causes?

[gillmcg]

I experienced this with a mare called Lily. She got to the point where her knees would crumble when I did up the girth which I always did very slowly and incrementally. I purchased a new saddle that was fitted, regularly checked and reflocked by a Master Saddler (with saddle fitting qualifications). He was convinced it was 'cold back' syndrome whatever that means...... It wasn't. By this time she'd started bucking in canter as well. I called in another fitter who showed me exactly how, where and why the saddle didn't fit. She had come to me with a badly fitting saddle initially - sold to her previous owner by an allegedly qualified fitter.

It's the main reason I now ride with a treeless on my gelding - he's an ex-racehorse with a surprisingly broad flat back but high withers. He's fine.

I'm afraid I couldn't trust another saddle fitter.

[Su]

See my post in the General chat bit..... my horse was always classed as cold backed but was found to have a problem in his hip.

[varkie]

I don't think you can say that there is any one cause of 'cold back', I think it could be a huge number of things, and any horse which is classed as cold backed needs a complete physical & tack check, to rule out all problems.

[bayhorse]

Apparently this horse has reared up when being mounted from the stirrup and also arches his back initially when you sit on him - I haven't tried yet as he has only just come to me, it's what his previous owners said.

I will be getting his back checked over and I have a treeless saddle.

[varkie]

You didn't mention having a saddler out, only that you have a treeless saddle. Even tho its treeless, unless you are very confidant at assessing saddle fit, I would still suggest that you get an open minded saddler to check how it fits your horse. Treeless saddles can still not fit horses, and I have seen this personally, so always worth getting it checked.

[sarak]

My horse was described as "cold backed" just after I bought him. I have to say that I put this down to poorly fitting saddles in the past - previous owner used one saddle for several horses!

Being a high withered TB with uneven muscle development he has been very difficult to fit a conventional saddle to. I always had the saddle fitter out in conjunction with his physio, which improved his back, but a year ago I bought a treeless saddle, and can hardly believe the difference in him.

When I first bought him, as soon as you were in the saddle he shot off down the yard (and I mean shot, and for quite a distance too!). It improved over the years so that he would just take one or two steps after you mounted. When I had the trial of the treeless saddle, he stood stock still whilst I mounted. That sold it to me there and then!

I have to say though that despite sorting out the physical problems with his back, he does still tense and arch his back slightly as soon as anyone gets on. This is only for a second or two now, but I feel sure that it is remembered pain from all those years of ill fitting saddles (I bought him when he was 14 and he is 19 now.)

I agree that a treeless saddle needs to be fitted very carefully too, but it has been the best thing for Jo. Not only has he filled out, and no longer looks quite so high withered, he is working properly and lifting his back during schooling sessions. Fantastic!

Like Gill McG I had a couple of instances where he literally crumpled to the floor when tightening the girth - only happened twice in 5 years, but very scarey! I still am very slow and careful tightening the girth, but it hasn't happened with the treeless saddle.

I would say a good equine physio will help you get to the cause of the problem. Mine was recommended by my vet, and is fantastic!

[bayhorse]

I think I have had enough experience of badly fitting saddles over the last 10 years to be able to assess when one fits - most of the saddles that caused my old horse a problem were fitted by 'qualified saddler fitters' so I'm not going down that route again - plus many of them still skeptical about treeless. I do know that not all saddles fit all horses including treeless but I don't think my saddle will be a problem with this horse, it's just seeing if I can get to the route cause.

He's obviously had a problem somewhere along the line whether it's physical or caused by bad training, but first stop will be someone to check him out physically - now do I get a chiro, an osteo, McTimoney, Bowen, EMT - any suggestions

[pip]

Sara K - what make of treeless saddle do you have for your TB?
OP - I have a McTimoney chiropractor, who also does EMT, which is very useful!

My horse was very nervous of the lunging equipement - that tinkle, tinkle sound of the bits and pieces - and it took me quite a long time before he wasn't nervous of the saddle. Now is he very quiet with any saddle, but still tenses up with the lunging roller,if I ever use it - so it is going to take a long time for your horse to forget the past experiences.

[sarak]

Hi Pip. I have a Freeform. His equine physio was a bit dubious at first, but now agrees that it has done his back the world of good. The last saddle fitter that came out to the yard (to see another horse) couldn't believe he was almost 20!

[pip]

Thanks. I have decided I WILL buy a treeless saddle, but I really want it for dressage, so it will
have to look "normal." I have decided now, because I might have to give up work soon to help at home, so while I am actually earning some money I will get one.