Cold backed horse

[spikeylaura]

My sister has just purchased a cold backed horse - the dealer was very open about it so we knew all along what we were letting ourselves in for. I'm just after some advice/exercises we can do to help ease her into being ridden again.

She appears worse when any weight is applied to her back - doesn't mind the roller/girth being done up and walk away calmly but when a rider is added things get a little worse. She isn't bad by any streach - all she does is hump her back for a few strides, maybe throw a little buck.

She has also been out of work for a while and as such has no muscle tone which isn't helping - currently we are just lunging her and/or walking her out in hand to try and build up her back before comming to sit on her but any futher suggestion are welcome.

Thanks

[xloopylozzax]

have you had a back person out to check her spine and hips?
does the saddle fit?

do you use a numnah/saddle cloth, is it plain thin cotton or different?

there isnt any wonder products it is either pain or remembered pain (from badly fited saddle etc)

[spikeylaura]

she currently doesn't have a saddle - we're just working her in a felt pad to get her used to having something on her back, and before anyone panics no we're not riding her, just lying over her back at a stand still

she was fully vetted before we brought her & she was booked to see the back lady but then would be caught (always the way!!) so she hasn't been done yet. We're not in any hurry to get on her, so she has been re-booked to have her back done in the next few weeks

[Harry Hobbes]

I'm just after some advice/exercises we can do to help ease her into being ridden again.Review this thread for perspective and a general method of training the horse for acceptance; it's also applicable to acceptance of the saddle and rider: http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?t=118450

Best regards,
Harry

[mu0ljk]

Otto can be a bit cold backed. We usually put the saddle on him first without doing the girth up and then putting the bridle on and then finally doing the girth last.

But it does sometimes feel like you are riding a hump backed camel to begin with!:o

[spikeylaura]

[QUOTE=Harry Hobbes;1799980]Review this thread for perspective and a general method of training the horse for acceptance; it's also applicable to acceptance of the saddle and rider: http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?t=118450

Thanks for that Harry, it's really informative. She's happy to let us brush her back, touch her all over/lift her feet etc.

We have noticed that if you're stood higher up than her back eg. on a mounting block she tenses up as she approaches but as soon as she's stood next to you she relaxes. She's also tense when gently lent across, but after a few seconds she relaxes again.

This is a far as we've got really - want her to be happy with everything before moving any further