Horse suddenly cold backed (aka back sore)

[luckycricket123]

So I recently realized that my relatively new OTTB is “cold backed.” He actually might just be back sore, but he’s started making faces when I tack him up, but I thought it was ulcers after using banamine for back to back to back injuries.

I usually groom, tack up and then lunge, but we were playing around on the lunge a bit yesterday and I didn’t put the saddle on until he’d already been working for a good 20 minutes of light work in hand and on the lunge. Instead of his new and recent cranky face, he was completely happy and unflinching when it came time to tack up. Then today I went to tack up to lunge and he was pulling nasty faces again and then suddenly I realized. Poor dude.

Anyways, saddle was recently fitted, I don’t think its a fit issue. I’m going to get the hoof testers out to see if he’s foot sore - I think it might just be time for hind shoes. If not I’ll call the vet out.

In my experience, back pain has nearly always been secondary to some other underlying issues, so what have been your experiences with a horse who suddenly becomes cold backed/back sore?

[Scribbler]

I would double check the saddle fit.

[Ceffyl_Dwr]

You mention multiple injuries… Was he not ridden and tacked up during this time? Could it be that he became accustomed to time off and is showing his displeasure at being put back to work? Does he palpate sore? If you recently had your saddle checked and you trust the opinion of your fitter, I doubt that’s it. I assume the vet cleared him to return to work, which makes me lean toward a behavioral situation (aka trying to get out of work).

[luckycricket123]

Nothing musculoskeletal, all cuts, scrapes and cellulitis, so no time off.

I definitely think it’s a pain response. He palpates sore over his back, but it’s actually pretty subtle and he didn’t react after a warm up.

[LadyB]

I would definitely have the hind end checked overall, back pain usually means SI or Hocks.

My guy has as small case of KS, not surgery worthy, but he gets a little “cold backed” in the winter and has an extremely sensitive lumbar area. He received Craniosacral Massages every 2-3 months, as she feels its enough, and his hocks are injected yearly.

I had 2 vets out to diagnose him, as I wasn’t super convinced or happy with the first vet and their exam, seemed rushed and short. The 2nd vet spent over an hour just on the exam, it was wonderful, she pinpointed his hocks, he’s been going amazing ever since we started the injections.

Highly recommend a work up, and to look at the back end.

[EventingMaff]

Before you spend a lot on diagnostics - are you in a magnesium deficient area?

Back sore-ness unrelated to saddle fit and needing lunging/long slow warm up before being happy to work are two hallmarks of magnesium deficiency. Spring is a common time for this to rear it’s head as well (and so is re-entry into work after a time off because their body is starting to use more, so may be depleting stores that were suitable when not in work).

It’s an inexpensive option to try for a week or two before calling the vet out - especially if no other signs of lameness or soreness and especially if work seems to make the soreness “disappear” (or lessen dramatically).

[wanderinglemon]

This is starting to be my motto on this forum, but being that he is an OTTB, I would have him x-rayed for kissing spines.

[luckycricket123]

KS is on my radar, but not high on the list of suspects given how lovely he has been under saddle, working over his back in a nice frame, never bucks or rears, he has great transitions and though his canter is weak and green, it has been a correct canter.

I may send a picture to my saddle fitter, he’s a growing baby and he’s filing out still. Even though she was just here about a month ago, he’s growing and its easy enough to check.

[wanderinglemon]

It may not be KS, but my gelding presented the same way, his only symptom was looking irritated when the saddle came out. When the X-rays came back my vet said it was the worst case he had ever seen

[luckycricket123]

Ah, interesting thanks for sharing! Was he always that way or did it seem to develop suddenly?

[wanderinglemon]

It came on about a month or so after we got him and started riding. We had recently switched saddles so I was convinced it was a saddle fit issue, but decided to get X-rays out of an abundance of caution.

[ghst13]

Just another data point, my KS horse never bucked or reared, scored low 30’s in dressage at beginner novice and novice eventing and was doing the 1.0m jumpers. But I was constantly chasing back pain and saddle fit. He definitely had that “cold back” reaction when mounting and we injected hocks but my vet just regularly blamed saddle fit.

Eventually he did begin to exhibit other symptoms - primarily increased spookiness and then refusing jumps (usually by spooking 3-5 steps out and refusing to go near them). He still never bucked, reared or bolted. He had bone shave surgery about 18 months and feels fantastic now.

Just a caution that KS symptoms can vary widely from horse to horse, so don’t discount it just because you aren’t seeing bucking/rearing.

[luckycricket123]

Thank you both for sharing your KS experiences! I sincerely appreciate it. I will bring it up with the vet when they are here for spring shots