Share ideas for a horse that's a little cold backed/grumpy about going forward

[vxf111]

Looking for non veterinary suggestions to try for a horse that can be a little cold backed and grumpy about going forward. Horse has been thoroughly vet checked from head to toe with a fine tooth comb. Super, super sound with CLEAN x-rays. Does not palpitate sore on neck/back. Treated for ulcers just in case. Currently trying Regumate but it’s a little soon to tell whether that’s having an impact. Will try Mare Magic type supplement and Purina Outlast in the future if the Regumate doesn’t seem to make a difference.

Behavior is that when you put the saddle pad down on her back, she pins her ears. Big pin and ear swish when you put the saddle on. Has a custom fitted English saddle ordered just for her but displays the same behavior no matter what saddle you try. Even more when the girth is done up. Walks under saddle with no grumpiness. Pitches a fit when asked to trot. Then, after a lap or two (or even better if you do a lap ot two of canter) settles in and is perfect-- forward and happy to work. Doesn’t matter who is riding, what saddle you’re in, whether she’s had days off or not, company in the ring or not, etc. Lunging first doesn’t make a difference. Still really grumpy the first time she has to trot off with a rider.

Looking for ideas for things like back pads, different types of girths (have tried a standard leather type and the cheap fleece and fabric type), supplements, routines, etc. that have worked for you for a horse with similar behavior.

[Redlei44]

No specific suggestions from my own experience, but do you know her history? Is it possible that she learned from a previous nervous/novice rider that if she threatened misbehavior, she might not have to work?

[Delta1166]

This is a total shot in the dark, but I went through the exact same thing with my mare and had her tested for a vitamin E deficiency. Turns out she was severely deficient (I’m in the PNW and it’s not uncommon)-- a month or so on a good quality vitamin E supplement and she was like a new horse. Vitamin E deficiency can cause that sort of “mystery” malaise and body soreness in an otherwise completely sound horse.

[vxf111]

The thing is, she loves to work! She just seems to hate that first lap or two after the walk? She does this to everyone, pro riders included. And she loves attention and LOVES to be ridden. I don’t think she’s wanting to get out of work broadly, I just think something is a little uncomfortable that first lap or two? If that makes sense.

[vxf111]

This is a good idea, I’ve had horses be deficient before. And I am going to do this. I can’t believe I overlooked.

[ClassyJumper]

My mare is similar, hates the saddle pad, but oddly not cranky about saddle or girth. Wants to sloth around at first but once she is rolling she is quite forward.

So I am following this thread! However, if you have access to any open space, I find starting my ride ouside of the ring gets her going forward naturally, without having to poke at her and get her cranky .

[Tuesday_s_Child]

My mare was like this, although a lunge did work for her. But I also found it helpful when I could get her back literally warm before saddling. I would leave her blanket on (undone) and just pull back a section at a time when grooming, and put the saddle pad on under it early to help it warm up. Also, walking her a couple laps in hand before getting on helped, and warming up with a quarter sheet - although that pissed her off at anything more than a walk, so it came off for most of our ride

The comments about vitamin E now have me wondering though… perhaps I’ll get her levels checked out. She’s retired, so it’s not as much of a concern, but if it could help her feel better then it’s worth looking into!

[Jealoushe]

Kissing spines, ulcers. You can ask for non vet help all you want but those signs are all signs of discomfort and pain.

[SuzieQNutter]

Sorry I haven’t read the replies but own a true cold backed horse and should be getting ready for work.

Tack for a cold backed horse allowing to warm to saddle, I will explain after work if you don’t know.

When tacking asking for a step or 2 back before asking to walk forward stopped him bucking with the first step forward.

The wide cair girth I don’t need to back him first and it has good reviews. Once he can walk (I let him start one step at a time, after that he must walk when I click or he gets a tap.

Walk under saddle until he is walking forward, now about 20 steps, then trot. Continuing walking under saddle does not do a thing even if you do it for 20 minutes. He does pitch a small fit with going into trot. Reward . 3 strides. Walk ask for trot again reward. First trot is awful, accept it. Then I ask for slow as if it was possible to go slower. Reward. Then I ask for quick. He must at least try. Reward I continue this until I can ask for canter.

The first canter is awful, more trot than canter but the more canter in it I know the ride will be better.

Trot is then better than before. I now ask for contact and Long and low. Canter the other way is better. I go forward to a lovely trot with contact. Down the long side, serpentine.

I come back to the 20 m circle, ask for canter, trot 3 strides, canter, trot 3 strides, canter, trot 3 strides. I had to teach this on the lunge first because to start with this exercise angered him.

I now have a forward horse I can ride.

[Small_Change]

@Tuesday_s_Child

My mare was like this, although a lunge did work for her. But I also found it helpful when I could get her back literally warm before saddling. I would leave her blanket on (undone) and just pull back a section at a time when grooming, and put the saddle pad on under it early to help it warm up. Also, walking her a couple laps in hand before getting on helped, and warming up with a quarter sheet

This helped a mare of mine a lot too. I would dunk a towel in HOT water, wring it out to nearly dry, and lie it across her back with a doubled up wool cooler while I groomed. The on went a quarter sheet, which did not come off until she was loose and stretchy under saddle. It made a profound difference, along with consisted chiropractic and massage visits.

[vxf111]

@Jealoushe

Kissing spines, ulcers. You can ask for non vet help all you want but those signs are all signs of discomfort and pain.

She has x-rays of her entire spine. Picture perfect. FLAWLESS. Look like they came out of a textbook. And does not palpitate back sore at all. Has been treated for ulcers already. All this per the original post.

[vxf111]

This one too prefers to be outside and in the field. Still a bit grumpy but much less so.

[vxf111]

@Tuesday_s_Child

My mare was like this, although a lunge did work for her. But I also found it helpful when I could get her back literally warm before saddling. I would leave her blanket on (undone) and just pull back a section at a time when grooming, and put the saddle pad on under it early to help it warm up. Also, walking her a couple laps in hand before getting on helped, and warming up with a quarter sheet - although that pissed her off at anything more than a walk, so it came off for most of our ride

@Small_Change

This helped a mare of mine a lot too. I would dunk a towel in HOT water, wring it out to nearly dry, and lie it across her back with a doubled up wool cooler while I groomed. The on went a quarter sheet, which did not come off until she was loose and stretchy under saddle. It made a profound difference, along with consisted chiropractic and massage visits.

Adding this to the list. I have a BOT back pad I could use too.

[vxf111]

These are all good tips. She’s actually much better once she gets “unstuck” and I don’t know how well the walk, trot 20 steps, walk, repeat would work for her but I could try.

[fatappy]

I noticed a difference in the ear pin/ tail swish when I used a back on track pad/ sheet pre-ride on my cold backed TB mare. She presented very similarly (she was also a huge fan of the canter first, trot later). I would put the sheet on while I rode my other horse, then put on the pad (obviously this is an anecdote) but I stopped getting the ear pin/ teeth snap.

[Equkelly]

I’m with @Jealoushe. There is no amount of vet work up than can declare your horse 100% pain free. Just because you haven’t found the source of her pain/ discomfort, doesn’t mean it’s not there.

Calling your horse “grumpy” is just an anthropomorphism to incorrectly explain complex equine behavior.

[Alterration]

Following. Going through this with my guy too - almost exactly the same symptoms. Going to try a windaren pad. Maybe should try the vit E supplementation. Vet & Trainers think it’s an evasion but his crabbiness when the saddle comes out and his willingness to work on the longe make me think otherwise.

[vxf111]

Two vets (one probably the most respected in this area) have declared that this horse is 100% sound and they can find no veterinary cause for the behavior. I would love the vet experts here to give me idea of what veterinary issues I should follow up on that cause this issue with perfectly clean x-rays and no back soreness at all under veterinary palpitation by 2 vets. I should add that I own a KS horse and have done surgery on that one AND I own a horse that broke his wither so I am probably more tuned into back issues than the average bear so I’ve been having vets look at this issue since I bought the horse.

[TrotFence]

Similar - if your horse isn’t fussy on the cross ties try a heating pad or a heating blanket. I haven’t tried this in the summer, but its helpful in the winter.

Also, after mounting I try to walk a full lap out of the saddle to loosen up the back.

[ynl063w]

Tack up the horse and leave the girth one or two holes down from where you put it when you get on. Pull the stirrups down and jog the horse, letting her hop around as much as she wants until she jogs normally. Tighten the girth and jog again. Get on when the horse jogs normally. This worked for me, it’s simple, and it doesn’t cost a penny. I would try this before anything else.