Suddenly cold backed in cold weather?

[GiantSteps]

@findeight said: “I can tell you my muscles are stiffer in cold weather and have been since my early 50s, there are changes as we age that need to be managed and accepted instead of throwing money into trying to fix but, like an NSAID for moi, they might benefit from one in cold weather, helps with the joints too.”

NSAIDs are on the “avoid” list for this horse after this bute/GI issue. I’ve got the bad luck to have developed pretty severe osteoarthritis in my 30s, so I know exactly what you mean! But I think for horsey if other joints are arthritic the only reasonable solution is to find and treat problem areas with non-NSAID therapies. I can’t afford to give Merial all my money for long-term Gastrogard!

I like the idea of adding pre-ride heat to the equation. Longeing, adjusting schooling routine, coolers and quarter sheets are all variables we have been experimenting with. If I go directly to trot (or canter/gallop, as others have suggested) on a cold-backed day I’m asking for an explosive response, or at the very least getting her way more wound up, so that might be an idea to revisit if heat helps.

It’s really a night-and-day difference between the adjustable, stretchy, eager-to-please horse I have on good days and the untouchable ball of tension I have on the bad days. She’s a sweetheart who doesn’t ever really ‘go ballistic’, even though she’s a hotter/forward type. So I can only guess that she’s really uncomfortable to be so tight in the back and so resentful of the aids on these bad days!

[Angela_Freda]

Similar to the heated blanket idea… when Yo had some back and neck issues I made him 2, approx. 18" x 18" rice packs. I made them like a duvet, with a waffle box pattern so the rice stayed in the ‘boxes’ and would heat that up in a microwave [about 2 minutes]. One went on his neck where he had injured it and the other on his back… while I groomed pre-ride.

Just another option to throw at you.

[Angela_Freda]

Here’s something similar on Amazon. I made covers out of cheap kitchen towels for the ones I made, so that I could wash them. He was a roll-er, and always dirty!

https://www.amazon.com/MediBeads-Moist-Heat-King-EasyComforts/dp/B00012QEF2/ref=pd_sim_121_8?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00012QEF2&pd_rd_r=G2TWH67TSXGJ0ME0ARD1&pd_rd_w=lAamr&pd_rd_wg=9jvLJ&psc=1&refRID=G2TWH67TSXGJ0ME0ARD1

[GiantSteps]

@JB wrote: “3 blankets piled on is physically heavy. It’s a lot of weight on the withers. It’s just a lot of weight, period.”

It’s something we’re experimenting with at the moment, so perhaps tracking will reveal a trend there. fluffy stable blankets aren’t nearly as heavy as TOs, thankfully, and I’m fussy about fit after the wither pressure issues I had with Back on Track. On the few nights when it’s below zero at night and barely above during the day she seems to need more than a heavy + liner, unfortunately. When it’s 10-20 degrees warmer we’re still having issues in the arena in spite of fewer blankets. Will keep an eye on this, of course.

“The point isn’t a quality canter warmup The point is just to canter, as oppose to walk or trot, as the canter more or less forces more lateral movement of the body due to the footfall sequence.”

I get that (had an OT mare in the past, in fact, who did better with a bit of long rein canter in warm up), but if it doesn’t result in loosening up the back it doesn’t seem to be a very effective warm-up to me. I’ve tried going large in 2-point in anything-goes canter for several laps, and also interspersing canter with trot to try to work toward some semblance of balance as the muscles theoretically warm up. No luck so far in reducing back tension. It always seems to spiral into worse balance, more rushing, more inversion, and greater reactivity when I do eventually apply aids to ask for a little stretch. The best stretch I ever seem to get on cold-backed days is when I do a whole lot of walking on a very long rein and slowly pick up contact, doing lots of transitions between walk and trot before asking for canter. Even still she never seems to feel truly warmed up. I’ve ridden a lot of horses of different ages, fitness, conformations, etc. over the years, but have never experienced anything like this.

I’ll certainly keep experimenting with using the canter in warmup, but so far I’m getting nowhere…

[GiantSteps]

@AngelaFreda said: “Similar to the heated blanket idea… when Yo had some back and neck issues I made him 2, approx. 18” x 18" rice packs. I made them like a duvet, with a waffle box pattern so the rice stayed in the ‘boxes’ and would heat that up in a microwave [about 2 minutes]. One went on his neck where he had injured it and the other on his back… while I groomed pre-ride."

Thanks for the idea, AF! This is an excellent suggestion (could potentially even sew pockets onto a cooler to hold baffled rice packs)! I can’t remember if there’s a microwave at the barn but will check today.

[Spud_amp_Saf]

GS - Personally, I would implement canter much sooner into your ride, and I would try it in a half seat. The idea is that it just gets the horse loosened up, it doesn’t have to be a good canter. If the horse is behaving cold backed, I would be even more inclined to get up in a half seat and let them go large a few laps. I find this especially true of any TB or TB crosses - as soon as I take them for a few laps of a half seat canter and return to trot, the back loosens right up and we can then go into real work.

[Rae89]

Just an idea about the plug in being so far away what about this…

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-Socket-with-Outlets-White-R52-01403-00W/100184555

assuming there is a light bulb near by.

[IPEsq]

Hmm… no suggestions but my ulcer prone finicky GI horse has also been a major distracted grump (distracted but no forward unless it’s spooking) on the really cold days. This is the first stint of real cold where he’s been in real work since I’ve had him, as the first winter was kind of a wash with ulcers and other issues and last winter he was on stall rest. I don’t ride on the really cold days (like today). I bought a quarter sheet. I use a BOT pad when tacking up. He’s not clipped. On the warmer days lately he’s been really lovely, so I don’t have any real reason to think he’s got yet another pain issue going on. He’s also not old but tends to be muscle tight in his back. His chiro/acupuncture vet saw him a week ago, though, and said his back muscles felt the best since she’s known him. He’s from a cold climate but I don’t know that he’s ever really worked hard through a winter. Before I got him, he would have had the previous winter off after he was lightly started at 3. Maybe he just wants to move to Florida?

[RedHorses]

The best stretch I ever seem to get on cold-backed days is when I do a whole lot of walking on a very long rein and slowly pick up contact, doing lots of transitions between walk and trot before asking for canter. Even still she never seems to feel truly warmed up. I’ve ridden a lot of horses of different ages, fitness, conformations, etc. over the years, but have never experienced anything like this.

I’ll certainly keep experimenting with using the canter in warmup, but so far I’m getting nowhere…

I had one like that. If I didn’t do a minimum of 20 minutes of walk he would be almost lame at the trot and completely incapable of working out of it. I had him doing everything at the walk before the first trot, including lots of lateral work. That was when he had no blanket. A blanket made the difference for him.

I have one now that is reactive and unpleasant to ride when he’s cold. I found a heavier blanket made the difference for him. Not hugely heavier, but 280gm instead of 200gm. A neck rug instead of a high neck. He’s clipped for the first time this winter and I got him a heavier blanket, 340gm and will be getting a 150gm neck rug soon. I’m learning what his clipped tolerances are this year.

When I say cold, I don’t mean shivering cold, just uncomfortably chilly. Both the above horses would be/have been fine in blanketed, but not rideable. My theory is that muscles do work to keep the body warm and that low level of work leads to a tension build up that makes it uncomfortable to use/work those muscles. Some horses are more stoic than others about such things.

[DJohn]

OP, a HOT rice pack and 1/4 sheet are the only things acceptable to my cold-backed horse.

I HAVE to make it hot, I don’t groom his back before I saddle (just the belly). I leave his heavy turnout (or whatever he was wearing at the time) on and I work around it.

Steps:

1. Heat up the heat pack (rice, flax etc) 'til it’s quite warm.
2. Place heat pack on horse’s back with saddle pad that will touch his skin over top.
3. Pull blanket overtop of everything.
4. Finish brushing/booting etc.
5. Remove heat back from where the saddle goes and place it over his loin.
6. Put saddle pad in proper place, and then the saddle.
7. Remove heavy blanket and put quarter sheet (you can put the heat pack back over the loin after).
8. Bridle, remove heat pack and go into arena. Tighten girth slowly. Do one hole, and walk around the ring in hand.
9. Repeat this until the girth is tight and then walk 5 more laps.
10. Get on, and let the horse walk/trot with no collection for at least 10-15 mins.

After that, your horse will be happy. I do this with my guy every ride in the winter. If I skip a step, he will get very cranky and hump his back/rush around.
He has never palpated sore and his hock x-rays were clean. He’s just fussy and hates a cold saddle pad.

I also find that I have to blanket him a bit heavier. If he’s under-blanketed, he will be cold and tense. He needs to be toasty warm in all of his layers.

[theresak]

I have a slightly cold backed horse (more tight and defensive but a willing worker).

Rather than an electric blanket, see if you can borrow a BOT Back Pad and let her “cook” in it for as long as you can.

I slide it under the blanket and then putter around for 30 min mixing grain baggies, etc. Then I just brush the neck, legs, belly and leave the blanket and pad on. I remove the blanket and BOT pad as I put the saddle on and then he’s covered back up again with a quarter sheet and cooler. I also have a sheepskin cover for my girth in the winter as the cold leather on his clipped belly seemed make him tense up slightly as I put it on.

In your warm up, can you walk the horse over raised cavaletti? Do some rein backs and some deep and round circles/lateral work at the walk. Anything to get the back muscles to start working and warming on their own.

[lovemyboy]

I just wanted to say thank you to the OP and people who are posting. This has been an issue with my horse this winter and it’s been astoundingly stressful. experiencing literally the exact things OP has been experiencing and it is very uncharacteristic. Had saddle fitter out, all bloodwork is normal etc. Nothing has helped TOO much, but using a quarter sheet, cantering at leasst 4 times around in each direction, has helped a bit. Felt his best 2 the day after most recent chiro visit. She’s down in FL now and I’ll be riding her this weekend and will be curious to see if things have changed secondary to the warmer weather! Thank you again!

[Jarpur]

I second the BOT. I have one of the mesh blankets which I will put on my older gelding for a bit, before exercise in cold weather (I don’t live in a severe winter climate, however). He does seem to get warmed underneath it, so I imagine the Back Pad (which is significantly less expensive) could possibly help.

[Angela_Freda]

'I use BoT saddle pads (and have a BoT sheet, but can’t really use it as it stretches/slides back and rubs her withers badly if I leave it on her). ’

From the OP

[theresak]

[QUOTE=Angela Freda;8999080]
'I use BoT saddle pads (and have a BoT sheet, but can’t really use it as it stretches/slides back and rubs her withers badly if I leave it on her). ’

From the OP[/QUOTE]

Yes, I saw that the OP uses some BOT. I’ve used the BOT saddle pads as a back warmer, but I think the BOT back pad works a bit better, and it’s also long enough to get the lumbar area and on some horses the SI.

And I don’t really believe in the magical ceramic healing of the BOT stuff, but I do believe in the extra warmth it creates for stiff joints and tense muscles.

I’m too cheap for the BOT sheet, so the back pad is my compromise. The BOT back pad has girth loops and I have a surcingle so I can leave the horse in the stall with it on and not have it move much.

[JB]

One can still use the BoT sheet for 30 minutes or so while “puttering”, and put the pad underneath it, especially since they are both currently in hand.

The surcingle is a great idea - put the pad on top of the sheet, with the sheet slid forward just a bit, even unbuckled in front if necessary, and use the surcingle to secure it all.

[Ready_To_Riot]

I recently experimented with the BOT mesh sheet on myself. I’d suggest everyone do the same. Lol it failed me so I sold it. But I’ve heard it works for some and not others, so maybe I (and my horses) are just not the right body for it? Fun experiment though. I wish I could post pictures on her. I literally bundled myself up from neck to feet for several hours every night. Lol

[LadyB]

This just popped up on my Facebook newsfeed, very fitting !
http://www.leovet.de/en/products/regeneration/cold-pack.html

Have you guys had a chance to try Leovet’s “Cold Pack Plus”? This product is perfect for this time of year, especially if your horse experiences any kind of “cold-back” like symptoms or you just want to warm up your horses back before exercise.
This product can be used on muscles, legs, tendons/ ligaments and joints to stimulate and relax the area. It works in a two-step process with an initial cooling effect followed by soothing warmth, all for only $27.95!
All Leovet products are made in Germany.

[IPEsq]

I’m finding that even when standing under a radiant heater, the BOT back pad isn’t doing enough for my guy on these cold days. This is the horse who still likes me to use it when grooming/tacking and it’s 100 degrees out (he falls asleep on the cross ties). He might need something hotter.

[theresak]

[QUOTE=IPEsq;8999338]
I’m finding that even when standing under a radiant heater, the BOT back pad isn’t doing enough for my guy on these cold days. This is the horse who still likes me to use it when grooming/tacking and it’s 100 degrees out (he falls asleep on the cross ties). He might need something hotter.[/QUOTE]

IPEsq - put it on under a heavy blanket or coolers. Also, you can ride with it on since it has girth loops.