Cold backed??

[Ziggy]

Our heavenly Lead rein/first ridden show pony has been back in work for a few weeks now and is going well for a baby who was only broken in last year and has more or less had the winter off.
however we were told by his owners that he is cold backed and needs lunging for 5-10 mins before anyone gets on him. he is an absolute saint and has a temprement second to none but is not happy for the first 5 mins or so of someone getting on him. he will arch his back and needs to be reassured and walked about with someone holding him or he can put in a buck. My daughter is very nervous so am desperate for her not to be put off as I know if she was that would be it she would not get back on again. Now she adores this pony so that would be soooo sad. After 5-10 mins he settles and goes beautifully.
Any suggestions??? it is not his back or teeth. I guess it could possibly be his saddle but then surely he would not settle??

[GinaGeo]

There isn't any such thing as "cold backed", it's a symptom of something else. It may be something daft such as not liking a cold numnah on his back or it may be that the saddle causes pain initially and then the area goes a little numb after a time and as such he "settles". For the former, just putting the saddle on first then faffing about for twenty minutes will help, for the latter then a saddle fitter is called for. Some horse's are sensitive souls and appreciate sheepskin next to their skin others prefer a thin gel pad, some a normal cotton numnah is fine.

It might be a case of trial and error, but I'd certainly have the saddle checked as a starting point

Horse's as prey animals are stoical, to show pain to a predator shows a weakness and makes them easy pickings.

[helle]

I know someone who had a similar problem, turned out to be the numnah. Try changing to a different type, hers objected to a sheepskin one but was fine in a polypad

[smiggs]

My mare is 'cold backed'.... I had everything checked on her...vet, saddle fitter, chiropractor and physio and she had the all clear off all of them. When I got her as a 4 yo, she had already been backed but the saddle, I noticed was too narrow for her when I tried her, so all I can put it down is that and it has stuck in her long term memory. I put my saddle on for about 30 mins before I ride and I have no problems now.

[samjl]

There a few reasons why this may happen mostly pain related (past or present) as everyone has mentioned. I am a remedial saddle fitter and am more than happy to check any ones saddle or horses back if you would like to meet up at a show( I am based in the south east) or try to help and give advice or point you in the right direction. Please pm me and I can pass on my details