Causes of cold backs
In the 1950s it was generally held that cold-backed horses disliked the pressure of a cold saddle being applied to their backs, and so warming the saddle first could reduce the chances of bucking. Although that approach hasn’t continued, it does highlight the saddle as the chief culprit. It goes without saying therefore that the first thing to consider in a horse with an apparent (even transient) back issue when being tacked up is the saddle. The Society of Master Saddlers maintains a register of qualified saddle fitters who will ensure that your horse’s saddle fits properly. Any parts of the saddle (and girth) that pinch, rub or exert uneven — or point — pressures around the horse’s thorax have the potential to produce cold-backed behaviour and should be the first things to eliminate. Some horses with kissing spines are said to be cold-backed as “many of these horses may have clinical back pain that eases with exercise” according to recent research3. Without X-rays it’s impossible to distinguish between horses who meet the modern definition of cold-backed and those who have transient back pain due to kissing spines. The approach to managing these two distinct groups is potentially very different — one may even require surgery — so it’s important to check that the horse really doesn’t have a pathological basis for his exercise-responsive back stiffness before assuming it’s simply a cold-back issue.
From foot pain to ulcers
Kissing spines isn’t the only condition that can spell trouble. Some cases of early vertebral facet joint osteoarthritis can present in a similar manner, and there are also a whole host of non-back problems that can cause horses to act in a cold-backed way when a rider gets on. Forelimb lameness, including that caused by foot pain, is one such issue, as are dental pain and neck problems, and even internal discomfort, such as gastric ulceration. The only way to rule out these possibilities is for your vet to take a closer look.