‘I accept it’s just part of her character’

LISA PURCHASED Bella, a 12-yearold Irish cob, from a dealer two-and-a-half years ago.

She wanted a quiet horse to help her return to riding after breaking her back in a fall in 2006. Due to her injuries, Lisa has limited used of her left leg and it can affect her balance, so her main aim was to find a safe hack with whom she could compete in para dressage.

Despite Bella’s sweet character, Lisa says that she has always had a tendency to be cold backed and has bucked Lisa and

Lisa’s trainer off on several occasions.

Bella has been examined by a vet to rule out any physical discomfort and she’s also frequently seen by a chiropractor to exclude any specific back issues. Her saddle fit is also checked regularly.

Slowly does it

Having ruled out any pain-related issues, Lisa has worked out a system to help manage Bella’s cold-backed behaviour. “I take my time tacking up, so I’ll put on Bella’s saddle, then leave her for a few minutes while I potter doing other things,” says Lisa. “I do up her girth very gradually, hole by hole, and lunge her before I get on so that her back is used to the saddle.

“As I get on, I can feel Bella’s back lift and round, so I keep my legs off her sides until her back drops and she relaxes. If I put my leg on straight away, she goes into a bucking frenzy. She feels like a coiled spring, but once I’ve walked around the arena a few times, she relaxes and is fine.” Despite Bella being cold backed, Lisa enjoys hacking out and still has plans to compete in para dressage.

“Bella is a very sensitive horse and I just accept that it’s part of her character. As long as I’m kind and patient (and the more she’s ridden), the better she gets. I don’t think the issue will ever go away, but provided I know she isn’t in pain, and we have a system that works, we’ll keep going and continue to enjoy working together.”