What is a cold-backed horse and how do you manage and train one?

A cold-backed horse is one that humps its back, pins its ears, or moves stiffly when first saddled or first mounted, but warms up and works normally after several minutes of movement. The term refers to the horse's back being literally cold — not warmed up and loose — and the associated discomfort or resistance that comes before the muscles have warmed and the horse has adjusted to the saddle and rider's weight. Clinton Anderson addresses cold-backed behavior by first investigating whether there is a genuine pain component. A horse that has always been cold-backed from its first ride may simply be sensitive to the girthing and mounting process and respond well to patient warm-up. A horse that develops cold-backed behavior after years of being comfortable is telling you something changed — saddle fit, back soreness, ulcers, or another physical issue that should be investigated before training is attempted. For the horse with no pain issues, Anderson's management approach involves a thorough ground-based warm-up before mounting on cold or fresh days — longing or groundwork that physically warms the horse's back muscles before the saddle's weight is added. He also teaches girthing the horse up gradually rather than all at once, walking the horse briefly after the first girth tightening before finishing the process, which allows the girth pressure to become familiar before the horse is asked to work. Warwick Schiller views cold-backed behavior partly through the nervous system lens — horses that are cold-backed are often horses whose nervous systems are activated at the beginning of a session and that need more settling time before they can handle the additional stimulation of mounting. His prescription of ensuring the horse is in a regulated, calm state before mounting addresses the cold-backed behavior in many horses without specific back treatment.