Horse Kissing Spines Welfare and Recovery

Kissing spines — overriding dorsal spinous processes — cause significant back pain in horses and require comprehensive treatment and management to restore welfare and function.

Key Facts

Kissing spines describes radiographic contact between adjacent dorsal spinous processes of the thoracic vertebrae
It is one of the most common causes of poor performance and behavioral problems in sport horses
Affected horses may show resistance to girthing, reluctance to engage the back, bucking, and reluctance to work
Many horses with radiographic kissing spines are asymptomatic — pain correlation with imaging requires clinical integration
Treatment options include corticosteroid injection, intraspinous ligament injection, shockwave therapy, and surgery
Mesotherapy to reduce pain sensitization in back musculature is increasingly used as an adjunct treatment
Rehabilitation with physiotherapy, groundwork, and appropriate ridden exercise is essential post-treatment
Prevention includes appropriate saddle fit, progressive training, and avoiding horses being overworked young

Welfare Considerations

Kissing spines represents a significant welfare concern in sport and performance horses: back pain that manifests as behavioral resistance is frequently misinterpreted as disobedience and addressed with training pressure rather than veterinary investigation. Horses experiencing back pain from kissing spines may be worked harder through their resistance, compounding both the physical injury and the psychological stress of forced work under pain. The welfare priority is recognizing behavioral changes as potential pain signals requiring investigation, accessing appropriate imaging and clinical evaluation, and implementing treatment and rehabilitation focused on pain resolution rather than behavioral suppression. A horse returned to comfortable work through proper treatment represents a genuine welfare success.

What You Can Do

Investigate behavioral changes including girthing sensitivity, resistance, and bucking as potential pain signals
Request thoracic radiography as part of workup for horses showing unexplained back sensitivity or poor performance
Ensure saddle fit is professionally evaluated and adjusted — ill-fitting saddles contribute to back pain
Follow post-treatment rehabilitation protocols rigorously — physiotherapy and progressive reintroduction to work matter
Work with both a veterinarian and an equine physiotherapist for optimal recovery outcomes
Avoid escalating training pressure in response to resistance — investigate pain before increasing demands