Understanding overriding dorsal spinous processes (kissing spines) in horses — a significant cause of back pain and poor performance — and the welfare implications of management and treatment decisions.
Kissing spines represent a welfare issue that is often misattributed to behavioral problems or training resistance, leading to escalating coercive training rather than veterinary investigation. The high prevalence of the condition in sport horses suggests that current training and riding practices create welfare burdens at a population level. Welfare-centered approaches to kissing spines prioritize early diagnosis through veterinary assessment, thorough saddle fit evaluation, rehabilitation through appropriate physiotherapy, and honest assessment of whether a horse can comfortably return to its previous workload. Some horses experience permanent improvement; others require workload reduction as a long-term welfare accommodation.