Kissing Spines Diagnosis and Welfare in Horses

Overriding dorsal spinous processes in horses cause chronic back pain and require careful diagnosis and management to restore welfare.

Key Facts

Overriding or impinging dorsal spinous processes affect an estimated 40% of sport horses in some studies
Clinical signs include resistance to girthing, cold-backing, reluctance to engage the hindquarters, and back pain on palpation
Diagnosis requires radiography of the thoracic spine, ideally under standing sedation for cooperation
Treatment options range from injection therapy and physiotherapy to surgical interspinous ligament desmotomy

Welfare Considerations

Kissing spines cause chronic pain that is frequently misidentified as behavioral problems. Horses resisting work due to back pain are sometimes incorrectly disciplined, worsening both pain and the human-horse relationship. A systematic diagnostic approach including ridden assessment, physiotherapy examination, and imaging establishes whether spinal pathology is contributing to performance issues. Horses with confirmed kissing spines benefit from saddle fit review, targeted physiotherapy, and appropriate medical or surgical management.

What You Can Do

Investigate back pain in your horse with a veterinarian before attributing poor performance to behavior
Commission a qualified saddle fitter to assess saddle fit if your horse shows girthing or back sensitivity
Support research into minimally invasive treatments for overriding dorsal spinous processes
Ensure ridden horses receive regular back and saddle fit assessments from qualified professionals