Horse Kissing Spines: Welfare and Treatment

Kissing spines (overriding dorsal spinous processes) is a significant source of back pain in horses. Recognition, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment protect horse welfare and ridden performance.

Key Facts

Kissing spines occurs when adjacent dorsal spinous processes in the back touch or overlap, causing pain.
Prevalence studies find kissing spines in 39-87% of horses examined, though not all cases are symptomatic.
Signs include resistance to girthing, reluctance to work, bucking, and poor movement.
Diagnosis requires radiography; treatment ranges from physiotherapy and injections to surgical intervention.
Poor saddle fit and unbalanced riding can exacerbate kissing spines symptoms.
Many horses return to comfortable work following appropriate treatment and saddle fit correction.

Welfare Considerations

Kissing spines is a significant and frequently underdiagnosed source of chronic back pain in horses. Horses in pain from kissing spines often respond with behavioral signs that are misattributed to disobedience or bad attitude — leading to escalating training pressure on an animal already suffering. The welfare implications are serious: chronic pain affects every aspect of a horse's life, from comfort at rest to willingness to work. Early recognition, professional diagnosis, and appropriate treatment — combined with saddle fit assessment and physiotherapy — give horses with kissing spines the best chance of returning to comfortable, willing work.

What You Can Do

If your horse shows back sensitivity, girthing resistance, or resistance under saddle, seek veterinary assessment.
Have your saddle professionally fitted and checked annually.
Work with an equine physiotherapist as part of kissing spines rehabilitation.
Avoid escalating training pressure on a horse showing resistance that may have a physical cause.
Learn about the signs of back pain in horses to support early recognition and treatment.