Kissing spines, where adjacent dorsal spinous processes of the spine overlap or touch, cause pain and reduced performance in horses and increasingly are managed surgically.
Horses with kissing spines experience chronic back pain that impairs locomotion and causes significant distress when ridden. Because horses often suppress visible pain responses, the condition is frequently attributed to behavioural problems rather than recognised as a welfare issue. Misinterpretation can lead to escalating training pressure rather than veterinary investigation, compounding welfare harm. Successful surgical treatment followed by appropriate rehabilitation can substantially improve welfare. Ensuring that clinical pain assessment precedes any training intervention is essential.