Horse Kissing Spines: Diagnosis and Management

Overriding dorsal spinous processes, commonly called kissing spines, is a significant cause of back pain and performance issues in ridden horses.

Key Facts

Kissing spines occur when adjacent vertebral processes make contact or overlap, causing pain and inflammation
Thoroughbreds, warmbloods, and short-backed horses are most commonly affected
Signs include back sensitivity to grooming or tacking up, unwillingness to work, bucking, and stiffness
Diagnosis is confirmed by radiography, though some horses with radiographic changes show no clinical signs
Treatment ranges from physiotherapy and corticosteroid injections to surgical options including interspinous ligament desmotomy

Welfare Considerations

Horses with undiagnosed kissing spines may be mistakenly labelled as naughty or resistant when they are in genuine pain. This misattribution leads to escalating pressure and punishment that compounds suffering. Back pain from kissing spines significantly impairs quality of life and should be investigated whenever ridden behaviour changes unexpectedly.

What You Can Do

Investigate back pain in ridden horses with a full musculoskeletal assessment before assuming behavioural causes
Work with a certified equine physiotherapist for structured rehabilitation following diagnosis and treatment
Ensure saddle fit is regularly checked by a qualified saddle fitter — poor saddle fit exacerbates back pain
Adapt ridden work to build core strength and reduce spinal compression through correct training principles