Working Animals

Horse Kissing Spines: Diagnosis and Welfare Management

Kissing spines - overriding dorsal spinous processes - is a common source of chronic back pain in sport horses that is frequently missed and undertreated.

Key Facts

Kissing spines affects an estimated 20-40% of sport horses in some studies
The condition involves impingement between adjacent dorsal spinous processes
Diagnosis requires radiography and correlating imaging findings with clinical signs
Conservative management with physiotherapy and mesotherapy helps mild cases
Surgical interspinous ligament desmotomy has high success rates for severe kissing spines

Welfare Considerations

Horses with kissing spines experience chronic back pain affecting every aspect of their work and daily life. The pain manifests as resistance to saddling, reluctance to flex, bucking, bolting, and poor performance often misattributed to attitude or training problems. Horses punished for pain behaviors face compounded welfare harm. The welfare priority is accurate diagnosis followed by appropriate pain management and treatment.

What You Can Do

Seek veterinary investigation including back radiography if your horse shows unexplained resistance
Never attribute back pain-related behavior to attitude without ruling out physical causes
Follow through with physiotherapy and management recommendations after kissing spines diagnosis
Consider whether competition demands are appropriate for horses with managed kissing spines
Advocate for routine back assessment in pre-purchase examinations for sport horses