Horse Kissing Spines Treatment and Welfare

Kissing spines (impinging dorsal spinous processes) is a significant source of back pain in horses that is often misdiagnosed or undertreated.

Key Facts

Kissing spines occur when adjacent vertebral dorsal spinous processes compress against each other
The condition is found in up to 40% of horses undergoing back imaging, though not all are symptomatic
Signs include poor performance, resistance to work, cold-backed behavior, and behavioral changes
Diagnosis requires radiography and clinical assessment - imaging alone is insufficient
Treatment options include medical management, local injection, and surgical intervention
Many horses return to full work after appropriate treatment
The correlation between imaging findings and clinical symptoms is imperfect
Saddle fit and rider balance affect the pain associated with kissing spines

Welfare Considerations

Horses with symptomatic kissing spines experience chronic back pain that affects their ability to work comfortably and perform normal activities. The behavioral signs - reluctance to be saddled, pinning ears when the girth is tightened, bucking, or reluctance to go forward - are pain expressions that are often misinterpreted as behavioral problems or training issues. Horses disciplined for pain-related behavior suffer both the original pain and the punishment. Appropriate diagnosis and treatment dramatically improve quality of life. The prevalence of the condition in sport horse populations suggests significant undiagnosed pain affecting horses in work.

What You Can Do

Investigate back pain as a possible cause of behavioral resistance in horses
Ensure professional saddle fitting and check fit regularly as horses change condition
Seek veterinary assessment including radiography if kissing spines is suspected
Do not discipline horses for pain-related behavioral responses
Allow appropriate recovery time and rehabilitation after kissing spines treatment