Overriding dorsal spinous processes (kissing spine) cause back pain in horses, requiring accurate diagnosis and individualized treatment for welfare and performance.
Horses with kissing spine experience chronic back pain that often goes unrecognized - behavioral changes like bucking or resistance are often attributed to disobedience rather than pain. This leads to a welfare gap where horses are punished for pain responses. A thorough pain assessment framework that considers back problems before labeling horses as difficult is essential. Treatment outcomes are generally good when diagnosis is timely.