Kissing Spines Prevention in Sport Horses

Overriding dorsal spinous processes cause back pain in sport horses. Prevention through appropriate training, fitness, and biomechanics significantly reduces welfare harm.

Key Facts

Kissing spines affect an estimated 40% of sport horses radiographically, though not all cause pain
The condition results from impingement of thoracic vertebral spinous processes during movement
Young horses in premature heavy work before skeletal maturity are at elevated risk
Horses with kissing spines may show subtle signs including bucking, reluctance, and girthiness
Surgical interspinous ligament desmotomy resolves pain in approximately 75% of cases

Welfare Considerations

Kissing spines represent a significant welfare problem in the sport horse world, partly because the condition develops gradually and signs are often misinterpreted as behavioral rather than pain-related. A horse bucking when asked to canter, resisting contact, or showing back tension during grooming may be communicating spinal pain that has been attributed to bad attitude and addressed with escalating training pressure. Welfare-centered management investigates pain before assuming behavioral motivation and ensures young horses are not loaded with demanding schooling before their skeletal systems are ready.

What You Can Do

Have any horse showing training resistance or back pain signs assessed for kissing spines via radiography
Avoid starting young horses in demanding collected work before 5 to 6 years of age
Incorporate gymnasticizing exercises that encourage back lifting to reduce impingement during training
Ensure saddle fit assessment includes evaluation of the thoracic spine region
Seek specialist referral to a sports horse vet if kissing spines are diagnosed to discuss management options