Overriding dorsal spinous processes, known as kissing spines, is a common source of chronic back pain in horses. Understanding causes, prevention, and treatment improves equine welfare significantly.
Kissing spines represents one of the most common and significant sources of chronic pain in domestic horses. The insidious nature of the condition means many horses perform while in pain, unable to communicate their distress beyond behavioral changes that are often misinterpreted as training or attitude problems. Horses labeled as difficult, resistant, or cold-backed are frequently experiencing undiagnosed back pain. This misattribution leads to punishment-based training responses that compound rather than address the welfare problem. Early recognition, proper diagnosis including radiography, appropriate treatment, and saddle fit assessment by a qualified professional can dramatically improve quality of life for affected horses.