Kissing Spines Prevention in Horses

Kissing spines - overriding dorsal spinous processes - is a significant source of chronic back pain in horses, and understanding its causes and prevention supports better equine welfare.

Key Facts

Kissing spines affects an estimated 39% of horses radiographically, though not all are clinically affected
The condition involves the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae touching or overlapping, causing pain
Poor saddle fit, heavy riders relative to horse size, and incorrect training can predispose horses to kissing spines
Modern surgical and rehabilitation approaches can achieve good outcomes in appropriately selected horses
Horses with undiagnosed kissing spines may be labelled as difficult or resistant due to pain-related behaviour

Welfare Considerations

Kissing spines welfare illustrates how equine back pain can be masked by misattribution to temperament. Horses with chronic back pain from kissing spines may refuse to be saddled, buck, become tense under saddle, or show resistance to collected work - all of which are pain responses frequently misinterpreted as naughty behaviour. This misattribution leads to attempts to train through the resistance using aversive methods that worsen the welfare situation. Veterinary diagnosis through radiography and response to diagnostic local anaesthesia identifies horses whose back pain is causing behavioural problems. Treatment and appropriate rehabilitation, combined with attention to saddle fit and training approach, can dramatically improve welfare.

What You Can Do

Investigate back pain before assuming poor behaviour is a training problem in horses
Ensure regular saddle fitting by qualified saddle fitters using appropriate dynamic assessment
Monitor horses for early signs of back discomfort including sensitivity to grooming or saddling
Seek veterinary assessment including radiography if back pain is suspected
Use appropriate exercises to develop core strength and reduce kissing spines risk