Horse Kissing Spines: Welfare and Management

Kissing spines - overriding dorsal spinous processes - is a common cause of back pain in horses. Improved understanding of this condition has led to better welfare outcomes through targeted diagnosis, management, and rehabilitation.

Key Facts

Kissing spines (impingement of dorsal spinous processes) affects approximately 39% of horses when imaged, though not all cases are clinically significant
Signs include back pain on palpation, resistance to girth tightening, poor performance, rearing, reluctance to engage hindquarters, and behavioural changes
Diagnosis requires radiography, nuclear scintigraphy, or both - clinical examination alone is insufficient for definitive diagnosis
Treatment options include medical management (corticosteroid injections, physiotherapy), ISPC surgery (interspinous ligament desmotomy), or mesotherapy
Saddle fit is critically important - poor saddle fit is a primary cause of kissing spines onset and worsening
Horses with kissing spines may have been performing in pain for months or years before diagnosis
Post-surgical outcomes are generally positive with appropriate rehabilitation, with 80-85% of horses returning to previous work levels
Regular physiotherapy, correct training, and annual saddle fitting checks reduce risk and aid management

Welfare Considerations

Kissing spines is a significant welfare problem because affected horses often continue working in pain for extended periods before diagnosis. Behavioural indicators of pain - resistance, sourness, reluctance to engage - are frequently attributed to training problems or disobedience rather than physical discomfort. This misattribution causes both suffering (through continued painful work) and sometimes welfare harm through attempts to 'correct' pain-related behaviours through stronger bits, spurs, or training aids. Greater awareness among riders, trainers, and vets of pain as the cause of ridden behaviour problems is essential for improving welfare. The good prognosis with appropriate treatment underscores the importance of investigation rather than assumption.

What You Can Do

Investigate any ridden behaviour change as a potential pain problem before attributing it to training issues
Arrange annual saddle fitting checks with a qualified saddle fitter
Seek veterinary investigation including back radiography if your horse shows back pain or ridden resistance
Work with a vet, physiotherapist, and qualified trainer to develop a rehabilitation programme after diagnosis
Use a recognised physiotherapist regularly to maintain spinal mobility and muscle condition
Support research into non-invasive diagnosis methods and improved surgical techniques for kissing spines