Horse Kiss Spine (Overriding Dorsal Spinous Processes) Welfare

Overriding dorsal spinous processes (kissing spines) cause significant chronic back pain in horses. Recognition, diagnosis, and appropriate management are essential for affected horse welfare.

Key Facts

Kissing spines affects an estimated 30-40% of ridden horses, though not all cases cause clinical pain
Affected vertebrae press against each other during movement causing pain signals
Horses may show subtle signs including reluctance to work, cold-back behaviour, and back sensitivity
Diagnosis requires radiography, often combined with nerve blocks to confirm pain source
Treatment options include physiotherapy, corticosteroid injections, and surgical interspinous ligament desmotomy

Welfare Considerations

Kissing spine welfare is a major issue in the equestrian world because the condition is common, frequently causes chronic pain, and is often unrecognised or attributed to training issues. Horses with kissing spines may show subtle behavioural signs that owners and trainers interpret as disobedience rather than pain communication. This leads to increased pressure and potential punishment for pain-expressing behaviour, compounding welfare problems. Correct diagnosis requires radiography and clinical correlation. Treatment outcomes vary; physiotherapy, controlled exercise programmes, and corticosteroid injections provide relief for many horses. Surgical intervention helps some cases. Owner and trainer education about back pain recognition is critical for welfare.

What You Can Do

Learn to recognise behavioural signs that may indicate back pain in horses
Seek veterinary investigation including radiography if your horse shows reluctance to work
Ensure regular physiotherapy assessment for ridden horses as preventive welfare
Never punish behavioural signs that may indicate pain - seek investigation first