Horse Back and Kissing Spine Welfare Management

Kissing spines and back pain in horses cause significant welfare compromise, often unrecognised because horses mask pain through changes in performance and behaviour.

Key Facts

Kissing spines refers to impingement between dorsal spinous processes of thoracic vertebrae
Back pain affects performance horses at high rates with up to 40% showing some degree of impingement
Clinical signs include resistance to ridden work, bucking, reluctance to engage the hindquarters
Diagnosis requires radiography often under sedation to assess degree of impingement
Treatment options include rehabilitation, medication, injection, surgery and modified training
Ill-fitting saddles are a significant contributing factor to back pain development

Welfare Considerations

Horse back pain welfare is underrecognised because horses typically show performance changes rather than obvious pain signs, and these are often attributed to training problems rather than physical discomfort. A horse that bucks when saddled, resists engagement or shows tension in ridden work may be communicating back pain that the rider interprets as disobedience. Welfare-focused horse management considers back pain as a first differential for any performance change. Regular saddle fitting, back assessment by physiotherapists, and appropriate training to build topline musculature are preventive welfare measures.

What You Can Do

Have horses assessed by a veterinary physiotherapist if performance problems develop
Ensure saddles are fitted by a qualified saddle fitter and checked annually
Engage a vet experienced in equine back problems for any horse showing resistance or behaviour change
Consider back pain as a welfare issue rather than a training problem when horses resist work