Kissing Spines Welfare in Horses

Overriding dorsal spinous processes (kissing spines) cause significant back pain in horses. Diagnosis and treatment restore performance and welfare for affected animals.

Key Facts

Kissing spines occur when adjacent vertebral processes contact or overlap, causing pain
Thoroughbreds and warmbloods have higher incidence due to conformation
Signs include back pain on palpation, reluctance to work, and changes in gait
Diagnosis by radiography allows definitive identification of affected vertebrae
Surgical desmotomy or interspinous ligament injection provides good outcomes in most cases

Welfare Considerations

Kissing spines cause chronic back pain that impairs performance and reduces quality of life. The pain of dorsal spinous process contact during movement explains many commonly observed performance problems including resistance to schooling, bucking, and reluctance to canter. Diagnosis requires radiography of the back with appropriate positioning. Treatment options including interspinous injections, bisphosphonate therapy, and surgical desmotomy achieve good outcomes in appropriately selected cases, restoring normal back movement and eliminating pain.

What You Can Do

Seek veterinary investigation for horses with back pain or unexplained performance decline
Request radiographic evaluation of the back for horses with clinical signs of kissing spines
Discuss treatment options with an equine surgical specialist for diagnosed cases
Support breeding programmes that consider back conformation in selection criteria