Q: What signs might suggest a horse has kissing spines?
A: Kissing spines, otherwise known as overriding/impinging dorsal spinous processes, are a common diagnosis in ridden horses. Kissing spines are usually suspected when horses show signs of back pain. These signs might include the following:
- A negative reaction to pressure being applied along the spine or in the adjacent muscles
- Signs of stiffness
- Tightness through his back muscles as a whole
- Hypersensitivity when being groomed
- Signs of discomfort, such as tail swishing, head tossing or pinned ears
- Not standing still when the saddle is placed on his back, during girthing or when you mount.
Under saddle, your horse may show the following signs:
- An unwillingness to go forward
- Disunited canter
- Problems in transitions
- Resisting the bit
- Refusing of jumps
- Bucking, kicking or rearing
- A lack of swing through the back
If you notice any of the above symptoms, your vet will likely want to do X-Rays to get a better picture of what’s happening. Radiographic changes on their own don’t necessarily mean your horse has pathological kissing spines – there need to be clear signs of back pain in addition to these changes. For this reason, vets have to be careful in deciding what needs treating – kissing spines often occur secondary to an underlying problem and sometimes tackling these underlying problems can reduce the issues with kissing spines. Underlying problems might include:
- Poor hoof balance (negative plantar angles with long toes and/or low heels)
- Weak core muscles
- Facet joint arthritis or even fractures
- Dental problems
- Sore hocks or stifles
- Poor saddle fit
Did you know?
About 80% of horses will have radiographic changes to their backs, but most don’t show any signs of pain.