Kissing Spine - not as romantic as it sounds

Hey Athletes!

Kissing Spine. This has been a popular term recently in the horse industry but what exactly is it?

Kissing spine refers to when 2 or more spinous processes in the back that are touching or “kissing”

Studies have shown that it occurs in about 40% of horses and while recent studies have shown that there can be a congenital causation (they’re born with it or it’s their conformation), most of the time it can be attributed to poor saddle fit, poor body condition, poor self carriage/poor posture, all of which can be prevented. Many veterinarians prescribe medication or even surgery to treat this issue, but if the underlying cause isn’t addressed, chances are that even after surgery, your horse could still end up the same.

What can you do about it? Ensure your horse is fit for the work being asked of them. When their muscles start to fatigue, they may call from other areas of the body to help compensate, which doesn’t help them learn how to carry themselves correctly.

Stock photos are great for learning to train your eye. Take photos and videos of your own riding to see if your horse is able to lift his back or if it is angled down like this one. When the back is lifted, the space between the spinous processes is increased. When the back is hollow, such as in the stock photo below, the space between the processes decreases, making them more prone to touching.

If your horse has been sitting all winter or for an extended time period, think twice about just throwing the saddle on and going for a ride. Maybe spend some time strengthening their back muscles so they can carry you efficiently. Not sure how? Send me a message or email at ridelikeanathlete@gmail.com and we can develop a program to help prepare your horse for their job.

How often do you get your saddle checked? The recommendation is every 6 months as your horse is always changing shape. Educate yourself on what a correctly fitting saddle looks like so you can be aware of when it may not be fitting and can call a professional out before it becomes a larger issue.

I’m always happy to chat about how bodywork and correct exercise can help with injury prevention or preventative maintenance. If you have any questions or concerns about your horse, please send me a message and let’s talk about what we can do for your horse.

Cheers,

Ashley