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Kissing Spine Case Study
This schoolmaster dressage horse was diagnosed with kissing spine. He presented with a sore back. The horse was unwilling to engage its hindquarters and was ‘girthy’ when saddled which had not been a problem for very long.
Radiographs showed a very specific area of two spaces between the spinous processes (under where the saddle sits) that were impinging and displayed changes on x-ray.
Diagnosis is really important for a good outcome. Sore backs can be caused by many things including;
Poor saddle fitting
Poor back conformation
Dental problems teeth because horses will evade the bit, ill fitting bits
Sore feet e.g. laminitis, navicular syndrome, leaning back due to pain.
Other lamenesses, e.g. stifle OCD
Injuries, e.g. a fall.
Cortisone injections into the back in this case along with other treatments (eg. chiropractic, massage, physio) and a saddle fitting check have resulted in a more comfortable and happy horse.
Remember that you can’t always compete on medication, so check your competition status. These treatments can only be provided by a veterinarian.
The importance of timely shoeing
This is a clear example of why we shouldn’t leave shoes on for too long.
You can see in the image at the top that the nails have bent and the balance is uneven with the hoof wall growing outside the shoe, putting pressure on the white line. Its is better to be unshod and trimmed.
Without regular foot care long term joint, tendon or ligament damage can occur.
Shoeing is recommended to be scheduled for up to 6 weeks intervals. This case was 9 weeks due to external circumstances.
