Special Report: Kissing Spines are Common in Horses but Not Always Career Ending

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Kissing, while generally considered favorable in its usual context, isn’t so great when it comes to horses’ vertebral surfaces. Overriding spinous processes — known as kissing spines — can cause severe back pain, said Tracy Turner, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, but not all horses with the condition have complications because of it.

Turner, of Anoka Equine Veterinary Services, in Elk River, Minnesota, performed a study in which he determined kissing spines are more likely to cause clinical problems in certain breeds, disciplines, and ages, and that a particular combination of therapies can produce successful outcomes. Download this special report to read more about the results of Dr. Turner’s study.

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Stephanie L. Church, Editorial Director, grew up riding and caring for her family’s horses in Central Virginia and received a B.A. in journalism and equestrian studies from Averett University. She joined The Horse in 1999 and has led the editorial team since 2010. A 4-H and Pony Club graduate, she enjoys dressage, eventing, and trail riding with her former graded-stakes-winning Thoroughbred gelding, It Happened Again (“Happy”). Stephanie and Happy are based in Lexington, Kentucky.

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