Understanding Kissing Spines in Horses
Kissing spines occurs when the vertebrae in a horse’s back become too close together, touch, or overlap, which can cause pain and affect performance. Affected horses might show signs such as sensitivity when saddled, reluctance to work, or bucking under saddle, but some horses with kissing spines might not show signs of pain.
Register for this Ask TheHorse Live event to learn more about kissing spines in horses.
Ask TheHorse Live begins on Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. EDT
About the Experts:
Katie McKenna, DVM
Katie McKenna, DVM, is a sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, she developed her passion for equine sports medicine through her hunter/equitation career and completed her veterinary degree at The Ohio State University, in Columbus, followed by an equine sports medicine and rehabilitation residency at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, in Kennett Square. Her clinical and research interests include equine athletic performance, advanced diagnostic imaging, and regenerative medicine, and she has served as an official veterinarian at major equestrian events, including the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill and the Devon Horse Show.
Bailey Decker, DVM
Bailey Decker, DVM received her BS in Animal Science and minored in Biomedical Engineering at The Ohio State University, in Columbus. She then went on to earn her veterinary degree from Long Island University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, in New York, in 2024. Decker enjoys working with equine athletes as a veterinarian with Unionville Equine Associates in Oxford, Pennsylvania.
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