A few questions about kissing spines....

Michen

Michen

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Off the track tb, was checked over by physio two days ago. He was reacting at the two points she said could possibly indicate kissing spines, however after some work/treatment on it he was non reactive (even half an hour later after treating everywhere else). However as ever I'm panicking a bit, he's very short backed, 7 year old flat racer.

He doesn't really have any other KS symptoms that I have noticed yet, he's literally just started reschooling. Perfectly happy to work long and low, doesn't mind being tacked up (a little bit grumpy to girth but now he's realising I'm doing it slowly and nicely he's improving a lot) and fine to mount etc.

- Am I right that short backed horses are more susceptible?
- She is coming back to look at him in three weeks but suggests I really just crack on with him and see how he goes
- This horse LOVES rolling. I mean totally loves it. He hasn't been turned out in months and months until I got him, and I kid you not he comes in dripping from head to toe in mud every day with his head absolutely caked and I have to hose him off with his rug on. To the extent mud is getting inside his neck cover! Surely if his back was that sore, and he was really in discomfort, he wouldn't be thrashing around rolling everywhere like he is? Or am I being optimistic... His new name is now Hippo!
 
There is a thread on here recently debating possible causes of KS - will see if I can find it. My horse is short backed and has KS but quite probably would have been fine were it not for poor saddle fit previously. The German vet Gerd Heuschmann has some good input into this - again I'll need to drag it up!

If I were you, I'd focus on building up his stomach muscles and topline, and go from there.

Girthiness could also indicate ulcers, particularly with an ex-racer?
 
When he raced was he a flat racer or jump? When they've jumped too big at a young age they can be more prone to it. However, I did have a horse with KS and there were so many signs- tail swishing when changing the rein, not happy on lunge, struggled long and low, was very unhappy to be tacked up, wouldn't stand to be mounted- this was a 100% genuine and honest horse. Obviously every horse tolerates things differently but I would be surprised if he did have it with no other signs. If he's loving being out and rolling that much could he have rolled on something leaving him a sore spot, does his saddle fit him? In my experience most physios tend to err on the cautious side and if they really are concerned they would/should be referring him to the vets for investigations.
 
My mare ( short backed TB) had KS , only symptom was reluctance to bend. Only way to know for sure is X-ray . But making sure they work correctly is a big factor in keeping them pain free .
 
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