Could my horse have Kissing Spine!

[mrfluffyfeet.]

I have owned my five year old cob a year , i did buy him from a field in which he had been put straight in off the ferry from Ireland.So Granted we know VERY little about him. Since buying him he has had Serval problems and spent 8 days in the vet school.
Overall he is a saint, very laid back , very chilled , Happy horse.

I initially noticed his issues as he started to bolt as soon as i got on him about 6 months after we got him , this was very new for him and unexplained. It would only be the first time i got on him and i could get off and on again and he would be fine. I managed to control it slightly by having someone on the ground feeding him nuts whilst i got on and got ready. My instructor just thought he was cold backed due to his "unknown bad past " I did not believe this as much ... but i am a worrier !
With his fitness in creasing i started to notice he developed what seemed to be a fear of his saddle SO badly i have actually been unable to tack him up a handful of times he blows his stomach so bad and moves away form me that i cant get his girth up! but whenever i get his saddle out he seems scared of me to !!
so i got a saddler out who said his saddle did not fit and he was tense on both his back and girth due to it but gave me a new saddle and for a three weeks he was happier however the problems are back in full force , refuses to be tacked up at all now and i hate to see his so distressed and i am sick of being told i am to soft on him , i am not.

I would like to add he has had a case of ulcers in his stomach due to his accident with the tree however the vet school assured me when i collected him they were all treated and cleared as we agreed to paying the extra for it.

Am i being a worrier or are these similar symptoms ?
If anyone has any ways in which they think i can help him i would love to hear also we have a 3 grand vet bill so would rather hear opinions before i give myself another one!!

 

[kinnygirl1]

Could the ulcers have recurred? Does sound a bit like ulcer symptoms, although I know the symptoms can be similar to KS. Worth another scope maybe? Mine had ulcers and developed a fear of his tack too.

 

[Goldenstar]

Yes he might have KS and yes it may be ulcers and the pain from KS could be causing ulcers so he may have both .
I am afraid it is a job for a vet .

 

[Primitive Pony]

Ulcers can come back, easily brought about again due to stress - are you feeding to manage them as well as possible and keep them at bay?

And although it was very recent, another saddle check? - if he is getting fit and changing shape it could well be tight very quickly.

Equally, have him checked over by a vet physio if you haven't already? - and yes, I would agree that KS is a possibility. And as above, the two may go hand in hand and it becomes very hard to differentiate the symptoms.

My horse has had both KS and ulcers - pm me if you want any more info!

 

[fuzzle]

Its elimination of problems here hun, defo get the saddle re checked and i would also get a back specialist out ie Mark Windsor he travels around the country he can also eliminate the kissing spine for you!!! ulcers do come back!!! and horses that have had them need to be maintained to help them and to stop them coming back and you must have correct feed etc my horse has had ulcers and was identical to how yours is behaving!!! ulcers are very expensive to treat but there are many products on the market which can help!! more than happy to help has been threw this myself xxxxx

 

[Izzwizz]

Your horse sounds very similar to what I have just been through with my horse. He wouldnt settle at a show and reared with me. My Trainer was with me a couple of days later when I was tacking up, he was buckling under the pressure of being brushed, we both saw it at the same time. He had a very sore back. Had his teeth done, saddles checked and Physio out. Hes just completed 4 sessions of physio and had 4 weeks off, seems lots better and is back being ridden. Physio coming back in 3 weeks time to check him. My horse is normally a very laid back character so it was completely not him to rear.

I have had a kissing spine horse and the symptoms you describe are similar but I would advise you to either get your Vet out and/or a good horse Physio.

 

[cptrayes]

i would also get a back specialist out ie Mark Windsor he travels around the country he can also eliminate the kissing spine for you!!!

Whilst I am sure that there are horses he can help, and I have seen his work, this is just not true of most cases of kissing spine, sorry

OP, I'm another with a horse who had both kissing spines and ulcers. You need a proper diagnosis of the back by x ray and the stomach by scoping, unless your vet will allow you to go straight for a drug trial for ulcers.

 

[cellie]

Ive just had diagnosis on mild kissing spine and sacroiliac injury. My horse was unable to pick up correct lead which is why I investigated but he was showing same symptoms with his grooming and tacking up regime. He bolted one day when I tightened his girth forunately he didnt buck or behave badly ridden. Hes just had treatment , I would suggest ring your vet before he becomes worse.Im so glad I stopped riding things could have been much worse.