For those of you who's horses have or have had Kissing Spine

[TicTac]

I know I have posted quite a few questions about this condition over the last week since my mare's diagnosis but before I commit her to a big operation I want to get as much information as I can.

1.What symptoms did you horse present with?
2. What was the first thing your horse did that led you to realise that something was not right?
3. What method was used to diagnose your horse ie, nerve blocks, xrays, gamma rays etc
4. Was the diagnosis made on xrays alone.
5. If you horse has successfully had the operation how different is it to before.
6. Last but not least, what was the biggest hurdle you had to overcome before you saw the light at the end of the tunnel?

Any thing you can tell me however big or small will really help me make the right decision. Thank you

This post is also in NL

 

[Lace57]

1.Horse didnt like to go deep into a fence if he did he would scoot of and then have next one down. We worked v hard with sj and thought we'd cracked it had him in deep in warm up to try and make him think about what he was doing and then went in. First fence he slammed brakes on and reared up (sent me flying!)
2. As i was injured sent him to my trainers to keep ticking over as was v fit tb. They said whilst lunging him on hard (dont ask me why they were!) he wasnt sound. Off to vets we went.
3. Diagnosed by xrays
4. Yes made just by xrays
5. Different horse in performance can now sj but unfortunately sold the horse as he had a screw loose after operation and he was 2 big for me to deal with and lost alot of confidence.
6. Unfortunately i never got to this i perservered as much and aslong as i could but lots of things kept happening that i didnt enjoy riding him any more. All the rehab work was a VERY long process. In the end I sent him to a top male event rider that took no **** and got on well with him.

Sorry its all a bit doom and gloom but from my experience Id never do it again. I suppose it depends of the horses temprement. But this was the most loving horse id ever had. Although he was a sensitive tb. I loved going for long hacks on this horse on buckle end and after op he just spooked at everything and came down with me on road several times. He also started napping after op which he never ever did before

 

[ilovecobs]

Don't know much at all about the condition but on the last yard i was on he other year was a lady whose horse had it and he had an op but it was unsuccessful, to look at him you wouldn't know there was a thing wrong with him but he couldn't be ridden. I really hope your girls better soon!

 

[Lace57]

I also forgot to say although it was sucessfull for his jumping he lost hes elevated floaty paces after op. And he never looked in the condition he did before the op. He ended up looking pot belled and we fed him everything to get condition on him but he always looked ribby and lost alot of muscle even though we worked hard with pessoa and schooling etc