Horse who has had kissing spine surgery- should I buy?

[Cowpony101]

Hi everyone,
I’m interested in buying this horse who is perfect (on paper) in every other way apart from the fact that he’s had kissing spine surgery (bone shaving.) I don’t know a lot about KS but as far as I’ve been told it’s not going to come back/ won’t affect his further performance.
he is only 7 and he had the surgery when he was about 5. I’m planning to event him at novice/ intermediate and they’ve advertised him at half the price he would be, because of the KS.
Just interested to see what everyone else would do..would you buy? Obviously there are a lot of other horses out there but it’s proving very difficult to find one at the moment so we are considering him.
thanks!

 

[twiggy2]

I wouldn't especially as you want to event, well I wouldn't anyway but maybe I would say yes if you wanted a quiet hack and we're happy if you only had a few years riding.

 

[Kahlua]

I’d be guided by advice from my trusted vet and if they said the horse would be fine for purpose I would move ahead. If not, I’d keep looking. Many horses go on totally fine after (or even with) kissing spine, many do not. Does he have a proven record? Funnily enough this story just came up on my FB.

https://www.noellefloyd.com/blogs/s...BY9xKCztFbR2QZ5Pn5DKXIxh-DO08Qz95NHAHmgZSqtgo

 

[ihatework]

You need a good independent vet to advise you.

I’d want to know who did the op, how the rehab was done and what the horse has achieved since the op. I’d also want a fresh set of xrays and I’d want to see the horse pass a 5 stage from a good orthopaedic vet.

If that is all positive I wouldn’t rule it out, but you will need to be very diligent in how the horse is worked to keep the back strong.

If it’s a primary KS that horse was born with, which it sounds like it stands a good chance of being, then that should stand a better outcome to secondary to lameness.

It’s a gamble for sure, but if the horse is good possibly one worth taking

 

[Cortez]

Wouldn't touch with a ten foot barge pole at any price I'm afraid.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I wouldn't have it given, tbh and would have very little respect for an owner who thought that selling the horse on was a good idea. If it can't do what they want, loan it to someone who doesn't want to do what they want to do with it.

 

[ycbm]

Hi everyone,
I’m interested in buying this horse who is perfect (on paper) in every other way apart from the fact that he’s had kissing spine surgery (bone shaving.) I don’t know a lot about KS but as far as I’ve been told it’s not going to come back/ won’t affect his further performance.
he is only 7 and he had the surgery when he was about 5. I’m planning to event him at novice/ intermediate and they’ve advertised him at half the price he would be, because of the KS.
Just interested to see what everyone else would do..would you buy? Obviously there are a lot of other horses out there but it’s proving very difficult to find one at the moment so we are considering him.
thanks!

By novice/intermediate, do you mean BE Novice/Intermediate, jumps up to 1m 25, hard galloping, dressage at elementary BD?

A genuine £20+k horse reduced to £10+k, not a 'potential to event at Intermediate' in the owner's imagination?

If the vet will sign a vetting certificate to say fit for that purpose, so you can potentially go after their professional insurance if it breaks down because of the back, then possibly I would take a chance.

It would also depend if any spinal processes have been removed. If they have only been shaved, maybe, if any have been removed altogether, no.

 

[paddi22]

totally agree with ycbm. the horse would only be tempting if it was a schoolmaster with a proven track record a few levels above what you are aiming for and that you were absolutely getting for a bargain.

you would want to know exactly how much work has he done since the surgery?
also what do the X-rays look like now?

a lot of those kissing spine ops, the issues only seem to show up 3 or so years down the line. so I'd be wondering why are they selling now? why spend the money to do the op and do all the rehab and then sell on?

you would also need to check that your plan to keep the horse is compatible with a ks. I have has two with ks and it meant I had to change the routine I had with them. I usually give winter off, but I couldn't anymore as they couldn't risk losing muscle. it's a small thing, but it totally messed up how I had to arrange my year and fitting in other stuff! the one I have now with KS can't have more than a week off. I also have a special physio training routine to make sure he keeps the muscle along his back. small things, but they do make a difference in your days to day management

 

[TGM]

he is only 7 and he had the surgery when he was about 5. !

So how long exactly between his op and today? Because you say he had the surgery 'when he was about 5' and he is only seven now. So by the sounds of things he could have had the surgery at six, or at least late in his fifth year. So perhaps you could be buying him quite shortly after his operation, so no real time to see how things pan out, especially as there is using quite a long rehab period. Has the horse been out competing after the surgery?

 

[IrishMilo]

Only if it's been operating at the level you want consistently for a good few years, and it's a bargain.

 

[splashgirl45]

personally i wouldnt, unless i could afford to lose the money, too much risk IMO

 

[AmyMay]

Nopedy, nope, nope, nope.

 

[Melody Grey]

Be wary of other issues such as SI, suspensories, bilateral lameness. I did an amazing KS rehab After full surgery years ago (read about it on here) only to lose the horse later Due to un- diagnosed contributory issues that weren’t picked up. I no longer believe KS can be a stand alone condition, but that’s just my experience.

 

[Melody Grey]

Be wary of other issues such as SI, suspensories, bilateral lameness. I did an amazing KS rehab After full surgery years ago (read about it on here) only to lose the horse later Due to un- diagnosed contributory issues that weren’t picked up. I no longer believe KS can be a stand alone condition, but that’s just my experience.

ETA- there would have been a 6-9 month window where I could have sold this horse in the manner you describe above- then broke down again.

 

[Melody Grey]

Also, consider what your insurance prospects might look like for vets fees and things that could be considered linked and excluded?

 

[Fastasflames]

hell no!

 

[Cowpony101]

So how long exactly between his op and today? Because you say he had the surgery 'when he was about 5' and he is only seven now. So by the sounds of things he could have had the surgery at six, or at least late in his fifth year. So perhaps you could be buying him quite shortly after his operation, so no real time to see how things pan out, especially as there is using quite a long rehab period. Has the horse been out competing after the surgery?

I would definitely have to check the exact times he had the surgery/ how long he had his rehab for etc. The owner said they realised something was wrong after his first couple of events as a 5yo. So he must have had his surgery around then and had his rehab by the time he turned 7 as this year as a 7yo he had a very good season of what was left...

 

[ycbm]

I would definitely have to check the exact times he had the surgery/ how long he had his rehab for etc. The owner said they realised something was wrong after his first couple of events as a 5yo. So he must have had his surgery around then and had his rehab by the time he turned 7 as this year as a 7yo he had a very good season of what was left...

They could have attempted a non surgical rehab first, he might have been 6 before it was done.

If he's had a good return to work and there are no concerns, then why sell now? I find it suspicious that they have not told you clearly the actual date the op was done.