Kissing spine experiences please

[charlie76]

We have a horse on the yard that came with a history of being tricky to get on. If you touch him with a toe or land heavy he broncs.
He is an older horse and according to a previous owner has always been this way.
In the past few weeks he has started bucking when you first get on and ask him to move foward, he also puts his back up and swishes his tail and puts his ears back.
He is behind the leg and not forward unless you chase him.
He is girthy to tack up and once on if you try and do your girth up he won't stand still.
He has started being grumpy to groom and spooky to handle.

Does this sound like he could have kissing spine?? If so, could he have had it all his life as he has always been this way?? This horse has competed at a very high level.

 

[keeley]

My mare was treated for Kissing spines in November.

I've had her for 9 years and she has always been very fussy about saddles, and been a little cold backed and had niggles which the chiro has helped me out with.

In september last year she stared bucking in canter, she had never bucked so had her looked at and the upshot was that a couple of her spinal processes were 'close'. They will have always been like that, but she has been diagnosed with psd in her LH which made her go differently and is what caused the pain in her back, the bucking and bad behaviour.

So yes they can have it but be relatively comfortable, but it can be made worse by other problems such a PSD.

 

[charlie76]

Hmm, he did a hind suspensory a couple of years ago (minor injury)

 

[Toffee44]

Long post so here goes.

Woody had kissing spines and was PTS Oct 2006. He was only 14 but his history was steeplechasing till he was 6 and then hunting in ireland.

I was one of the few people who got on with him, as he bucked a lot and would bite when he got cold.

His old owner found he didnt like the the stable and used to lunge at her.

I always kept him well rugged up and he was happy. I team chased him with no problem and did the odd hunt. However couldnt show jump, he never collected and never worked on a outline, he would buck when he was asked to bend. My friend told me that it was his racehorse history which is why he would do this (my 17 year old self accepted this, wouldnt now). Any way one day I went to catch him and he charged at me. Thought right its late september the autumn grass is coming and he hasnt been rugged yet, so thought nothing of it. Called him in for dinner instead and he came in go caught and rugged, was fine.

Rest is a blur as I was so out of depth with him. I started riding treeless and found him better then went for dr cooks and he was fantastic. Then one day he charged at me ont he lunge, I was now scared of him completly. An experienced friend lunged him for me he did the same. And would not back down (friend challenged him, pushed him away with the whip) she set him loose and he galloped straight into my mare. I decided to seperate them and call a back person out asap. That evening he jumped the 5 bar gate between their fields. He landed flat and also looked very scared, his face will not ever leave me.

No injury so did not ring the vet until a week later when I noticed he was just over reaching continously. His whole hip was out. Anyway vet and scan confirmed kissing spine. I am now a back paranoia person however have learnt soooo much in this experience. My sister was the only person he hadnt charged at so she agreed to catch him on the day, she stroked him over the fence and he went straight up in the air and boxed out. I had to sedalin him to get him. Suppose it must have always been with him the three years I had him and possibly every since he stopped his racing career :C I miss you so much big boy. Am now off for a bit of a cry me thinks.

Playing on the x country field