Kissing Spine non surgical treatment

[MoonlitArcher]

My horse has been diagnosed with kissing spine. He has 4 vertebrae that are touching, with 2 that are overlapping. The vet opted that he have steroid injections and physio, 4 weeks of non ridden exercise then slowly introduce ridden work again in about 6 weeks.

Just wondering if anyone else has successfully treated their horses like this? I wanted to opt straight for the surgery but the vet advised we try this option first. Just wondered if there are other horses out there who have continued with their normal work, despite not having surgery. Also, for those who have had the surgery, what was the recovery period and have you managed to go back to full work afterwards?

Thanks

 

[paddi22]

yeah I've had a few now with kissing spine, and they stayed in work with correct management. I wouldn't have put mine through the op. I know a few folks that did and all the horse were not rideable a few years later, even though they did the rehab properly.


With my kissing spine horses I really had to learn how to build and keep correct muscle on them, so I did tons of dressage lessons so I really understood how the back worked and how to keep it strong. I can't give them much time off time off for holidays as their backs become sore if they lose muscle. so it really is a case of building the correct muscle and way of going when ridden so they are really working correctly over their back. I've seen a friend with a kissing spine horse think she was working correctly, when she was just pulling the neck into a nice shape visually, but that is so damaging for their backs, it's really important to learn it correctly. I paid a pro to ride mine a few times a week and really talk me through what she was doing and aiming for. that was brilliant for me to be able to replicate it and understand it when I was schooling myself.

 

[Melody Grey]

There are some good Facebook groups entitled ‘horses with KS’ and variants on that where you can connect with others rehabbing and doing non-surgical routes.

From experience, I’d say look at the whole horse- KS is a whole body condition that affects more than just the back. I went full surgical route with mine and did a great rehab, but lost her through other, unknown issues that hadn’t been considered.

 

[Birker2020]

From experience, I’d say look at the whole horse- KS is a whole body condition that affects more than just the back.

Agree, most horses with Kissing Spine also have hock issues.

 

[MoonlitArcher]

@paddi22 how severely were your horses affected? The X-ray shows 4 sites that are touching under the saddle area. 2 are overlapped and there is one area that the vets said an op wouldn’t reach anyway. Do you really think surgery is a bad idea? He is only 8yrs old and such a lovely boy, I was hoping to compete locally and do one day events and fun rides etc ? obviously now his workload will depend on how he goes with treatment, I just feel so gutted.

The vets are happy there is no sign of lameness, he is sound aside from the sore back. They also said that the kissing spine might not necessarily be causing the back pain, so can do further tests if he doesn’t respond to this treatment.

@Melody Grey im sorry for the loss of your horse, must have been so heartbreaking to go through all of that xxx

 

[Melody Grey]

@MoonlitArcher yes, totally gutting- she was 7 years old and looked amazing, but was fundamentally crocked for reasons we couldn’t find. It’s been a learning curve undoubtedly and after having and working with others with KS and related problems, I think the learning experience has helped me to work more constructively with others. If I knew then what I knew now, it may have been a different story, but that’s why sharing what I’ve learnt is so important.

 

[sbloom]

The common pattern may include SI, hocks and suspensories. I would go to an inhand rehab specialist and work on posture, for more than 4 weeks in most cases. Very careful saddle fit, light, fit knowledgeable rider, able to work in the ways outline by paddi22, and continued in hand work weekly, forever, would be the ideal way to go IMO.

My instinct is that surgery must have downsides in terms of strength and longevity.

 

[Jumoro]

My boy is 2.5 years post KS surgery. We opted for injections after his diagnosis and achieved some improvements initially but his condition deteriorated after about 6 months so we went for surgery. Rehab was slow and hard work - I was/am pretty clueless but I have really good pro rider and excellent eyes on the ground who have helped me to take him right back to basics and and build up the correct musculature/teach him how to use himself properly. We also injected his hocks fairly soon after bringing him back into work. He's currently doing great - surpassing expectations in terms of his performance - and has gone from a somewhat grumpy/anxious/aloof horse to a laid back and happy chap who really seems to enjoy his work. I wouldn't knowingly take on a horse with KS (he had been vetted not that long before diagnosis) and if I found myself in the same situation again I would not rush into surgery, however it was the right decision for my boy and (so far) has paid off for him. Having said that I don't think there will ever be a time when I will be able to say that we're done - keeping him strong, fit and correct will always be a work in progress. You might find some of the fb groups helpful - to get more perspective on the options you have and the types of rehab plan that people follow (with and without surgery). Good luck with whatever you decide - I hope all goes well for you and your horse.

 

[Green Bean]

I went with the rehab option as I have little faith in the surgery option, but that is personal. My mare has two processes affected just behind the whither. She had an injection then Danilon for 2 weeks. From then on, it has been regular, correct riding. I consider myself lucky with her as she has responded really well to this but know I will need to keep up correct working / riding for the rest of her active life.

 

[CalamityJane80]

Have you heard of art2ride? https://art2ride.com/about-us/

I have heard of a few people turning around horses with Kissing Spine using this methodology. I've been dabbling in it for a few years on and off, and its pretty awesome stuff,

 

[sbloom]

Have you heard of art2ride? https://art2ride.com/about-us/

I have heard of a few people turning around horses with Kissing Spine using this methodology. I've been dabbling in it for a few years on and off, and its pretty awesome stuff,

I do have this on my groundworks links list, though it's a slightly controversial option, as are a couple of others on my list. There are discussions and other stuff revealed by Googling if anyone wants to know the ins and outs. Any in hand (and ridden, it's just more challenging) technique that aims to lift the thoracic sling could be considered.

 

[CalamityJane80]

Oh that very interesting, i'll have a read for sure! I attended an Art2Ride clinic a few years ago and thought it looked amazing (I was just fencesitting for the clinic), I find it funny that they do say you won't have success if you're not riding bitted - I've been having great fun with it.

I'm not into it seriously, we just potter around with a few of the concepts, mainly, encouraging a low head carriage while working on the lunge. Its just blown my mind. And the difference in his attitiude toward lunging / working on the circle now is really lovely to watch. That said. I've not been using it to treat Kissing Spine, I've just been using it to keep an old horse moving.

I'll read up on the controversy over the weekend All the best with your quest for treatment

 

[planete]

I am using the Art2Ride in hand work at the moment as it seems to make more sense to my coblet than other methods. No kissing spine but he has 'problems' with many things other people have done with him before I got him so i have to try different approaches. i have also had a long look at Science in Motion after J-L Cornille was mentioned elsewhere. Another way of getting the horse to lift his ribcage by allowing/developing the lifting power of the front legs. Probably more difficult to implement than Art2Ride, for me anyway, or perhaps better suited to thoroughbred types.