Kissing Spine?

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bsja007

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this post is about my dear little 13.2hh wizzy showjumping pony.

Ive had this girl for 2 years, and for the first year she was absolutely fab, winning everytime she was out, anything from 90cm to 1.15m!
About last autumn things started to deteriate.
Gradually getting worse, she started to stop at jumps (never never never a problem before), she became very stiff, un-coordinated, not tracking up at all.
About 3 months ago along with all the above, she started to bolt in trot and canter in the menage, and also when trotting on hacks.
Last night, i went to take her for a gente hack, so i tied her on the yard and went to get my tack. As i came around the corner she saw the saddle, freaked out and snapped my headcollar, she did not want to be ridden.

I had the chiropractor out in febuary, who suggested that she was stiff and her saddle was ill fitting.
We immediately bought a new saddle and had it fitted.

We called another chiropractor out about 6 weeks ago, who said she was very very stiff in her back, neck and hind. She suggested that i walk her by hand for a while and gently trot her in 3 weeks.

She came back today, and refused to touch her.
She believes its kissing spine.

After reading up symptoms, it does very much sound like this.
I must stress this chiropractor is experienced and has seen this before.

Im not saying this is definately a kissing spine, but rather suggesting it.


If i were to go ahead with all the nerve block tests, x-rays ect, and it was a ks, and were to go ahead and have the 'new-ish' keyhole surgery...

Would she be able to compete again? (around 1m is her usual)



any imput or past experience would be so so so helpful!

thank you!
 
I would have the vet do some x-rays so you know what you are dealing with

My TB had KS, i don't want to be doom and gloom but she was 6 when diagnosed and i decided not to go ahead with the op as she wouldnt of coped with the recovery plus its not guaranteed to work. She also developed bone spavins. Decided to turn her away to full retirement. After a heart breaking decision i had her PTS last year as she just deteriorated.

On the other hand i have known horses having the surgery and being fine.

Each case is different. The above is just my personal experience xxx
 
okay thanks,
yes im not sure if we might just keep her in the field, perhaps go for a little hack in the future.
obviously we havent decided yet,
and it might not even be ks!
 
I have a mare who was given back to me after we sold her 4yrs ago
, she has kissing spines. Hers was diagnosed by xray. Her old owner said she started not wanting to be caught, ears flat back when being tacked up and girth done, backing away when she saw the tack.

I have taken her back and am rehabbing her, guided by the Physio as she has no Insurance cover left. She didnt have any operations, just injections into her back. I am currently walking her out in hand and doing pole work. Physio has said to start riding her again just in walk a couple of times a week, starting this week.

I would say in your case get the Vet and get your horse referred to an Equine Hospital where they can xray her back and do a lameness workup. You may also find she has problems in her back legs, mine was also lame on her right hind through carrying herself wrongly through pain for so long.
 
Hi- get her seen by the vet. Yes costs are scary but the actual xrays to confirm KS (or another spinal back issue) cost me £140 at Christmas and that's not major money to find out where you stand. Then you are in a position to either be ruling it out or looking at your options re treatment.
I didn't get the vet out (they couldn't to spinal x rays at my yard) I phoned and spoke to them and explained that my back lady had refused to treat my horse and advised x rays so we just took him straight in. They sedated him, took 5 shots and we were in and out with a answer within a hour.

Good luck
 
If your pony is a fine breed, your vet may be able to do some preliminary xrays at home. I have a TB and was able to xray her back at home.
 
Get vet, chiro can't tell you it's KS. It could but muscle pain, SI pain anything without X-ray which wouldn't cost the earth you don't know and if pony is insured then you can do a lameness work up on the insurance.
 
wench said:
If your pony is a fine breed, your vet may be able to do some preliminary xrays at home. I have a TB and was able to xray her back at home.
Click to expand...

im actually unsure of what breed she is, she has a small head, long back (aka short legs), but rather slim legs.
Shes got a sji (showjumping ireland) passport, with no sire/dam/breeding recorded.
 
My 20yo had 6 dorsal spinous processes which had practically fussed together.
He was happly competing and winning at veteran ridden showing and novice dressage. Till one show day when he went absolutly crazy the second i got on (2 broke fingers and a concussion later) we had the vet out, and a set of XRays diagnosed him with KS. Vet was amazed he had shown no pain till then.
Had the op (he has a very high wither so the alternate 3 were removed as apose to all 6. He is left with a small scar as his healing was very slow as the wound continued to keep opening) and 9 months later he came back into full work and even decided he would show jump 2ft3. (He had never jumped very well in all his life, chiro said old eventing fail... was obv his ks)
This was over 2 years ago now.
He is unfortunatly now retired as Cushings finished off his ridden days. But he lives merry with the youngster on Pergolide, and has even started winning Inhand veteran. Going to our first county show next month.
 
My 18yo was diagnosed with KS in January. We found it when he went for XRays for suspected Bone Spavin. They x-rayed his back and found it pretty much all the way along his spine :(

We didn't go for the operation option because he's 18 and we only hack out. You'd have to ask the vets opinion as to whether you'd be able to compete. We had steroid and tildren injections and are so far doing ok on light hacks.

I'd get xrays and go from there xx
 
Hello, my mare is a 7 years old dressage sport horse, been diagnosed with kissing spine on 3rd May 13. In July she underwent keyhole surgery. Now back to work and last Sunday we did our first intro A test. She came 2nd which is not bad after just over 4 months of having the operation! But not much canter work. I just wonder has any one, competed hirer that novice level, after this type of operation. Thank you
 
My 5 year old was diagnosed with KS this year and he had an op to remove 2 in June. He came back into work very nicely (before the op he was unrideable) and we had just started jumping when he decided to pull a muscle being silly in the field, now he's just coming back into work again. Both the vet and I believe he will be fine and I still aim to event him to at least novice in the future.

Its not the end of the world and can usually be put right, but please, get your vet to X-ray to confirm one way or the other.
 
An old horse of mine was showing similar signs, got the physio out who was very quick to mention KS and didn't want to treat him. So I got the vet out and it turned out to be slight lameness in one of his hind legs, which had given him a sore back.

I wouldn't worry until you've had the vet out and done X-rays
 
I'm just starting week six of the ridden rehab, week twelve post op, after a ligament resection in five keyholes. My horse is completely different and moving brilliantly. We have our first dressage lesson next week and plan to compete December if the weather will let us.

It cost 2000 including xrays and injections first. The injections only lasted three weeks but they did prove that it was only his back that was the issue. Cotts, who pioneered the operation, reckon sixty per cent have SI and/or PSD as well, making recovery less certain.
 
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