kissing spines in 4 year old - what would you do?

[kezimac]

My RI events a horse with Kissing Spines, and his partner competes at Advanced Medium Dressage on a horse with Kissing Spines...... neither horse has been operated on.

They work their horses in an exagerated long, low outline at all times (unless competing), using a Pessoa whilst lunging...... by working them long and low, they are stretching over their backs, therefore, 'opening' the discs reducing the pinching of the spinal cord.

This may not work for eveyone, but surely, it is worth giving it a try.....??

some horses can continue with strengthing work (no discs by way in horses just ligaments and tissue in between processes) but some may need surgery or steroid injection - all depends on the severity - how many are affected and how the horses temperment/pain threshold is.

My mare has 8 impinging processes. She has had one lot of injections and will be having another lot before insurance runs out. She is being treated by Svend At willesley. I wont put her thru an op to remove the processes mainly as I dont believe she could cope with the box rest afterwards (3 months) and I dont believe removing 4 pieces of bone will strengthen her back.
She was only disgnosed due to tiny subtle fore limb lameness and a niggly feeling i had that there may be something in back - she has never once bucked, she is girthy, but has never done anything for you to think that her back is so bad.
She is worked low and also lunged with equiami at least 3 times a week to keep tummy strong.

 

[Wagtail]

some horses can continue with strengthing work (no discs by way in horses just ligaments and tissue in between processes) but some may need surgery or steroid injection - all depends on the severity - how many are affected and how the horses temperment/pain threshold is.

My mare has 8 impinging processes. She has had one lot of injections and will be having another lot before insurance runs out. She is being treated by Svend At willesley. I wont put her thru an op to remove the processes mainly as I dont believe she could cope with the box rest afterwards (3 months) and I dont believe removing 4 pieces of bone will strengthen her back.
She was only disgnosed due to tiny subtle fore limb lameness and a niggly feeling i had that there may be something in back - she has never once bucked, she is girthy, but has never done anything for you to think that her back is so bad.
She is worked low and also lunged with equiami at least 3 times a week to keep tummy strong.

My horse was on strict box rest for only 2 weeks and he had five processes removed. He then had a further two weeks stabled but with walking in hand twice a day. After that he was turned out for two months before starting work in the pessoa. So it was not bad at all and he coped brilliantly. He was operated on at Rossdales. We had a bit if a setbak though but I have just (this week) started work with him in the pessoa again after giving him a further 15 weeks off 24/7 in the field. He has come back with a much improved spring to his trot, and so far no resentment at being tacked up, so fingers crossed...

 

[Dab]

My horse was on strict box rest for only 2 weeks and he had five processes removed. He then had a further two weeks stabled but with walking in hand twice a day. After that he was turned out for two months before starting work in the pessoa. So it was not bad at all and he coped brilliantly. He was operated on at Rossdales. We had a bit if a setbak though but I have just (this week) started work with him in the pessoa again after giving him a further 15 weeks off 24/7 in the field. He has come back with a much improved spring to his trot, and so far no resentment at being tacked up, so fingers crossed...

That is good to hear, I was wondering how your boy was getting on after the set-back. Fingers crossed

 

[Wagtail]

Thank you. He is also now barefoot as being shod was another of his 'problems'. He was a bit footsore on hard ground so I bough him some boots, and this seems to have made a big difference to him too.

 

[Dab]

Thank you. He is also now barefoot as being shod was another of his 'problems'. He was a bit footsore on hard ground so I bough him some boots, and this seems to have made a big difference to him too.

Snap, we've gone barefoot too, with boots just for hacking, it's a long road but so far so good. 5 months off and coming back into work, lots of pole work and roadwork.

 

[GoodyGoody]

Kissing Spines Syndrome is just the latest syndrome that is being latched onto to explain lameness but no-one says why suddenly so many horses are experiencing KSS. Did nature suddenly go wrong? KSS is almost always caused by muscular tension preventing the spinal processes assuming their normal position. The muscular tension can be due to incorrect training or riding and/or muscular tension in other parts of the body causing pain and the horse having to readjust and tense up in order to try to stop feeling the pain. I am quite sure that the Cottsequine surgery is very effective although I do ask myself about the long term effects. But for me it is not enough. I want to know why the horse is experiencing it in the first place and want to attack the cause. I'm glad I am not the only one singing this song. I recently saw another website the other day from a rider called Antoine de Bodt (www.hoefkatrol.be) - 'hoefkatrol' is the Dutch for Navicular syndrome - who is also scathing about KSS and Navicular Syndrome. With KSS or NS or any of the other symptoms of lameness the horse is telling you it is in pain and the CAUSE is almost never to be found where most vets look. Let's face it is is a lot easier to file down a few spinal processes and cut ligaments then look ourselves in the mirror and ask ourselves what we might do as riders and trainers to fix the problem.