Kissing Spines

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yeahaakate

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my 7year old tb mare was diagnosed with kissing spine this time last year. it was a long procces as we had no idea about this issue before hand and we had numerous visits from our trusted physiotherapist (after a series of rearing episodes). the physio pointed out that Hettie has very low heels, and as she was due getting shod, she was long in the toe. she stated that as she is low in the heels this would be causing her to hold her back differently, which could be the problem. after getting her shod, our physio returned and gave her a 100% check up and said she was absolutley fine. after massge for another week, i went to ride her in the paddock as she was far to dangerous on roads, and it ended up with me hurled into the fence after a 60 second bronc-a-thon. we then called the vet, and he said she has kissing spines. he did this by running his hand along her back at which she threw her head up and bared her teeth. after this, (with me still shken after the fall) we just accepted that she would be a field ornament.
after nearly 12 months off, we are looking at the vet coming back to look at her and to get her x-rayed.. as we never actullay did get her scanned. whatever the outcome may be, we are prepared to operate. has anyone got any advice about steps before surgery, and is anyone in a similar situation?
thankyou for reading my essay, but i feel the only way i can make my decision is by learning form other peoples experiences!!
 
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I was discussing this very thing with a vet from Germany last week, apparently many horses do have KS and never ever show any signs of it. It depends a lot on the managment and rider of the horse. You HAVE to make sure that the horse has really good back muscles. Apparently SJs have the best rate of successfull rehabilitaion of horses with KS and dressage horses have the worst (says a lot about "modern" dressage IMO).

The horse has to come back into work under guidance of a good vet, regular physio (i like acupuncture i find it is great for keeping the muscles relaxed for longer) will also increase chances of success alongside any treatments the vet may offer.

Lots of lunging and long reining, making sure the horse is working long and low. When ridden lots of work long and low, pole work etc, obviously a well fitting saddle and good shoeing.

It need not be the end of the world, best of luck with you mare :)
 
You situation is very similar to mine. I have a 10 year old who 18months ago started getting a bit funny about being tacked up, and then had two really bad broncing episides. We had the back man and a horse physio who 'did their thing' and said he was completely fine. Que another broncing episode and me hurting my back and my neck quite bacdly.....

The vet then did lots of scans and diagnosed kissing spins - he told us it can take various forms and different severities, and it is a lot more common in horses than ponies.

My horse had three weeks off and then was given steroid injections into his back. He had another two weeks off and was slowly bought back into work. The vet told us the injections might be a one off or might be needed periodically depending on the severity (my horse now has them about every 10 months and it costs about £40 a time). He might need them more often as time goes on.

I am now doing everything I was doing before with my horse....sj-ing to about a 1m (my limit, not his), xc, hunting and he is ridden nearly everyday. So don't give up on your horse!!
There are lots of things the vets can do now and it may be much less dramatic than surgery - there are exercises and treatments they can administer to give your horse a painfree life.

if you want any more information then feel free to message me....I hope your story has a happy ending like mine has so far :-)
 
My TB was operated on last July, he had an accident on the yard when he got loose, panicked and jumped a metal 5 bar gate hitting it so hard he bent the top bar at right angles.
It was not clear immediatly, over the next month he beccame more unpredictable and dangerous, even on the ground. Eventually he threw me off in a head between legs bronking fit. I booked him into the vet school and they x-rayed him, he was operated on two days later.

Long story short, after months of rehab work I started riding him again and he was going really well, we had even started jumping. Then all the old behavious resurfaced, back to the vets he went, his back was still not right, he was in a lot of pain and dangerous under saddle. So two days before his 9th birthday, on the vest advice I retired him and am pursuing a LOU claim.

I think your vet needs to wait for xray results before they can make a definitive diagnosis of KS, only then can they decide whether your horse needs an op or can be treated other ways, with injections for example.
The aftercare is long and you need to be absolutely dedicated to the rehab regime, lots of walking in hand, long rening etc.
I have lots of photos of my boys xrays, straight after the op and rehab if you are interested.
 
My boy had the operation on the 4th January.. if you look through my older threads my story is there for you if you are interested. I had a terrible time with him, the day after I bought him he bronched me off and put me in hospital. He then had about 6 weeks off, where I continued working with him from the ground, partly because he had knocked my confidence and partly because I was on crutches..

We went through a few other options first, cortisone injection, lunging in pessoa everyday for 5 weeks but when I got back on he was the same. There was no doubt the operation was the next step, he was dangerous.

He is now coming to the end of his rehab stage. I sent him to a rehabilitation livery yard which financially cripples me BUT I thought if I am going to put him through the operation I have to send him there because it gives him the best chance of coming right at the end. Plus working full time in London there was no way I could keep up with the day to day care he initially needed after the op.

I found theres not much info on the internet about this, but I did find speaking to people who had been through the same thing VERY helpful. I have lots of info and photos of my boys progress on my facebook page. I am happy to talk to you about any questions you may have. PM me if you like and ill send you my facebook ID.

xx
 
thankyou everyone it all great help.
both me and mum are very willing to go through the whole process of rehabilition if it were come to having the op. we live in the north west and i have heard alot of people talk about a vet Name Sven Kold? or someone similar to that. i know that the vetinary center he works or is based at is in Bristol, and logistically its just to far away.
many people have said it's not the operation, its the rehabilitation that can make the difference, is this the case or is it, the better the operation, the more likely the recovery? (not saying that a blind man can do the operation!)

i hope everyone who has had to go through the whole process or is going through it the best of luck with thier horses! i know how painfull it is to see my Hettie floating across the field and whishing i could just hop on and get going again!
 
My mare had an op for kissing spine last september for 7 impinging vertabrae. I am back riding her now.

My horse never objected violently in any way to being saddled up or ridden as such, she was just always very stiff and choppy in her movement and reluctant to move forward. she never put me on the floor at any time though.

To be honest, my mare has a huge personality and is very much her own madam. She still gavorts around on the lunge bucking and leaping around at times which she also used to do before her op. I am not quite at the stage with her ridden work yet to really know whether or not her operation has made a big deal of difference to her movement but I am happy to accept that she has limitations, then any thing else she offers is a bonus.

Most horses go on to do very well after this type of surgery.
 
i'm nearly at the end of our box rest with in hand walking twice a day from week one 5 mins building up to 20 mins before we go back to see if we need the op (june 6th )--up to now we are on week 6 and doing ok ---sanity wise!!!

we had had physio when into week 3 and now are continuing with this daily (through physio showing us exactly what to do)

she had the injections when down at leahurst

although she has other problems aswell (if you read back into my posts you will get the full story of her problems)

from what i have been told if the op is needed it will be standing sedation
but if you search it on here ther are many who have had the op and been back to normal but it does take time

this is worth a read for definate very helpful

http://kissingspines.blogspot.com
 
Hi my horse was operated on by Svend Kold at Willersley Equine clinic in Gloucestershire 5yrs ago, in my opinion he is the most experienced and clever surgeon for this operation although clearly things may have moved on a bit in the last couple of years. I can say though, that he will give you his honest opinion about whether he can help your horse.

Although mentally Ryan has quite a few issues as his KS was deemed to be genetic and he had been suffering constant low level pain for a long time, the operation was a huge success. Pre-op the vet was recommending PTS unless operated on as he was so unpredictable/dangerous and uncomfortable, I saw him 3hrs after his op and I could already see in his eye (despite large quantity of painkillers post op!!!) that he was more comfortable, the post op care at Willersley was superb.

He is ridden 4-5days a week coping quite happily with life, a slow but steady rehab was the key, I took a lot of time to build good quality muscle in walk and trot, long and low work ensuring back muscles were stretched and fittened. Most physio are gob smacked he has had this op, under saddle you just can't tell!

Best of luck with your decision. it is a long hard road but one I found very worthwhile!
 
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