KS - what do you think are causal factors, and any genetic link?

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Arkmiido

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I'm only asking as I have a 4 yr old mare (Kimba) that I bred from my beautiful mare Ice - only to find when Ice came back into work post maternity leave that she had KS and spavin. She was PTS 2 yrs ago as the cortisone injections didn't work, and she was dragging her hinds and chewing holes in herself despite bute - and I didn't think it was fair to put a claustrophobic stable-hater through surgery given that her hocks were also shot. Personally I think the spavin and KS were related due to her wear and tear and abnormal way of going, but really I'm mostly concerned about Kimba and whether she is higher risk for developing problems herself?
Had a few people suggest that 'too much too young' can contribute to KS (and I suspect that Ice was hunted hard in Ireland before coming over here (not to suggest that being hunted in Ireland will give all horses KS!!)

I wouldn't have bred from her if I had known - and I wonder if pregnancy made her whole situation worse, though I didn't know it at the time of her being covered - she was sound.
 
There are two ex racers on my yard and both have KS, though one never raced even though he went into training. So I do believe that early hard work could be contributory factor. My horse also has bone spavin in both hocks. I would guess the two are linked.
 
Just had a quick look in the Ross Dyson lameness book, and it reckons over-riding spinous processes are a congenital condition (ie from birth), but I couldn't find any mention of whether it's believed to be genetic or not.

I remember reading somewhere (but can't remember where) that some breeds seem to be particularly prone to it, especially Friesians (presumably on account of their unusual neck carriage/conformation?).

Doesn't really answer your question, though. Sorry.

Sarah
 
I think the problem with so many of these things it's rarely one cause in isolation, more a predisposition which may be directly genetic or indirectly linked through conformation which is then combined with environmental factors such as feeding, riding etc. Many of these links have long been suspected - hence warnings against certain conformational attributes, feeding suggestions etc. - but it would be incredibly difficult to do all the research necessary to ascertain hard links.

The other thing is diagnosis. The fact is we weren't able to diagnose problems with the spine, even the neck let alone the back, with any certainty until fairly recently so for all we know there have always been horses with it. (Actually, I KNOW there have been horses with it because I have a pre WW1 book by a man who followed up observations of polo ponies with autopsies and produced photographic evidence of what we now call KS.) The "hock-back-feet" connection is so common it's quite likely many horses with back problems in the past were explained away with another diagnosis, which may have been primary or secondary to the whole condition.

I think we are also a lot less accepting now and horses in the past that would have been allowed to "go their own way" are now seen - rightly - as being pathological. But even now horses are often diagnosed with quite advanced cases and/or continue to be ridden after diagnosis, so it's clearly not necessarily a closed door for every horse. You have to wonder how many mares put in foal to "improve their temperaments" or to heal from another issue are also/actually suffering from KS.

One option would be to talk to your vet about the possibility of getting your young mare assessed for any potential areas of concern and even x-rayed if you can afford it. Otherwise, I guess it's like any other horse, you just try as hard as possible to do everything you can to keep her sound and healthy. Then you hope. :)
 
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