Really gutted and scared about the future :'(

How long ago was she diagnosed? Her clipped back looks fairly recent?
we have a horse with mild kissing spine, sacroiliac issues and problems with both hind suspensories and after treatment he is eventing at novice level but it wasn't a matter of weeks that saw a change and improvement in him, it was almost a year. He had a month off following treatment, he was, then just hacked for the next three months to build up muscle, we then were able to introduce some schooling and did lots of lunging in a long low frame to get him to work over his back. If he showed any signs of pain or tightness in the school he went back hacking for a while and had physio. It was months of re hab. He is still in full work two years later. We do carefully manage him, he only schools a couple of times a week, he hacks or lunged the other days and jumps once a week. If he goes to an event he has the next couple of days off.
 
Are you sure the treatment has failed? I have had back issues (obv not kissing spines! !) And I have to have fairly regular physio sessions to keep me pain free. Although there isnt anything pathological wrong anymore as such, the muscle spasms and active trigger points still occur and if left unchecked will cripple me. So I would say vet and physio before you totally give up hope. And you can go for a hack. Just beside her instead of on her!
 
Im sorry to hear this.

Hils was diagnosed with KS, aged 15 surgery was not an option. I spent 6 months rehabbing him and with hindsight we wished we hadn't bothered. I wish I'd let him be a horse and turned him out for Dr Green which he loved! Two weeks before bring diagnosed he'd won a PSG with 65%, looked and felt the best he ever had!

He was never the same after treatment, he had to be kept lean as we were worried about laminitis and the steroids, which was a shame as his first love was food!

We got to the point where we were going to need bute as he was getting stiffer in his hocks.

We struggled on for a year till fate raised its ugly head and made the decision for us. He shattered his pastern in the field and was PTS immediately.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing and I wish we had listen to our gut instinct and let him be a horse for whoever long or short he wanted.

Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
SS if you want to try something like acupuncture then you could see if they will refer to Tim Couzens, the holistic vet in W Sussex. I've had referals to him in the past from Kent vets and he does acupuncture.
Check with your vet, but I think that the thing with kissing spine is that if you hope for the horse to eventually recover enough to work again, you will have to do the physio and other exercises. That's to stretch the spine out and develop the right muscles. If you decide n the turning away option then I think (check!) that's a decision for retirement. The vet immediately recommended against the operation for my mare and said she wasn't a suitable candidate. She had the injections in her back, we tried the physio, but the symptoms started to return regardless. There was suspicion about her sacroilliac area as well, but it got to the point she had enough of vets and there wasn't really any point in putting her through more investigations so she retired. She had a couple of years with me, then deteriorated a bit and Peter from Newnham Court advised that she could probably carry on in flat fields, but if she had to be kept on hills... well, he wouldn't. So she now lives on flat fields with a friend's horses, out 24/7.
She doesn't have any medication because she obviously is pretty happy, even though she's clearly not right. She will run and play with her friends, and I think self-regulates. When her attitude changes and I can see she's not happy any more then I'll know we've come to the end of the line, but she's 14 now and retired at 6!
Some people have nagged about breeding from her over the years because she has some very good bloodlines, but logically how could I do that with a horse that has a weak hind end and a bad back? It wouldn't be easy for her I think, so not fair.
I'll be thinking of you and Dee. x
 
Crimbowitch said:
There is nothing wrong in buteing to keep a horse happy - i do object to buteing to extend their ridden life though.
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Agree with this! Loads of people are on pain killers for their problems. I don't see what your problem is with it. My own horse that has KS and has not come right is very happy retired. He's full of beans and a very happy horse. He does not need bute, but if he did, then I would have no qualms giving it to him.
 
It's only been 8 weeks and the vets wanted her ridden after 3 days (despite that fact she hadn't been ride for months before hand).

I have DDD in my back and yes physio help, but time helps more. I think the vets are aware I have a years insurance to sort this, but life doesn't work like that.

As long as the vet says she isn't suffering. She's going to have at least a year off on dr green. Bear foot with walks out in hand every day and physio etc to see I that works. Hopefully she will relax physically and mentally and the tension in the back might release.

Thankyou all do much for your advice. I'm on my phone right now so can't have a proper look at all the info but I will when I come back.
 
Just want to say that most horses with kissing spine are perfectly comfortable without pain killers if they are not ridden. They don't normally need pain killers to be happy retired.
 
I have nothing really to add advice wise but wanted to send you a MASSIVE hug....its a horrible feeling and position to be in and I really wish you and your horse the very best from the bottom of my heart :(
 
Gutted for you and Delicia.

If it's any consolation, I had one with catastrophic injury (broken leg) and she came field sound (could also lightly hack), she did this when she was 10 and lived until she was 32. There is always hope.

Whatever happens, I know you will do what is best for Delicia.
 
Well, Delicia was sound today and back to her normal self.

You know i said she would tell me what she needed? Today she needed grass! We had out daily walk, she loves this, i call it hacking on foot. Except she proceeded to passage and turned into a snorting whinnying beast. She soon settled and was actually a lot better today. Her eyes lost that pained feeling and she was acting more herself.

I grazed her inhand today (the fields are so boggy and wet, she will go mental when turned out som im going to have to do it gradually). I had a good long chat to her. Time. Im going to get her walking more as she is sound in walk on the ground so she keeps her strenght but she is not going to be ridden.

I had a long chat with someone else who had been through something similar. In the spring delicia is being turned away. She will still be fussed etc and will remain in her home. But all pressures of bring her back into 'work' are stopped. If i can keep her sound she will be lunged a couple of times in the week to keep her ticking over but really i want to teach her to long rein. Shes the type of horse that does like a little playing :)

It was nice to see her back to her normal self today, even if shes a bit alert! Its still very early days, im going to chat to the vet re: acupuntcure etc and there is a chance i can get certain theraputic equiment on the insurance so will discuss this as well.

Thank you all so much for your vibes and information. I wouldnt put dee through surgery as its not necessarily the KS causing the issue. We might be down, but we are definetly not out.

Today also, i ceased my sponsorship. I kept it in the hope i might get her back, but after a lot of discussions its just not feasible. My sponsor has been lovely and veyr kind to me and definetly has a customer for life. :)

Dee today

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She is very beautifully and obviously very loved and loved up. I am sure you are going to find it hard to turn her away to become hairy, scruffy and covered in mud 24/7. There is hope though. I turned my mare away the first summer with absolutely no work at all, not even long reining as I wanted her to just forget everything pain related and concentrate on healing.

I did however bring her in from the herd every afternoon to give her a quick flick with a brush, often a cool off under a hosepipe. Id check her bare feet, give her a few pony nuts then I would take her back to the waiting herd and they'd gallop off together.

This worked wel for her and me as it satisfied a need in both of us.

She came back very ready to work again and il always credit that summer of bliss for her successful return.

Good Luck.
 
Another one who has enjoyed your threads but not commented. I hope you get some good news tomorrow but, whatever the outcome, Delicia is a lucky girl to have you. Stay strong.
 
Actually i dont mind turning her away, i think she will like it. I want to get a lil companion for her. There are ponies on the yard so i am sure one will be fine :) Issue is they are podgy and need poor grazing whereas dee needs good grazing :)
 
She looks lovely today, and you must be very pleased she was sound.

I recently started taking my 31yo out for weekly walks and she really enjoys them too :-)
 
I'm really saddened to read this :(

Keep your chin up & I will keep fingers crossed for the vet coming up with another solution. Have you considered seeking a second opinion from another vet? Big hugs to you & D. She's a lucky horse to have you taking such good care of her & I fully believe you will make the right decisions for her & put her quality of life first x
 
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