What should I do about my horse with kissing spines?

[hmwrightt]

My 8yo thoroughbred gelding was diagnosed with kissing spines in January of this year. He has one bone touching and another one close, he had a steroid injection between the bones that were touching and I have been rehabbing him since with physio etc. My vet said last week he is pain free and can be bought back into work. However, he is still throwing me off, broncing when I get on him, he is at the point where he is dangerous to ride. I have only owned him since September last year and I am looking for advice as to my options. I have spent as much as I am prepared to in terms of treatment and the vet has said there is nothing else medically other than an operation that can be done and that his issues are phsycological. My options are to either put him to sleep or give him away as a companion as I do not have the facilities to retire him and keep him myself. I want to avoid putting him to sleep but my vet has advised it is not always best to give away as companion as can be passed on as riding horse and he is too dangerous. Any suggestions or previous experience as the best thing to do would be much appreciated!

 

[Theocat]

This is a horse with significant problems. It is your responsibility to do the right thing by him. If you can't treat, and can't retire (and there's a question over whether that's appropriate anyway if the horse might be in pain) then you put him down. You do not pass him on.

But I'd be asking my vet why they think the problems are psychological, yet still recommends an operation.

 

[hmwrightt]

This is a horse with significant problems. It is your responsibility to do the right thing by him. If you can't treat, and can't retire (and there's a question over whether that's appropriate anyway if the horse might be in pain) then you put him down. You do not pass him on.

But I'd be asking my vet why they think the problems are psychological, yet still recommends an operation.

Thank you for your reply. My vet hasn’t suggested the operation but she has said he is pain free so it doesn’t make sense why he is continuing to throw me off. He also doesn’t seem in pain out in the field, he rolls, runs about happily enough so could be retired, I just don’t have the money or facilities to retire an 8 yo. Just trying to see what other options I have rather than put him to sleep but if that is what’s best for him then I will do it

 

[Pearlsasinger]

This is a horse with significant problems. It is your responsibility to do the right thing by him. If you can't treat, and can't retire (and there's a question over whether that's appropriate anyway if the horse might be in pain) then you put him down. You do not pass him on.

But I'd be asking my vet why they think the problems are psychological, yet still recommends an operation.

I agree with every word of this!

It is very unfortunate that you have only had this horse a short time but every horse-owner MUST be prepared to pts, that is part of responsible horse ownership.

 

[DabDab]

Has your vet given you a proper rehab program for him with regards to work?

What kind of vet treatment did he receive - steroid injections?

How has the vet established he is no longer in pain - repeat xrays?

If you're not comfortable having him put to sleep just yet then I would say that it is worth looking into non ridden rehab regimes to see if you can get him fit and comfortable enough to work again in the future.

 

[tallyho!]

Poor thing to have KS at just 8... how was he ridden to cause such a compression so young?

The thing is you absolutely can rehabilitate horses with KS and it doesn't require endless physio although the support may help you if they are experienced in KS, it requires a different set of muscles to engage and work.

If you want to start your research, best to start with the cause of KS and then, it's a case of gymnasticising the workload - don't ride until you have built the muscles and learned yourself how to help him use his body correctly.

Look up Visconte Simon Cocozza - I went to a very informative talk last year about KS.
also equitopia is a good resource https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hokqRs9GbrI

You said you were unable to ride, have you thought about Straightness Training? Really good in-hand work for KS... there must be a practitioner near you. http://straightnesstraining.com/instructors/

Also there is an excellent book by Klaus Schoneich called https://www.amazon.co.uk/Correct-Movement-Horses-Improving-Straightness/dp/1905693141 which is a must if you can't do ridden work.

Personally, if you can't invest in the time to get him moving correctly and using his body better again, I would do the right thing and PTS. It would be unfair to a horse with touching spinous processes to continue to live indefinitely in pain because as he ages and is left with no exercise he will never build muscle or learn to use his body and the pain will only get worse. I've seen this happen and it is very unpleasant to witness.

 

[ycbm]

Tallyho, not all kissing spines is caused by how horses are ridden. Not all can be rehabilitated.


HMW, put the horse to sleep, or get more investigations. If he has kissing spines he needs to be examined for ulcers, SI strain and PSD, which often go hand in hand.

 

[tallyho!]

Tallyho, not all kissing spines is caused by how horses are ridden. Not all can be rehabilitated.


HMW, put the horse to sleep, or get more investigations. If he has kissing spines he needs to be examined for ulcers, SI strain and PSD, which often go hand in hand.

I appreciate that also, but if it is conformational many cases can be rehabilitated if not too severe.

 

[hmwrightt]

My vet and physio gave me a rehab plan when he was diagnosed back in January and both say he is now comfortable in his back and shows no signs of pain. Obviously unless he is operated on the actually kissing spines with still be there, we were aiming to get him to a place with steroid injection, which he received in Jan, where he was comfortable enough and pain free to be brought back into ridden work. He is no better to be ridden than he was before the treatment and it’s simply too dangerous for me to get back on him.

Where do I draw the line, thats the issue, because we have already spent a lot of money so far ��

 

[tallyho!]

My vet and physio gave me a rehab plan when he was diagnosed back in January and both say he is now comfortable in his back and shows no signs of pain. Obviously unless he is operated on the actually kissing spines with still be there, we were aiming to get him to a place with steroid injection, which he received in Jan, where he was comfortable enough and pain free to be brought back into ridden work. He is no better to be ridden than he was before the treatment and it’s simply too dangerous for me to get back on him.

Where do I draw the line, thats the issue, because we have already spent a lot of money so far ��

I guess the line is drawn where you think you can afford the retraining. Riding him as before doesn’t seem an option given his reaction.

The right retraining will more than likely give you a sound horse again but it’s an investment in itself depending how much you’re prepared to spend on lessons. I would weigh up your options and maybe give Simon Cocozza a call and talk it through. He has people in the UK retraining cases like yours too with success.

As ycbm says, it’s not always 100% but it’s what you’re willing to try.

 

[ester]

well you absolutely under no circumstances give him away as a companion, no horse deserves that. That chances of someone very believable taking him on and him being buted up and then doing the rounds of the bin end dealers are pretty high.

So you either persevere with rehab (I know several who have done well going to the straightness training rather than operation route) and retraining, you PTS, or you consider turning him away on retirement livery for a bit and see if he improves. It is entirely your call whether you want to spend any more time or money on the horse.

 

[Theocat]

You had this horse four months before he went wrong. You haven't built the relationship or the memories that people rely on to see them through the frankly stinky "keep trying" phase. Just because there are other options you could try, it does NOT mean you are obliged to try them, nor does it mean it would ultimately be better for the horse to do so.

If you feel you have reached the end of the line, there is absolutely nothing wrong in calling it a day. Your only responsibility is to secure the horse's welfare by putting it down rather than passing it on.

It's a rotten situation to be in, but a relatively straightforward one once you come to terms with the decision. There are a million broken thoroughbreds out there: you aren't doing anyone or any horse a favour by adding to the pool.