When to retire my mare

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

yes very true however what I mean by kissing spine is a little narrowing of the spine it shouldn’t be that painful for her- perhaps jumping etc. but not general schooling ?.

Well it obviously is painful she is telling you so. If she kicks out in the field, it sounds to me ad as if it is time to make the responsible decision for her - and imo that is not turning her away to live in a field with minimal care.

 

[FireCracker238]

In fairness to BellaBoo those of us that are new here wouldn't know that your horse has previously been diagnosed with KS so there is a chunk of info missing, you're asking the likes of me to form an opinion without all the relevant info ?‍

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I am not a new member but the KS info had passed me by

 

[gunnergundog]

Pain is very individual. Its impossible to say a slight narrowing couldn't be causing the pain. It was significant enough for your vet to medicate.
Retire your mare if you like but your OP is misleading.

Did your vet nerve block and did you ride prior to and post the medication? Only that way will you determine the true impact of what you saw on x-ray.

Having been involved with one of the early High Performance horse sales at Stoneleigh in the 80s where all horses where x=rayed prior to sale and purchase I can categorically state that what we deem to be an extreme bony change can be of no clinical significance whatsoever to some horses as far as performance goes. Yet, the same presentation for another horse can present as 4/5 lameness.