Would You Buy a Horse with Kissing Spine?

Suppose, your friend was planning to buy a horse for years, but he can not afford it because of his financial problem.That's why he saved up very little money to buy this majestic creature. 

One day your friend told you that he is going to buy a horse who has a kissing spine. After hearing this you became worried thinking that, if your friend buys this horse how much trouble he is going to face. 

After reading this article you will be able to make the right decision whether your friend should buy the horse with a kissing spine or not, and if he buys, how can ensure care or management of such a horse in a correct way. 

What is Kissing Spine in Horses?

Kissing spine is an abnormal condition in a skeletal muscle of horses, where some bones of the spine are closely attached without keeping any space to maintain a healthy spinous process. 

It arises due to injury or lack of sufficient physical exercises or movement. Genetic predisposition is another cause of such problems in some horses.

This health condition develops more frequently in Bred animals such as thoroughbred,warmbloods and quarter horses  than other general horses, causing severe pain in the back and ears while placing the saddle on its back or applying pressure even with a slight touch in that area. 

Kissing spine problems can also cause the horse to lose weight. It will feel difficult while mounting a rider to its back. 

Sometimes it's normal body temperature may become reduced. In this situation, the horse can not move or jump freely and swishes its tail or bucks most often to express its pain and discomfort.

How Do You Diagnose Kissing Spines in Horses?

If you feel your horse can not perform any kind of physical activities properly due to severe pain in their back, you must consult with a veterinarian to diagnose this condition immediately. 

X-ray is a diagnosis method used to identify the kissing spine problem by analysing the sequential patterns of the  spines. The veterinarian may also suggest a clinical diagnosis method by injecting radioisotope to your horse and adjusting an infrared camera that detects the inflammatory condition by looking at the patterns of heat generation of that particular area. 

They also analyse this condition by injecting local anaesthetic in the particular area of the horse's back, checking the horse's body movements to see whether the pain or discomfort has diminished due to the anaesthetic effect.

Can Kissing Spine in Horses Be Treated?

Yes. Problems of kissing spine can be treated by following some important strategies. A veterinarian can help to guide you with the best treatment approach on the basis of the diagnosis report of the spine and your affordability. There are many ways to treat kissing spine, let's discuss them in detail: 

• Providing appropriate medication: Non Steroidal Anti-inflammatory medications can reduce the intensity of pain, swelling and inflammation in that particular area of the horse's spine. Sometimes muscle relaxants are prescribed to horses with this problem, so that pain originating from the horse's spine is not transmitted to its nerves. If the pain or discomfort cannot reach the nerve then the horse can not sense the pain.

• Physiotherapy: It involves stretching the muscle and spine via different exercises and techniques to increase the ability for muscle movement and reduce pain. According to the severity, a monthly or weekly basis session on physiotherapy helps to reduce this problem.
• Shock wave therapy: Passing waves in the affected area reduce pain and inflammation by increasing more blood vessels, that ultimately increase the blood flow to the spine. This therapy can be used as an alternative to surgical procedures as well.
• Acupuncture: A small, painless needle with minimal electric current is inserted to different pressure points of the horse's back, which helps to relieve pain and inflammation. This technique releases natural substances to reduce swelling of the injured spine as well. 

• Surgical procedures: This is one of the most advantageous processes of reducing the problem of kissing spine from its root cause. According to the severity of the problem, the veterinarian can suggest you for surgical procedures. A safe and low-cost surgical procedure for the horse's kissing spine has become very popular today, in which small ligaments are cut from the bones of the horse's spine. Surgery in this manner allows horses to recover more quickly and continue their daily activities.
• Exercises: This is very beneficial to increase the flexibility of muscle, so you must exercise your horse for elevating posture and balance of the body along with other treatments.

Let's have a good understanding of   the exercises for kissing spine issues.

Tummy lift: Apply light downward pressure to your horse's tummy, causing the tummy to contract and it's back to rise. Press the tummy of the horse ten times and try to provide a signal to hold its back upward for a little longer time. 

Bum tucks: Stand behind the horse and apply pressure by slightly pushing along the hind limb to the underside of the rump. This will allow the horse to pull its  tail and increase the strength of its core muscles.

Carrot stretches: Place a carrot in front of your horse. Then, it will lower its shoulders to eat it, after a while you move the carrot to the other side and signal the horse to eat it. Now the horse will turn its shoulder and try to eat it again. 

Doing this stretching for a few times will increase the strength of its core muscles, and release stress. Watch this video to understand the carrot exercises for horses.

Tail pulls: Gently pull the horse's tail back and forth, then return to the previous state.This will stretch the horse's muscles and increase blood circulation as well. 

Watch this video to learn the tail traction exercises for horses.

Pros and Cons of Buying a Horse with Kissing Spine

Before buying a horse with a kissing spine, you need to consider some important issues to achieve the best outcome from this horse. You can consider the advantages of buying such a horse by focusing on the cost and ethical issues. 

Similarly, you must consider the challenges that you will be facing after buying this horse. If you evaluate those positive and negative aspects before buying such a horse, you will never regret it. 

Let's examine the pros and cons of buying a horse with kissing spine:

Pros:

1. It is possible to buy this kind of horse with a minimum cost.
2. If you care for this horse from your heart by considering moral issues or having affection for it, the horse can form a good bond with you and it will respond according to your instructions.
3. The cost of surgery and other treatments will not be that high, so you can ensure its proper care easily.

Cons:

1. The horse can not do athletic activities before completing the course of treatment. 
2. You can not participate in any horse riding contest with this horse easily. 
3. You must have patience in yourself taking care of the horse.
4. You need to spend a lot of time monitoring your horse throughout the whole treatment period. 

Tips for People Interested in Horses with Kissing Spine

If you are going to buy a horse with a kissing spine follow the tips to get the desired performance from that horse. 

Check whether the saddle is properly fitted with the horse's back.

Ensure regular exercises to the horse that will reduce stiffness in its spine and allow it to move easily.

Different training approaches by a professional trainer increase energy release from the horse's body that reduce the resistance to movement as well. Arranging rehab programs for two to three weeks might be helpful because the horse can do sufficient exercises according to the instructions of a trained professional.

Read the article to know how to find a reputable horse trainer?

Regular monitoring of the affected area can ensure immediate treatment if any problem is noticed.

• Consult immediately with a veterinarian if your horse feels any discomfort to the spine. 
• Must create a suitable and comfortable environment with sufficient light and air for the horse to stay where it gets every facility according to its requirement. Read this article to gather ideas for  building a horse arena on a budget.
• Try to maintain the horse's weight in such a way that does not put pressure on its spine. Provide enough nutritious food, vitamin D and calcium rich food to help the horse's bone health. 
• The most important thing is to create a stronger relationship with the horse, so that you can easily ensure all the necessary actions regarding its care. If you can not create a connection with the horse, it will not cooperate with you to care for its health or administer the medicines. 

In Conclusion,

There are many important factors to consider when purchasing a horse with a kissing spine. Many people think that it costs a lot to ensure adequate maintenance after purchasing a horse with such problems.

Is it true? 

In fact, it is possible to turn a horse with such a problem into an efficient and powerful horse with proper treatment and care at very little cost. This article covers whether to buy a horse with a kissing spine and how to ensure proper care at low cost and in a short period of time after buying. 

If you have any opinion about this article please comment and feel free to share this to anyone who is concerned about buying a horse with a kissing spine.