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Kissing spine in barrel horses

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Last activity 2015-12-08 8:41 PM
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rockybar
Reg. Feb 2006
Posted 2015-11-13 7:47 AM
Subject: Kissing spine in barrel horses


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Anyone had good success after surgery ? Any suggestions on things to do during rehab and recovery period ? Suggestions to prevent it happening again or exercises?
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stayceem
Reg. May 2007
Posted 2015-11-13 8:25 AM
Subject: RE: Kissing spine in barrel horses



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Havent done surgery but interested in responses. My gelding is managed right now with exercise and massage and meso but never know if it will manage it forever.
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Tinkerbell
Reg. Oct 2003
Posted 2015-11-13 6:46 PM
Subject: RE: Kissing spine in barrel horses



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I think it depends on how severe it is. my horse was diagnosed last summer w/it. found it w/x rays and then did a bone scan to make sure it was just ks and nothing deeper. we did a series of injections on his back, i changed saddle and pad, and now do maintenance injections every few months. so far so good! I personnaly would not do back surgery unless the injections didnt work, but thats my own personal opinion. I know alot of people very happy w/the surgery and I would do it if the injections didnt work.
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chicks2
Reg. Mar 2007
Posted 2015-11-14 2:51 PM
Subject: RE: Kissing spine in barrel horses


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Scheduling one for surgery in the next few weeks, 2 areas will need work. Saddle, injections, mesotherapy, nothing worked.

Will be a while before we can say it works, about 2 months on hand walk, then small pen turn out. Then another 2 months of just out in the pasture left alone. Should be able to start riding again in early April.

If anyone would find interest in me posting the process as it goes, I'll give it a try. Cliff Honnas in Bryan Texas is doing the procedure. Honnas is supposed to have a pretty good success rate for those that are good candidates. My fingers are crossed.
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classicpotatochip
Reg. Mar 2011
Posted 2015-11-14 4:28 PM
Subject: RE: Kissing spine in barrel horses



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I had fantastic results. Mine, at the time in 2012, was the third worse spine that Honnas had ever worked on. Two weeks after surgery, his back pain was gone.
He came back running long 17s on a standard as previously a and felt great. He's retired now from arthritis in SI from years of compensating.

The sooner you treat KS the better off you'll be.
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barrelbasher
Reg. Apr 2007
Posted 2015-11-14 7:27 PM
Subject: RE: Kissing spine in barrel horses



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chicks2 - 2015-11-14 2:51 PM

Scheduling one for surgery in the next few weeks, 2 areas will need work. Saddle, injections, mesotherapy, nothing worked.

Will be a while before we can say it works, about 2 months on hand walk, then small pen turn out. Then another 2 months of just out in the pasture left alone. Should be able to start riding again in early April.

If anyone would find interest in me posting the process as it goes, I'll give it a try. Cliff Honnas in Bryan Texas is doing the procedure. Honnas is supposed to have a pretty good success rate for those that are good candidates. My fingers are crossed.

Keep me posted on how he does
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barrelbasher
Reg. Apr 2007
Posted 2015-11-14 7:33 PM
Subject: RE: Kissing spine in barrel horses



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I feel like I am the queen of KS! I officially have 3 of them. All 3 different ages, bloodlines and training level. My oldest one had surgery about 1.5 hrs ago and he has made a full recovery and I actually feel he came back stronger and is better than before. The second one diagnosed has been able to be maintained on injections so far. The latest one was just diAgnosed 2 days ago so we will see what happened.
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livinonlove&horses
Reg. Jun 2008
Posted 2015-11-15 9:01 AM
Subject: RE: Kissing spine in barrel horses



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 Has anyone found that a particular saddle brand has worked better for their KS horse?
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barrelbasher
Reg. Apr 2007
Posted 2015-11-15 11:31 AM
Subject: RE: Kissing spine in barrel horses



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I have found that just find I g the saddle that fits best works as well as a good supportive pad. Many people use a CSI pad and I just bought one but really it's iust finding out what your horse is most comfortable with
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livinonlove&horses
Reg. Jun 2008
Posted 2015-11-15 7:04 PM
Subject: RE: Kissing spine in barrel horses



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Tinkerbell - 2015-11-15 11:44 AM  every saddle i tried on my horse was bridging him in front and behind where his KS is...I tried narrow, wide, just about every tree.....finally we found the #10 double j tree. with the bend in the tree it has, it finally stopped the bridging.  and like another person already suggested, i invested in a CSI saddle pad.  also, the BOT pad liners are awesome!



 

 i have the BOT pad liner, great for winter riding to keep the back loose.  When I got my mare i had her fitted and she has a Double J pro with a standard tree.  about 9 months later we find KS.  I've been looking at pics of her and it seems her back has changed shape some so now I'm worried about her saddle fit.  Guess i'll send pics to double J and see if they think she needs a different tree  I am currently riding in a 3/4" 5 star
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caracer
Reg. Jan 2004
Posted 2015-11-15 9:41 PM
Subject: RE: Kissing spine in barrel horses





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What were the symptoms of kissing spine ?
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stayceem
Reg. May 2007
Posted 2015-11-16 8:47 AM
Subject: RE: Kissing spine in barrel horses



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caracer - 2015-11-15 9:41 PM

What were the symptoms of kissing spine ?

Depends on the horse. My horse's was fairly minor but he is a total sissy in general. He was became extremely cinchy and was very tight over his lumbar area. On really bad days (rain/cold), you could barely brush him.

Other symptoms are cross firing, bucking, kicking out when mounting...
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rachellyn80
Reg. Jan 2004
Posted 2015-11-16 9:30 AM
Subject: RE: Kissing spine in barrel horses



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I haven't done any research on this issue.  What are the vets attributing "kissing spine" to?  Conformation, saddle fit, conditioning? 
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Longneck
Reg. Mar 2004
Posted 2015-11-16 10:41 AM
Subject: RE: Kissing spine in barrel horses


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Tinkerbell - 2015-11-15 11:44 AM

 every saddle i tried on my horse was bridging him in front and behind where his KS is...I tried narrow, wide, just about every tree.....finally we found the #10 double j tree. with the bend in the tree it has, it finally stopped the bridging.  and like another person already suggested, i invested in a CSI saddle pad.  also, the BOT pad liners are awesome!

 

Would you happen to have a confirmation picture of your horse?

I just sold my Double J w/ standard tree and have a "narrow #10" currently being made for my new mare... who happens to be built pretty similar to the gelding.. if anything is different she's a smidge bit wider. The gelding that was diagnosed with KS was originally in the standard tree and the vet said to get him out of it. Just wondering if maybe the narrow #10 would possibly be a fit for him as well.
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Longneck
Reg. Mar 2004
Posted 2015-11-16 10:43 AM
Subject: RE: Kissing spine in barrel horses


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rachellyn80 - 2015-11-16 9:30 AM

I haven't done any research on this issue.  What are the vets attributing "kissing spine" to?  Conformation, saddle fit, conditioning? 

In my case it was saddle fit from what I can tell. Possibly conditioning as well since he was coming back from EPM and his topline probably wasn't as strong as it could be... but these are just assumptions. Not something I've researched.
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Murphy
Reg. Dec 2007
Posted 2015-11-16 12:33 PM
Subject: RE: Kissing spine in barrel horses



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caracer - 2015-11-15 10:41 PM What were the symptoms of kissing spine ?

My mare was diagnosed via x-rays by Rood & Riddle in October. Her symptoms were cinchiness, hestitancy to move when I first got on, would seem like she was wanting to "fold" when taking the first few steps, didn't want to lope or extend trot, grouchiness, flighty, and would crow hop around barrels. 

I treated for everything under the sun, with no relief, which led me to Rood & Riddle. They diagnosed within an hour of me being there. I didn't even know what KS was until they told me about it. They injected two places in her back and she is now like a new mare. She's 18 years old. 

As far as what causes it, my mare has a slight sway back, and she is older, so hers may be more arthritis driven. They say a lot of dressage horses have it, not because of anything they are doing, but because riders are more in tune with their horse's subtle movements. They say a horse not properly using themselves can cause it as well. 

Here is the x-ray from my mare. You can clearly see a few vertebrae rubbing. 





Edited by Murphy 2015-11-16 12:35 PM
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Tinkerbell
Reg. Oct 2003
Posted 2015-11-16 1:41 PM
Subject: RE: Kissing spine in barrel horses



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rachellyn80 - 2015-11-16 9:30 AM I haven't done any research on this issue.  What are the vets attributing "kissing spine" to?  Conformation, saddle fit, conditioning? 

Dr. Chris Ray which was ta ESMS at the time found my horse's KS. he said there are way more horses out there w/it than people think. like prob 1 in 7 from what hes seen over the years....it can be hereditary, from an accident, or ill fitting saddle from the research ive done. Im positive my horse was born w/it because prior to injections, hes been a bucker since he was broke. he bucked all the time and wasnt out of line for him to try to pile me in a run either.  ive won a couple checks in runs where he bucked half the pattern, lol..........

being cinchy, and goosey, not liking to be brushed, sore in lumbar and SI, bucking and not wanting to stretch out and run is the symptoms we had.....but i will also say, that sometimes these habits become a habit that dont go away, my horse still pins his ears when i cinch him up, i dont think he will ever quit that, lol.......also, my horse got to where he started tying up real bad....at first we thought he might have pssm, but it was KS all along. I had spent a fortune on hock and stifle injections trying to figure out what the prob was.......

Im a firm believer in a good pad to protect that spine, also be aware they can get out in thier SI, lumbar and thier Sternum from KS because it all ties in to that back.

 
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Tinkerbell
Reg. Oct 2003
Posted 2015-11-16 1:49 PM
Subject: RE: Kissing spine in barrel horses



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Posts: 3554
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Location: Crowder, OK
Longneck - 2015-11-16 10:41 AM
Tinkerbell - 2015-11-15 11:44 AM  every saddle i tried on my horse was bridging him in front and behind where his KS is...I tried narrow, wide, just about every tree.....finally we found the #10 double j tree. with the bend in the tree it has, it finally stopped the bridging.  and like another person already suggested, i invested in a CSI saddle pad.  also, the BOT pad liners are awesome!



 
Would you happen to have a confirmation picture of your horse? I just sold my Double J w/ standard tree and have a "narrow #10" currently being made for my new mare... who happens to be built pretty similar to the gelding.. if anything is different she's a smidge bit wider. The gelding that was diagnosed with KS was originally in the standard tree and the vet said to get him out of it. Just wondering if maybe the narrow #10 would possibly be a fit for him as well.

 



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Murphy
Reg. Dec 2007
Posted 2015-11-16 1:50 PM
Subject: RE: Kissing spine in barrel horses



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Tinkerbell - 2015-11-16 2:41 PM

rachellyn80 - 2015-11-16 9:30 AM I haven't done any research on this issue.  What are the vets attributing "kissing spine" to?  Conformation, saddle fit, conditioning? 

Dr. Chris Ray which was ta ESMS at the time found my horse's KS. he said there are way more horses out there w/it than people think. like prob 1 in 7 from what hes seen over the years....it can be hereditary, from an accident, or ill fitting saddle from the research ive done. Im positive my horse was born w/it because prior to injections, hes been a bucker since he was broke. he bucked all the time and wasnt out of line for him to try to pile me in a run either.  ive won a couple checks in runs where he bucked half the pattern, lol..........

being cinchy, and goosey, not liking to be brushed, sore in lumbar and SI, bucking and not wanting to stretch out and run is the symptoms we had.....but i will also say, that sometimes these habits become a habit that dont go away, my horse still pins his ears when i cinch him up, i dont think he will ever quit that, lol.......also, my horse got to where he started tying up real bad....at first we thought he might have pssm, but it was KS all along. I had spent a fortune on hock and stifle injections trying to figure out what the prob was.......

Im a firm believer in a good pad to protect that spine, also be aware they can get out in thier SI, lumbar and thier Sternum from KS because it all ties in to that back.

 

Mine too would pin her ears when saddling, and would also dance around as soon as she saw me bring the saddle out of the tack room. She was in such pain that is caused ulcers. I feel horrible for not finding out sooner, but once we did find out and treated her, it's amazing the difference I see. Plus it was a fairly inexpensive test - just shoot some x-rays. Much cheaper than trial and error treatment that I was doing.
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stayceem
Reg. May 2007
Posted 2015-11-16 2:06 PM
Subject: RE: Kissing spine in barrel horses



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Posts: 4717
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Murphy - 2015-11-16 1:50 PM

Tinkerbell - 2015-11-16 2:41 PM

rachellyn80 - 2015-11-16 9:30 AM I haven't done any research on this issue.  What are the vets attributing "kissing spine" to?  Conformation, saddle fit, conditioning? 

Dr. Chris Ray which was ta ESMS at the time found my horse's KS. he said there are way more horses out there w/it than people think. like prob 1 in 7 from what hes seen over the years....it can be hereditary, from an accident, or ill fitting saddle from the research ive done. Im positive my horse was born w/it because prior to injections, hes been a bucker since he was broke. he bucked all the time and wasnt out of line for him to try to pile me in a run either.  ive won a couple checks in runs where he bucked half the pattern, lol..........

being cinchy, and goosey, not liking to be brushed, sore in lumbar and SI, bucking and not wanting to stretch out and run is the symptoms we had.....but i will also say, that sometimes these habits become a habit that dont go away, my horse still pins his ears when i cinch him up, i dont think he will ever quit that, lol.......also, my horse got to where he started tying up real bad....at first we thought he might have pssm, but it was KS all along. I had spent a fortune on hock and stifle injections trying to figure out what the prob was.......

Im a firm believer in a good pad to protect that spine, also be aware they can get out in thier SI, lumbar and thier Sternum from KS because it all ties in to that back.

 

Mine too would pin her ears when saddling, and would also dance around as soon as she saw me bring the saddle out of the tack room. She was in such pain that is caused ulcers. I feel horrible for not finding out sooner, but once we did find out and treated her, it's amazing the difference I see. Plus it was a fairly inexpensive test - just shoot some x-rays. Much cheaper than trial and error treatment that I was doing.

I was told that conformation is a common cause, but also the three horses I know with it all had some kind of fall shortly before the problems started. So I believe can be be trauma induced too.

My gelding for example, never had a sore back a day in his life but he took a bad spill last summer and he hasnt been the same since.
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