Kissing Spine, scientifically known as overriding or impinging dorsal spinous processes, is the name for a condition in which the bones in the horses' spine have come close enough together to the point touching, or "kissing". In more serious cases, the vertebrae may overlap, and may manifest as more serious behavioral changes.

What Causes Kissing Spine?

Kissing spine can be caused by various factors, including:

1. Poor saddle fit
2. Moving incorrectly by not using the topline
3. Genetics
4. Conformation
5. Trauma to the back
6. Carrying too much weight

According to UC Davis, kissing spine typically occurs between the T13 to T18 vertebrae, which is where the saddle is placed, and, of course, where riders are seated. While this does point to saddle fit and weight distribution on the back being lead contenders for kissing spine, recent research has also pointed to kissing spine being a genetic phenomenon as well, meaning that riders and saddle fit may not only be the main factors in contributing to increased risk of kissing spine– in fact, it is estimated that a total between 30-40% of all horses have kissing spine, however some may show no signs of discomfort.

A study by Etalon shows potential in kissing spine being linked to "a region on Chromosome 25", and the company has even created a genetic test for kissing spine susceptibility. It is important to note here, that while the genetic testing could show promise to seeing whether or not a horse is susceptible to kissing spine, the test result is said to not be causative, meaning even if a horse is genetically susceptible, they may not contract kissing spine. Likewise, horses that are genetically sound may be diagnosed with kissing spine due to poor movement or trauma.

Signs of Kissing Spine

As previously mentioned, some horses may never show signs of kissing spine, however horses with more severe cases may display behaviors such as:

1. Bucking
2. Cross cantering
3. Discomfort in the canter
4. Worsening in performance level
5. Lameness
6. Being girthy or cinchy
7. Sensitivity to touch or grooming

While many of these are tell-tale signs of kissing spine, the only way to diagnose kissing spine would be by veterinary inspection, as some of these symptoms can be caused by other conditions such as stomach ulcers.

Diagnosing Kissing Spine

A diagnosis made by a veterinarian will consist of palpating the horse's back, followed up by any of the following:

1. X-rays
2. Bone scans
3. Ultrasound
4. Thermography (although less common)

Treatment and Prevention of Kissing Spine

Treatment may vary based on the severity of each individual affected by kissing spine. In general, horses with kissing spine may have to go through a physical rehabilitation through groundwork, where they use their core and build more topline. This is because, when horses are in a more correct frame and engaged in their core with a relaxed headset, the vertebrae in the spine begin to extend. This rehabilitation may be done through hand walking, lunging (often with a Pessoa system) or long lining, using an equine treadmill, or aqua therapy. This physical rehabilitation method of getting the horse to move correctly may also help to prevent kissing spine, so long as the issue is not genetic and the horse does not experience trauma to the spine. For more serious cases, injections may be considered, as well as surgery to shave down affected vertebrae.

For a more in depth explanation of kissing spine, this video by the University of Maryland shows visuals of kissing spine and explains how it affects the biomechanics of the horse.

In every discipline, flatwork remains as the foundation required for riders and their equine partners. Many riders may find flatwork boring, but this doesn't always have to be the case.

One of the biggest hurdles when it comes to working on the flat is to not just flat the horse as a form of exercise, or just because you should; oftentimes it is easy to get into a basic walk, trot, canter routine without thinking much of it - just checking off boxes before hopping off and calling it a day. When riders are not actively working on perfecting their flatwork with their horses, they may begin to see cracks in the foundation, such as their horse becoming less supple on the bit, perhaps even running through the bit to jumps. Other issues with shoulder and hindquarter yielding or dullness to leg aids can often arise.

With all this being said, how can we improve the flat? Or, dare I say, make the flat fun!

Adding Transitions

For horses who could benefit from finding more balance, transitions at every gate can be very helpful. These do not have to be just your basic walk to trot or trot to canter transitions, but may also be adjusting the speed of the walk trot and canter as well. For example, when riding in an arena you may consider doing an extended trot down one wall, and a slow trot down the other. You can even try improving your riding by posting the extended trot and sitting the slow trot.

When warming up at the walk, you can pay attention to the speed of your walk and see how well your horse listens to your seat cues for moving forward or slowing to a halt, using the leg and reins as an additional aid. The seat, or the shifting of the weight in the saddle, should eventually be enough alone to cue your horse forward, or to bring your horse to a stop. While this is not always visually obvious in English disciplines, there are many good visual examples when looking at western riding, as shown in this video. Watching the placement of this riders' hips and legs, you can clearly see how his horse responds to his seat cues, even after a malfunction causing the bridle to fall off at the AQHA world champion show.

Of course, canter transitions are important too, and can help your horse become more balanced and controllable up to jumps or in the dressage ring. Practicing a halt to canter, walk to canter, and trot to canter may be extremely beneficial for any horse, along with adjusting the speed of the canter, just like in the walk and trot.

Serpentines and Circles

A serpentine is the term for when riders ride in a "snake like" way, steering in one direction and then changing to the next directions once they reach the long wall - similar to a circle, making a continuing "S" shaped pattern in the arena. Serpentines are often done at the trot, and may be very beneficial to horses and riders with the key focuses of straightness and bending.

I have found in my personal experience, that serpentines can be especially beneficial for green horses who struggle with boredom or maintaining attention on the rider. The consistent change in direction tends to keep them on their toes and pay more attention to the rider, while teaching them to balance and bend when asked. While in the beginning of the exercise the horse may take some time getting used to the direction changes at the wall and may anticipate going to the wrong direction, with time the horse will become more supple and smooth in their direction changes.

Here is an example of a serpentine using poles and cones as visual aids.

Pole Work/Cavaletti Work

Pole work or cavaletti work are both tools that can be great for awareness of your horses' tempo as well as a training tool to teach your horse proper leg placement and muscle use, or even to help the rider to count strides.

Placing poles or cavalettis as you would place a jumps for a course can help you simulate a round of jumping, and can also be a great way to work with younger or older horses that have age or physical restrictions when it comes to jumping.

This type of work is also something that may be done at liberty, in hand, or even on the lunge line or long lines, for those looking to build a connection with their horse on the ground.

Here is a video that gives exercises for both ridden and in hand pole work to help with straitness, rhythm, muscle building, and balance.

Overall, it is important for both horse and rider to make the flatwork engaging!

With the holiday season coming up, you may be wondering what to get for your equestrian friends. With horses being a rather niche (and pricey!) hobby, it can get really confusing for non-equestrians to pick out gifts for their horse loving counterparts, or for equestrians to find a gift for the winter barn party! Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! 

• Grooming Sets: Grooming is an essential part of horse care for equestrians, especially for those who participate in riding. There are many different types of brush sets available for gifting, with a variety of price points so you don’t have to break the bank, but you can still give a thoughtful gift. You can find horse grooming supplies and sets on Amazon, or you may look online for grooming sets sold by trusted horse supply companies, such as Dover Saddlery or Saddler’s Row.  
• New Saddle Pad: Saddle pads are a great way to personalize a gift for most riding disciplines while making the rider feel more confident with some new flashy gear. You can find different types of saddle pads for sale via Amazon, or through horse supply companies. For even more personalization and customization options, you can also find a creator on Etsy to get the riders’ name embroidered or stitched onto the saddle pad!  
• Matching Sets: Continuing on with the idea of saddle pads, another gift idea for horse loving friends and family are matching saddle pad sets. These come in various forms, with some sets including a matching saddle pad and riding shirt, while others may be more horse orientated with a matching saddle pad, ear bonnet, and/or brushing boots. You can find matching sets on sites like Etsy, and LeMieux. 
• Customized Everyday Items: Customized items such as bracelets, necklaces, belts, and other accessories can be a great gift for equestrians. It would also be a good idea to consider getting them a portrait of their horse, or even a customized painting. There are many different types of customized gift ideas that can be found through jewelers, artists, photographers, and leather shops.  
• Gift Cards: If you’re unsure of what to get your horse loving friends, gift cards are always a good option. Whether they are from tack shops or even your local coffee shop, gift cards are a universal gift appreciated by many.  
• Leather Cleaning Supplies: Something that many equestrians can always use are leather cleaning products. Because leather is a common item in every barn, leather soaps, conditioners, and oils can be a great gift for polishing up and maintaining new and old equipment.  
• Gift Basket: A good option for more artsy gift givers could be a gift basket! Your gift basket could contain any of the items mentioned above, plus other personal favorites such as candy or go-to snacks. Gift baskets are a great way to personalize gifts no matter the occasion, while leaving lots of room for budgeting.  

No matter what you decide to give your horse loving friends, we hope that this list helped to ease the stress of searching for the perfect gift.  

Happy Holidays from the English Equestrian!  

You start to clean your horses’ hooves before a lesson and realize that there is a foul odor that seems to get worse as you pick away debris. Many times, this odor is the tell-tale sign of thrush, or, what is scientifically known as nonproliferative pododermatitis. Your horse may not seem to be in any pain, however if left untreated, thrush may continue to affect your horse to the point of creating lameness in serious cases. Before getting to treatments, it is important to consider what causes thrush in the first place.  

Thrush Causes 

When looking at a horses’ hooves, you will find an area in the middle of the hoof shaped like a triangle, which creates the upside-down “V” shape in the horses’ hooves that many use as a guide when hoof picking. This triangle is known as the frog of the hoof and is an important area that helps to distribute weight as the horse moves. The frog also functions as a self-cleaning mechanism helping to remove excess debris; every time a horse takes a step, the frog will expand, pushing out lodged material that doesn’t belong.  

Thrush is often associated with unsanitary conditions but that is not necessarily the case for many horses who contract thrush; thrush may survive due to many different types of moisture paired with debris that is unable to be discarded by the frog. Conditions that may contribute to thrush are:  

• Prolonged periods in stalls  
• Prolonged periods in paddocks or lots that are muddy or have excess feces 
• Lack of exercise for prolonged periods of time  
• Irregular hoof conformation  
• Excess moisture (May be due to frequent bathing or weather conditions) 

Thrush as a bacterial disease heavily affects the frog’s function; by weakening the frog, it becomes smaller in size and becomes unable to utilize its self-cleaning properties. This then allows the bacteria to continue to eat away at the horses’ hoof, creating more damage. If left untreated, thrush may cause lameness and more serious issues such as white line disease.  

Thrush Treatments 

Call the Farrier  

According to recent studies, such as a study posted by the Scientific Eminence Group titled “Remedial Hoof Trimming: A Curative Measure for Thrush”, one of the fastest ways to help rid of thrush is contacting a farrier to trim the horses’ hooves. In this study, horses in Group A were given a treatment of copper sulfate, povidone powder, and zinc oxide in a 1:1:1 ratio, while horses in Group B were given this same treatment as well as a hoof trimming. The study showed that horses in Group B were able to heal from thrush faster, where the median recovery time in Group B was 8.5 days compared to Group A, who had a median recovery time of 11 days. The frog size in horses in Group B was also shown to increase, suggesting horses in Group B had healthier frog health after receiving a trim and treatment.  

The Virginia Therapeutic Farriery also mentions that horses experiencing thrush should have their hooves trimmed in such a way that the heal of the hoof should be trimmed down to the base of the frog to promote better frog growth and reduction of thrush. Their article mentions that, if possible, it is best for a horse with thrush to go barefoot, however, if a horse needs to be shod, they may wear a straight bar shoe.   

Administer Medication 

The Virginia Therapeutic Farriery mentions that the frog may be cleaned by soaking in Epsom salts, followed by with daily cleaning by using antiseptics or astringents. Some examples of these include vinegar, iodine, rubbing alcohol, or any of the items used in the previously mentioned study (copper sulfate, povidone powder, and zinc oxide).   

If Necessary, Call the Vet 

If your horse is experiencing lameness and/or is not showing any signs of improvement after seeing a farrier and having consistent application of treatment, it is best to consult your vet to make sure the thrush gets resolved and that there are no other conditions contributing to your horses’ discomfort.  

Thrush Prevention 

Thrush may be common and can affect even the most well cared for horses, however there are some preventative measures you can take to prevent thrush from developing: 

• Cleaning your horses’ hooves regularly: removing debris that the frog is unable to remove can help to avoid frog disfunction.  
• Exercising your horse regularly: movement helps to promote a healthy frog, allowing it to function properly. 
• Ensuring clean living environments: thrush is often caused by exposure of the hooves to bacteria from manure and urine, so make sure that your horses’ primary living areas are cleaned often. 
• Using dry bedding in stalls: using dry bedding such as shavings will help to prevent thrush as it decreases the moisture that thrush thrives from. 
• Making sure your horses’ legs are dry before returning them to their main living area after water exposure 

References 

“Equine Thrush: A Closer Look.” Equine Podiatry | Dr. Stephen O’Grady, Veterinarians, Farriers, Books, Articles, www.equipodiatry.com/news/Equine_Thrush_A_Closer_Look.html. Accessed Nov. 2024.  

Patel, Abhishek. “Remidial Hoof Trimming: A Curative Measure for Thrush .” ResearchGate, 2021, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/366167867_Remidial_Hoof_Trimming_A_Curative_Measure_for_Thrush_Publication_Dates_Corresponding_Author. Accessed 2024.  

Rice, Jennifer. “Thrush in Horses.” PetMD, 2023, https://www.petmd.com/horse/conditions/skin/thrush-horses. Accessed 2025. 

Equitation is an important part of riding for all disciplines, as it helps to allow the horse and rider a better line of communication. The term equitation refers to the position of a rider on a horse, or, as Merriam-Webster would say, “the act or art of riding on horseback”. Equitation is truly an art, and likewise takes time and practice to perfect. While nobody is perfect, there are many ways to improve equitation that can benefit riders of every level. Here are some exercises you can try to improve your equitation!  

Up for Two, Down for Two 

A way that riders can help to improve balance when posting the trot is by practicing standing up for two trot steps and sitting for two trot steps. In other words, instead of an “up, down, up, down” cadence, the rider can think “up, up, down, down”. This exercise is good for helping the rider find where their core needs to be, as well as what area of the saddle they need to be in, as they will either get left behind or end up too far forward if they are not focused on their position.  

No Stirrup Work 

While no stirrup work is often a dreaded part of lessons for many riders, it is another great way to build balance, as well as the necessary muscles for riding. At the trot, riders can drop their stirrups for both sitting trot or posting trot, holding their leg in the correct position (heel down and in line with the shoulder and hip). For more advanced riders, practicing this while someone has your horse on a lunge line can be very beneficial and increase difficulty; for riders who balance off of the reins when the stirrups are taken away, the lunge line method also allows you to put down the reins, putting hands on your head, hips, or in an “airplane” position where your arms are straight out. It is important to note that when dropping the reins, they should be kept in such a way as to not become long enough for the horse to step on, and that riders should only do lunge line work with others that are familiar with lunging horses and horse safety. 

Continuing the no stirrup work trend, a good way to ensure that a riders’ seat is balanced on both the left and the right side is to drop one stirrup at a time while continuing in the trot. If a rider tends to lean more to one side, it will become very apparent quickly when only utilizing one stirrup at a time. Riders may switch between stirrups for a lap around the arena or for a couple trot steps; each rider is different and may find that different distances or periods of time while switching between stirrups may suit their needs best.  

Two-Point Transitions 

Two-point, although primarily used for English disciples that require jumping, can be used for people in all disciplines to improve their equitation. In this position, riders must focus on their core muscles as well as maintain the necessary contact given by leg aids to create impulsion from the horse. Riders can practice doing the two-point on its own, or, for increased difficulty, practice the two-point when performing both upward and downward transitions, such as the walk to trot transition and the trot to walk transition. This exercise may also help riders who struggle to use leg aids while posting at the trot, as it forces the rider to use their leg similarly to when the leg will be given as the rider stands up to post.  

The Stick Behind the Back Method 

We have talked a lot about the core and leg muscles, but what about the upper body? Riders may struggle with arm placement when riding or leaning too far forward or backwards. One way to ensure that riders are using their upper body properly is to have them use a sturdy stick-like object such as a dressage whip behind their back, keeping the stick in front of their elbows. This will help the rider find a better upper body position, using the proper back muscles when riding. This exercise can also help riders with hard hands become more aware of how much pressure they normally use when their arms are free versus held back by the stick.