Kissing spines occurs when the vertebrae along a horse’s back sit too close together and might touch or overlap, potentially causing pain and limiting the horse’s performance. Affected horses might show signs such as sensitivity when saddled, reluctance to work, or bucking under saddle, but some horses with kissing spines might not show signs of pain.

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About the Experts:

• Katie McKenna, DVM, is a sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, she developed her passion for equine sports medicine through her hunter/equitation career and completed her veterinary degree at The Ohio State University, in Columbus, followed by an equine sports medicine and rehabilitation residency at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, in Kennett Square. Her clinical and research interests include equine athletic performance, advanced diagnostic imaging, and regenerative medicine, and she has served as an official veterinarian at major equestrian events, including the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill and the Devon Horse Show.

• Bailey Decker, DVM, received her BS in animal science and minored in biomedical engineering at The Ohio State University, in Columbus. She then went on to earn her veterinary degree from Long Island University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, in New York, in 2024. Decker enjoys working with equine athletes as a veterinarian with Unionville Equine Associates, in Oxford, Pennsylvania.