By Fascia Horse Editorial
Fascia Horse International
Last updated: 2026-10-19
What kissing spine in a horse means
Kissing spines, also called overriding dorsal spinous processes, means the bony spines along the horse's back sit so close that they touch or overlap. It is most often described in the thoracic back, under the saddle. A veterinarian confirms it with radiographs. A horse can have kissing spine on an X-ray and still move well, and a horse with back pain does not always have kissing spines.
Signs of horse back pain
Before a diagnosis, owners usually notice a change in behavior or stride:
- Hollowing the back or resenting the saddle
- A shorter stride, especially in trot
- Difficulty stretching and lifting through the back
- Bucking, tail swishing, or reluctance to go forward
- Soreness when you press along the back
A veterinarian diagnoses it
Horse back pain can come from kissing spine, saddle fit, the rider's position, hoof balance, or tension in muscle and fascia. Radiographs and a veterinary exam decide whether bone is involved and whether the horse needs rest, medication, surgery, or another plan. Fascia treatment does not replace that exam.
Where fascia treatment fits
Horses with a tight back often brace through the long back muscles and the fascia that wraps them. A certified Fascia Horse therapist works on that tissue with the Atlasbalans deep-wave machine. The aim is glide in the connective tissue, a quieter muscle tone, and a longer stride. The treatment does not move bone and is not a cure for kissing spine.