Breeding with a Kissing Spine horse?

What is more cute than a young foal right? 

And if I can't ride my mare and I don't want to sell her because she means too much to me.. It's great to give her purpose as a mother, don't you think? Is it? Really? Or is it something to reconsider?

Your mare seems perfectly comfortable out in the field. She is happy, she runs, she plays, she eats, she sleeps. Okay, maybe in the work she is not the greatest, but in pasture.. Yes, she is totally fine there. So what can she do in the field? Grow a baby in her belly! And then maybe in a couple of years I have a nice horse to ride again! Yippee!

And really, I do understand. After having my first foal Gert almost 2 years ago, I do have the itch to breed another one. Because seriously! Look at him!

It all makes sense until it doesn't..

Yes, I understand this is not something you might be willing to read. But if you're seriously considering breeding with your mare who has kissing spines I do want you to take a couple of things into account. It might seem like a great idea but many before you got highly disappointed. In the end the results weren't what they expected or hoped for. Leaving not one, but more often 2 horses very unhappy and uncomfortable. 

Breeding through the kissing spines

That kissing spines might be something genetic is something that's been discussed more and more often. One of the reasons is very simple and yet concerning.. People rather blame something else than themselves for the problems they're having with their horses. So seeking other reasons outside of themselves and the way they train horses is a very human and logical thing to do. Regardless it is true that kissing spines can be genetic. Some breeds are more sensitive to this than others. All depending what people have been trying to improve in the breed over time. For dressage horses for example the focus has been on shorter backs and roundribbed to increase the athletic abilities. But shorter backs also come with challenges and issues like kissing spines. 

Then breeds with a more natural build on the forehand like Paints, Quarter horses and Arabian thoroughbreds show a bigger challenge in the spine because of the croupe being higher than the withers. 

Each breed has a challenge like this so it's vital to do research on the breed of your horse and it's physical challenges and then of course it's key to find the right stallion. Not just for the color or the pedigree which guarantees more talent. But a stallion that improves the comformation of the foal coming out compared to the mare. 

Needless to say that deciding not to breed with a kissing spine mare in order not to breed through the kissing spines is a very valid decision. 

The comfort of the mare

I can speak out of personal experience that for my mare Pura, breeding was not great for her back and she was in a significant amount of pain. It was not meant to breed with her. It was an accident after a stallion had broken free out of it's field and had a little party on his own. 

When Pura came into our yard she was already with foal. Let me tell you that back then I did not like her. She would attack you over the stall door, she was always angry and tense. But instantly after the foal came out this changed. She was very sweet and calm. While we expected her to be a true dragon around her baby and it would be big challenge for us to get near. It really was the opposite. 

Only after I learned more about kissing spines I realised why..

She was in pain! The weight of the foal was pulling the spine down, causing the dorsals to touch and for her to be in serious pain. The closer she got to the end of her pregnancy, the worse her pain and therefore her attitude was. For all logic reasons!

So besides being very aware about what stallion to pick to breed with and genetics being a part of the decision, it's also vital that you continue working your horse during the process. Unless you want to take the chance of your beloved mare getting really uncomfortable it's vital that she stays as fit and strong as possible. Which means training. 

Simply turning her out in pasture for 11 months is really a bad idea!

And this is what I often hear wat people want to do. Just let her heal for a year while carrying a foal. After the year many are dissappointed that their horse has not healed yet. But this is very logical. Instead of the weight of the rider being ON the back, this weight is hanging underneath the spine. So your mare needs to be strong, fit and comfortable before you decide to breed. 

Disappointed?

I get it. Yet I am not here just to share rainbows and sunshine. Personally, these two things are my main reasons to under no circumstances breed with a kissing spines mare and in the end this will always be my advise. And IF you decide to do so anyway. Please make sure your mare is comfortable, fit and strong enough to carry the foal without any discomfort. 

Do you want to know more about how to do this? Join my 'Rehab Strategy Course'!

With love,

Sabine