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Equine Insights: What Causes the Development of Kissing Spines | Part 2 of the Kissing Spines Series

Posted by Dr. Hilary Clayton on Oct 4th 2024

Part two of the deep dive into the reality of kissing spines. We learned last time that kissing spines is a potentially painful disease in which the spines of the vertebrae rub against each other. Let’s take a look at what causes the development of kissing spines. What causes the development of kissing spines? It occurs most often in Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods, and stock …
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Equine Insights: Understanding Kissing Spines in Horses & Signs | Part 1 of the Kissing Spines Series

Posted by Dr. Hilary Clayton on Sep 16th 2024

Kissing Spines in Horses Last time I described the structure and mechanics of the horse’s back. In this blog, we’ll explore the most common vertebrae disease in the trunk region: kissing spines. Let’s dive into how to better understand Kissing spines in horses and the signs. Despite its friendly-sounding name, this can be a harrowing disease for the horse. The Equine Vertebra Ana …
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Equine Insights: The Trunk – How to Better Understand your Horses Back Biomechanics

Posted by Dr. Hilary Clayton on Aug 30th 2024

Each part of the locomotor apparatus plays a distinct and different role in locomotion. The horse’s trunk is the central part that unites and coordinates the haunches with the forehand. In addition to transmitting propulsion forward from the hind limbs, the trunk supports the body organs and carries the rider’s weight. In my previous post, we looked at how the different body parts work …
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Equine Insights: The Big Picture

Posted by Dr. Hilary Clayton on Aug 15th 2024

Winston Churchill said, “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” While appreciating the outer beauty of horses, I’ve always been fascinated by what’s on the inside, and, having studied athletic horses for almost 50 years as a veterinarian, researcher, and rider, I’ve learned that the inside of a horse is a marvel of structural and functiona …
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