Are We Rushing Our Horses? The Hidden Link Between Early Training and Kissing Spine

In today’s horse world, horses are being started under saddle younger than ever, often with little thought for what their bodies are truly ready for.

And as an equine spinal therapist / physio with 13 years of professional experience, I’m seeing the consequences:

📈 A rise in back issues
📈 A surge in posture-related problems
📈 An alarming increase in kissing spine diagnoses

Which begs the question…

Is the lack of proper strengthening work—especially in young horses—part of what’s driving this?

The Problem No One Wants to Talk About

It’s become normal to back horses at 3, sometimes even younger. They’re ridden, jumped, and put into training programs before they’ve had time to physically mature. Their musculoskeletal system is still developing—particularly their spine.

Add to this:

• They’ve had no real core training

• They haven’t been taught to carry themselves in balance

• Their posture hasn’t been developed for strength and stability

And yet… they’re asked to carry a rider, develop collection, and perform complex movements.

What Happened to Giving Horses Time?

Traditionally, young horses were lightly backed at 4, turned away for the winter, and only brought into proper ridden work around age 5 or even 6. This gave them time to grow, physically and mentally, before asking anything of their bodies. There was space for strengthening, maturity, and correct development.

Now, we often skip this crucial phase in favour of speed. And it's the horses who pay the price — in their posture, their soundness, and often their long-term health.

Why Core Strength Matters So Much

Core training isn’t just a ‘nice to have’. It’s essential.

The core muscles are what stabilise the spine and allow the horse to carry weight correctly. Without a strong core, your horse is more likely to:

❌ Brace through the back
❌ Move hollow or on the forehand
❌ Develop tension and resistance
❌ Overload joints and soft tissues
❌ Compress the spaces between the vertebrae

That last one? That’s a major contributor to kissing spine.

When the dorsal spinous processes (DSPs) are pulled closer together due to poor posture and lack of core engagement, pain and bony changes start to occur.

Would You Skip Strength Training Before Weightlifting?

If a human athlete were heading into competitive weightlifting, they’d spend months building their foundational strength, joint mobility, posture, and coordination.

We’d never expect a teenager to deadlift 80kg without preparation.

But we often ask a young horse to carry a rider (plus saddle) before they’ve developed the core strength and postural awareness to do it safely.

It’s no surprise that so many of them end up with chronic tension, crookedness, and spinal issues.

There Is a Better Way

You don’t need fancy tools.
You don’t need to be a physio.
And you don’t need hours of time.

You just need to commit to a few minutes a day of targeted, proven exercises that gently and effectively develop your horse’s core strength.

These are the exercises I teach in my Core Exercises for Your Horse Course. They’re the very ones I used to rehab my own horse Azuro following kissing spine surgery—and now they’re part of my go-to routine for keeping horses strong, sound, and supported.

✅ You’ll learn:

• How to activate your horse’s core safely and effectively

• Gentle but powerful movements that protect the spine

• How to build your horse up before asking for more under saddle

✅ Just 10 minutes a day
✅ No special equipment needed
✅ Noticeable improvements in posture, movement, and engagement

➡️ Click here to get instant access to the Core Exercises Course – Lifetime access for just £9

Let’s raise the standard for our horses.
Let’s stop rushing the process—and start preparing them like the athletes they are.

Because prevention is always better than rehab.
And strong, supported horses have the best chance of staying sound for life.