Hello all, I’ve recently viewed a horse that has had kissing spine surgery, I’m wondering if it’s not the best idea to buy him because of future health issues or does the surgery fix it 100%? The horse has been out jumping courses of 90-100cm post surgery and before he was jumping novice/1.20 but i’m wanting to take him out competing novice…will the surgery affect his ability to jump and just do well over all? Will I not be able to compete him because of it? Do I need to be more careful on how I ride him if I do buy him? Those might be stupid questions but I seriously don’t know and just need some help!!! Thank you 
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The short version is you probably need more information to make your decision. Plenty of horses go on to successful competitive careers post-surgery, but then may require more day to day special “stuff” than other horses. I would want to know what type of surgery was done (ligament snip va ostectomy), what kind of rehab program was done, and what his day-to-day routine is now - and I’d do new back films as part of a PPE.
I have a horse who had ostectomy of 5 spaces done at the very end of his 4yo year as he was very symptomatic. The rehab plan was followed to the letter - and i think that is a very big deal when it comes to thinking about future performance capabilities. He’s 6 now and eventing successfully at BN and just made his first level debut in dressage. But…he requires a pretty regimented program. He is stretched and lunged before I get on, he gets 2x weekly PEMF, we’re careful to make sure he gets plenty of turnout and his feet stay balanced, and he gets at least one lunging-only day weekly where he is lunged over jumps/raised cavaletti or in a lunging rig.
So a long way of saying that my guy is proceeding along what J would say is a normal trajectory of work for a 6yo being brought along by a working ammy rider…but he takes a lot more management than maybe your average horse. It works for me because I have my own farm and I can do my own PEMF…but it might not work for everyone.
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I think this so much depends on the horse/rider/program - my horse had a pretty extensive ostectomy a little over a year ago and I had professional help with the rehab - I’ve yet to be able to have a consistently sound horse. He still carries a lot of tension in his muscles and I suspect a lingering SI compensation issue. Between the surgery and post-op issues, and rehab - I’ve spent around 20k. I could have bought a horse already doing the job I want them to do…
I’m trying a program of gabapentin and methocarbamol (resting now, about to put back in groundwork) as a last attempt at bringing him back into ridden work. I’m a novice rider and I do not have a lot of experience riding in a consistent contact/preventing inversion etc.
I know many people with KS horses that have extensive issues resulting in them being unrideable, retired, and a few euthanized.
I personally will never get a KS horse again.
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