Some members of the breed have been afflicted by the disorder kissing spine.

Baastrup's sign, or kissing spine, is an orthopedic and radiographic disorder, notably in elderly humans.

Horses may also lose muscle tone from traveling with a hollowed back, leading to increased risk of lordosis ("swayback"), kissing spines, or pinched nerves.

The reason it is referred to as kissing spine is because the posterior spinous processes 'kiss' and touch one another as the individual goes into lumbar extension, for example when flat on their stomach.

Radiographs (X-Rays) can be used to diagnose potential problems with cracked vertebrae, some forms of arthritis, impinging dorsal spinous processes (kissing spines), and other skeletal problems, although with large, heavily muscled animals this diagnostic modality is limited.

The Baastrup's sign is named after him.

Baastrup's sign, or kissing spine, is an orthopedic and radiographic disorder, notably in elderly humans.

Some members of the breed have been afflicted by the disorder kissing spine.

Baastrup's sign, or kissing spine, is an orthopedic and radiographic disorder, notably in elderly humans.

Horses may also lose muscle tone from traveling with a hollowed back, leading to increased risk of lordosis ("swayback"), kissing spines, or pinched nerves.

The reason it is referred to as kissing spine is because the posterior spinous processes 'kiss' and touch one another as the individual goes into lumbar extension, for example when flat on their stomach.

Radiographs (X-Rays) can be used to diagnose potential problems with cracked vertebrae, some forms of arthritis, impinging dorsal spinous processes (kissing spines), and other skeletal problems, although with large, heavily muscled animals this diagnostic modality is limited.