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Discussion on Cow hocks
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Member:
Kthorse
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 2, 2002 - 1:56 pm:
Hi , Has anyone had the hind legs straightened on a foal who was severly cow hocked. I am asking because I would like to know if there are affects years later on these horses. Thanks Katrina
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 3, 2002 - 7:49 am:
The conformational flaws that result in a cow hocked horse are not fixable. Usually there is an outward rotation of the hind leg that originates from above the stifle, perhaps the hip or pelvis. In its most serious form there is also some degree of flexor laxity. Or perhaps the flexor laxity causes the turned out appearance of the legs. I suspect both happen. The resulting appearance is of a horse whose hocks are close together in the back but generally toed out and base wide at the hooves.
The bottom line is that there is little you can do to straighten the whole leg. In mild cases some have trimmed in a manner to cause the foot to be directed straight forward but this just puts a bend in the lower leg and is probably more stressful than maintaining a straight leg that is aligned from top to bottom.
DrO
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