Cow hocks! 20 month old!

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Lifelongequestrian

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My youngster has been cow hocked since he arrived. The problem seemed to diminish as the condition came on him. However, he still seems rather cow hocked. Will he straighten out as he gets older or is remedial farriery something I could consider? Ideally I'd like to minimise the risk of any future joint problems or issues.
If anybody has any advice or experience with this issue feel free, good or bad!
 
Are his parents cow hocked? If they aren't then he should (in theory) straighten up as he matures.

My grey was not only cow hocked, but toed out in front as a yearling. As she matured and her body had got much wider, both of these faults went. She changed quite dramatically in width during her fourth year and looked super as a five year old.
 
I'm with Faracat . . . with time, maturity and strength he may very well straighten up all round. What's happening in the body has a huge affect on what happens with the limbs/feet - just as it is true the other way around. Give him a bit more time and see how he is as he matures/grows. How old is he now? Do you do anything with him at all yet? What about his dam/sire - how is their conformation?

P
 
I have a rising 7 yr old Welsh D which was so tied in behind when I got her she caused severe damage to her own legs and would smash up brushing boots within a few hacks. 6 weeks of walking strengthened her up remarkably behind and she stopped brushing completely out hacking. Previously every single stride her legs connected! Her whole stance changed behind.

Interestingly, she also dished so badly in front I didn't buy her the first time I viewed her (I got her about 8 months and two more homes later when she was in an even worse physical condition because I felt sorry for her!).

Anyway 7 months on and I recently realised the dishing is also now hardly noticeable - people actually compliment me on her paces every time I have her out in public so they do change an awful lot with maturity. The first time my SJ instructor saw her he said "well you aren't going to be able to do anything with THAT trot!" But he was wrong lol.
 
Hello!
He is 20 months old, I'm unsure about his dams conformation. I've never seen his dam but his sire doesn't look cow hocked from the photos I've seen and seems to be a straight mover! The only thing I do with him is walk him out and about in hand across fields and lanes etc just to get him out and about.
Should I leave him to mature or is there anything simple exercises I can do to help him? As I said he has straightened up no end over the last couple of months but seem to have plateaued at the minute.
Thankyou for every bodies replies!
And ffionwinnie did you walk out on hacks or in hand? Somebody told me hill work would help?
 
Lifelongequestrian said:
Hello!
He is 20 months old, I'm unsure about his dams conformation. I've never seen his dam but his sire doesn't look cow hocked from the photos I've seen and seems to be a straight mover! The only thing I do with him is walk him out and about in hand across fields and lanes etc just to get him out and about.
Should I leave him to mature or is there anything simple exercises I can do to help him? As I said he has straightened up no end over the last couple of months but seem to have plateaued at the minute.
Thankyou for every bodies replies!
And ffionwinnie did you walk out on hacks or in hand? Somebody told me hill work would help?
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At 20 months you need to seek specialist help.

I rode my horse but she's a lot older. I was just making the point that they do change a lot with work. Yours is too young to work. Cow hocks aren't a disaster but you should speak to an equine vet who has experience with young stock.
 
Cow hocks are not necessarily a disaster, are very common in young stock and almost always reduce or disappear altogether as the horse's thigh muscles develop. As a rising 2 year old I would just leave him be until he is ready to be trained. Do you have any photographs of the offending (joke!) limbs?
 
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