Posted by M. W. Myers, D.V.M. on September 23, 2001 at 16:24:10:
In Reply to: Interfering--fix or let be? posted by Brooke on September 21, 2001 at 02:23:01:
: I recently bought an 8-year-old TB, an ex-racehorse whose previous owner had done hunters with him. My interest is dressage. This horse has a fair bit of talent, but his major problem is that he's cow-hocked and ends up interfering at both the trot and canter (sometimes so badly that he swaps leads, though this may be a holdover from the hunter way of riding). One vet recommended lateral extensions on the hind feet, but I've heard both positive and negative things about trailers. Thanks to the beating he took as a hunter, there are some arthritic changes in the hocks, and I want to avoid putting extra stress on them (as I've been told trailers might). Is it better to allow the horse to continue in his 'natural' way of going, or to correct the hind leg action?
If you are looking to make a good dressage horse out of a horse with rear limb problems, I would recommend looking for another horse. Dressage demands more from the rear of the horse than does some other disciplines and the end result may well be disappointment.
That said, we can examine your current situation. Many "cow hocked" horses are underweight. Adding a couple of hundred pounds of body weight fills in the inner thighs and chest which widens these areas and turns the legs out. If this horse has normal weight (no bones, ribs, hips etc. showing - none at all, no excuses) then you have a more serious problem. Altering his way of going may well exacerbate his unsoundness. If he has hock changes he is unsound, even if he is not limping at the moment. He may not limp as he may be equally sore in both rear which will become a problem as you ask more of him in dressage training.
"Fix it or let it be?" is difficult to answer without seeing the horse. Videos, pictures and radiographs would help make that determination. You can reach me through the consulting ara of this site for further assistance.
M. W. Myers, D.V.M.