Re: RC: Cow-hocked endurance prospects???

[Farafix@aol.com]

There's cow hocked, and then there's the spiral hind limb as Deb Bennet 
explains in her 3 part conformation series.  I'll try to paraphrase Bennet, 
but I found it a difficult idea to visualize.
Visualize standing directly behind the horse.  Bennet says that the stifle 
has to be wide enough to clear the barrel as the leg moves forward, so the 
tibula (hope I have these bone names right!) that runs from the stifle to the 
hock angles back in a mirror image of the angle from the point of buttocks to 
the stifle.  The cannon should drop straight down. The hoof angles out at the 
same angle as the stifle.  As the horse steps forward, the hind foot takes a 
foward, but slightly outwardly diagonal path.  Confused (I think I've 
confused myself now!!)?!?!?!
I've found it very helpful to video tape the horse, play the video in slow 
motion.  Watch the hock as the weight passes over the leg as the horse walks, 
trots, or canters.  If the hock wobbles or wiggles, I take it as a bad sign.  
If the hock stays rock solid as the horse moves it's weight over the leg, I 
figure the hock is taking the least amount of stress possible.
Tempo & his dam (over 3000 miles & going strong) have the spiral hind limb 
construction that Bennet talks about, and (knock on wood), they have been 
very sound.  Old Farafix has very slight bow hocked construction (which the 
standard conformation text would say is correct), and I got a bit of 
puffiness in his hock one time --- & he only did 25-30 mile CTR's, nothing 
like the rides Kadance+/ & Tempo have done.
My 2 cents!!

Nancy (driving the family crazy watching horse videos in slo-mo) & Tempo 
(1300 miles, who still sets the standard on rock solid hocks!)
Md


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