Cow hock is a term used to describe a particular formation or conformation of the hindquarters of a horse. The hock is the joint that is between the cannon bone and the gaskin on the hind leg, it is the point at which the leg bends towards the back before it drops straight down to the fetlock. The hock is roughly equivalent to a human elbow in that it bends forward rather than backwards like our knees do.
The term cow hock simply means that the horse's hocks turn in towards each other rather than staying parallel. If you look at a cow you will notice that their hocks turn in, hence the name. Many breeders prefer a horse to be very slightly cow hocked, especially in gaited breeds where it adds a somewhat rolling movement to the hindquarters. Most horses will have a slight turning in at the point of the hock, which will cause no soundness problems nor will it affect the horse's performance in any way.
In moderate to extreme cases of a horse being cow hocked the turning in at the hocks causes the lower legs to spread apart, resulting in a splayed appearance when viewed from the back. In these moderate to extreme cases the cow hocks will be problematic as it puts varying degrees of pressure on the joints throughout the leg, often resulting in lameness, poor movement as well as problematic joint wear and stiffness if the horse is worked.
Cow hocked horses have a different movement in the hind legs to compensate for the additional strain on the ligaments and joints. A cow hocked horse will move their legs to the side and upward rather than straight ahead. In severe cases this will cause increased fatigue and problems with movement over rough terrain.
Since cow hocks are a conformation problem, they can sometimes be corrected with shoes if the condition is very mild and is corrected early. In some breeds, such as the gaited horses, very slight cow hocks are very common and are accepted. In severe cases the horses exhibiting cow hocks should not be used in breeding programs as the conformation problem is likely to be passed down to subsequent foals.
When cow hocks are significant, they can lead to a condition known as bone spavin. Bone spavin can be any type of bony lump that develops on the lower hock that is typically a result of arthritis and can result in leg weakness, lack of movement and even pain when walking or moving. Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to manage mild bone spavins and is often very successful in connection with corrective shoeing. In extreme cases of bone spavin surgery can be used, but it is likely to re-develop if cow hocks are causing the problem as these cannot be corrected.
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