Toed out behind...how serious is this?
 

Hi all.
I've been looking at a Dutch Warmblood for a few weeks now, and it looks like I'm probably going to buy him. I have only one concern: lately I've noticed that he is slightly toed out behind. It doesn't seem to affect his movement at all, and it is more noticeable when he's resting. As far as I know he has never had any soundness issues behind. Like I said, it's only a slight thing, but I was just wondering if it will have any implications for his job as a low-level hunter/jumper?
Thanks :)

ETA: I will try to get pictures of his feet some time this week.

It may make him more likely to develop arthritis with prolonged use but anymore, most horses are slightly cow-hocked. So long as his hocks are not interfering with each other, he should be fine.

My colt is toed out or cow hocked as well so Im curious to hear answers. He moves awesome, the only time I notice is when hes standing still. Old pic, but you get the idea, although its hard to tell in the pic.

Next time you go to look at him check his feet as an unbalanced foot may cause this . Also check the whole leg for straightness - make sure there is no rotation in the hind limb from the hock down .
Walk behind the horse and check his movement - the hoof should not rotate as the leg straightned - once saw a horse that rotated the foot during walk , and she wore her shoes out at an incrediable speed - after severall years the hind legs got so bad that she was useless for anything but light work.

My horse was cow-hocked when he was younger as a yearling and a 2 yr old. My trainer was a little concerned about it. She said he may strengthen up with more exercise and getting a healthier diet. He was underweight and not very healthy. His hocks are fine now. He is strong, athletic and healthy. :D

I haven't had any with arthritis, but at least for the QH/Paint stock horses I've seen, most do stand slightly cow hocked. It's never affected the movement of any of our mares, including our 15 yr old penner, and they don't look that way at the trot/lope. Perhaps unrelated or coincidence, but it seems the stockier/more muscled the hind is, the more noticible it is at rest...

my mare is slightly toed out in back and she moves beautifully, jumps well and has never been lame, so I doubt its a huge issue, but you can always ask a vet during vet check

Thanks everyone for the replies!
I have a bit of a dumb question: is it possible to be toed out behind without being cow-hocked? Because when I stand behind him it looks like there is only rotation outwards in the fetlocks, and ONLY when he's standing still, at rest and relaxed, like in the crossties. If he is alert or nervous, his feet all look pretty square. His hocks don't interfere with each other at all and his motion does not seem to be affected. Maybe it's just the way he slouches? Lol.

do you have any pics?