What physical characteristic defines a 'cow hocked' horse?

A horse described as 'cow hocked' exhibits a specific physical characteristic where the hocks turn inward, causing the legs to appear to have a slight curvature or angle at the hocks. This condition can affect the horse's movement and balance, making it an important characteristic to identify.

In a 'cow hocked' horse, the inward angling of the hocks may lead to increased stress on the joints and can impact performance and soundness. Recognizing this conformation can help handlers and riders understand how to manage and care for the horse effectively.

The other options describe different alignments of the limbs that do not correspond to the definition of 'cow hocked.' For instance, feet pointing straight ahead and perfectly aligned legs indicate correct conformation, while hocks turning outward would describe a different condition called 'bow-legged.' Each of these alternatives does not correctly capture the defining physical characteristic of a 'cow hocked' horse.