Unfavorable Conformation Can Lead To Uneven Feet

A team of European researchers has found conformation of the forelimbs (including heel height and pastern angle), height at the withers and neck length can contribute to uneven feet concerns. The scientists at Wageningen University in The Netherlands evaluated conformation, genetic and performance records of nearly 45,000 Dutch warmbloods competing at top levels in show jumping and dressage.

“Selection for better conformation favors taller horses, even though uneven feet are not highly heritable,” says Bart Ducro. “With a shorter neck, this can lead to disproportional growth in the feet. We also found uneven feet were more prevalent in lame horses than in sound ones.”

What To Do When The IRS Pays A Call

With the Internal Revenue Service doubling the number of taxpayer audits in the past decade, be sure you fully understand the different ways to answer a request from a tax agent. While most simple audits are done by mail, it’s a different situation when IRS requests a meeting, says Mark Herouk, a partner in the tax service group at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause in Chicago, Ill. “Many taxpayers choose to handle these meetings on their own, but it’s best to hire an experienced tax attorney, accountant or enrolled agent for these complex situations,” he says.

When A 53-Degree Angle Is Not 53 Degrees

Most shoers at one time or another have dealt with a trainer or owner who insisted on a specific hoof angle. Yet when you come back a…