I came into trimming rather by accident, it was more of a result of my off the track Thoroughbred mare "Daisy" being lame with shoes and throwing shoes all the time. I started researching the subject of the barefoot trim and realized the traditional trim was all wrong for Daisy. So I began to search high and low for a natural barefoot trimmer in my area as I watched with despair my horse becoming more and more lame with the regular pasture trim.

After much research and learning at clinics and with the very valuable help of Kim Cassidy www.clickandtrim.com Natural Hoof Care Practitioner from New York, I began to trim my horse’s feet and over time, she became sound again. After over a year of extensive research on natural horsecare and nutrition and practice on my own horse, I moved on to trimming other people’s horses in the Ottawa Carleton region. I was surprised to see the incredible demand for natural barefoot trimming in my area and so decided to become a certified practitioner with the AANHCP, American Association of Natural Hoof Care Practitioners. Please see my training progress on my Training and Certification Page. I have been successfully trimming since 2002.

In August 2006, we warmly welcomed a new addition to our family. A handsome TB/Trakehner cross gelding named Jinks joined our family. Daisy originally wasn't the happiest camper but now we can't even free lunge them separately! Jinks is a 6 year old horse who apparently was purchased as a 4 year old from the breeder's field. He was professionally started but then began displaying the frightening symptoms of EPSM. Jinks began to display on and off lameness issues with his feet as well as tying up symptoms. Jinks' owner had her own set of medical issues and was not able to ride or care for Jinks anymore. To make a long story short, my colleague Anne Riddell had successfully transitioned Jinks to barefoot, however he needed a continued natural hoof care plan as well as a natural diet to address his foot sensitivity and tying up issues. His owner cared for him deeply but simply couldn't offer these conditions due to boarding limitations in her area.

Well, everyone who is anyone has ridden Jinks in the ring and on the trail and we say this horse is a diamond in the rough! Since we have been able to give Jinks what he needs for his diet and hooves he has not taken ONE lame step! Jinks will live a long and happy life with us on our new farm! For more information on Jinks' transition to barefoot please see my case studies section.

Our focus with our horses is now mainly on natural horsemanship, natural horse care and diet and of course natural hoof care. We all now share a love for riding hunters and dressage as well as trail riding everywhere; and these activities are positively enhanced by having natural bare, calloused and concave hooves on our horses. As a certified barefoot practitioner, and co-founding member of CAHET's trimming program, I am fully enjoying the ability to help other horses and their owners on their quest for happiness, good health and soundness for the many years ahead of them.

Since purhasing our farm in April of 2007, we have accumulated a few more animals including many different breeds of chickens (we have tiny chicks that we have just hatched and we are enjoying having organic birds and eggs around here. As well as the chickens we have rabbits and another Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dog! We are awaiting a few more horses to arrive as well and will be having some ducks for our pond at some point soon.