Shoeless Horse
Leo, My Horse

Member of:

American Hoof Association 

  Equine Sciences Academy

Wild Horses Don't Wear Shoes
why should yours?

Services Offered

Horses, hooves, herbs, healing - my 4-H's.

I consider myself blessed that my passions are my career. While trimming and instruction are my primary focus, herbal formulation, flower essence therapy, equine massage and Reiki are complementary healing services that I offer.

Trimming
I work in British Columbia and Washington. My normal routes cover the Lower Mainland and the Bellingham area, but I may be able to travel to help horses and their owners who aren't so close.

One-on-one instruction
This is my favorite part of the job. I believe in the power of the owner. Barring pathological hooves, a caring owner who takes the time to learn how to trim will be the best trimmer for their horses, period. Yes, it takes time, study, and practice to learn, but it is worth the investment. You will be amazed at how much closer you feel to your four-legged friends. I recommend reading The Horse Owner's Guide to Natural Hoof Care and Making Natural Hoof Care Work for You beforehand so that we can spend time going over trimming, not theory. Study your horses' hooves, take pictures, and come with questions - the day will be spent tailored to your needs. I can come to you, or if you'd prefer coming to Bellingham, WA, or Langley, BC, I can find plenty of horses on which to practice trimming!

Clinics
I also teach trimming clinics. Group learning can be a lot of fun! Each participant brings different questions and observations. Most groups also "bond" as they learn together, and make for a wonderful support system as everyone masters barefoot trimming. In a two day clinic, we will cover wild horse hooves, whole horse keeping, hoof anatomy, effects of shoeing, trimming principles, tools, horse handling skills, and, of course, actual trimming. Cadaver hooves can be used or we can work on live horses - whichever the group prefers.

Custom herbal formulas
I adore animals, and I love plants almost as much. I have worked with herbs for nearly 15 years, and have witnessed how well they take care of our bodies. Although not a substitute for quality veterinary care, herbs can assist in your horse's healing and health maintenance. Consultations can be over the phone or in person. I can prepare the combination, or provide a list to prepare yourself. Cost of herbal formulas varies, depending on the herbs needed. I am currently completing my herbal studies in a Master Herbalist program with Paul Beyrerl, MH.

Equine Massage
Horses get sore muscles, just like we do. Strenuous competition, poor saddle fit, weekend warrior syndrome, conformational imperfections and unbalanced riding can all contribute to our horses being achy and stiff. Oftentimes, soft tissue injuries go unnoticed, and the horse is just considered cranky, lazy, or a poor mover. I hold a Certificate in Large Animal Massage from the Northwest School of Animal Massage, and have furthered my studies in myofacial release and trigger point therapy.

Bach Flower Essence Formulas
Bach Flower Essences are like homeopathy for the emotions. They can help our equine partners (or us, for that matter) cope with stress, change, grief, timidity, resentment, and other psychological issues. I work with the owner for a half hour question and answer session regarding the horse, and based on that discussion, I create a custom flower essence blend. Consultations can be over the phone or in person. I hold a Certificate in Flower Essences from the Australasian College of Herbal Studies.

Reiki Treatment
Reiki is a powerful yet simple form of energy healing, a "laying on of hands" if you will. It is non-manipulative and non-invasive, instead balancing the body's energy system. Reiki works alongside quality veterinary care to facilitate deep healing.

I am a Reiki teacher/master.