Although I was born in NYC and lived my pre teen years in a suburban neighborhood, apart from any possibility of even seeing a horse, my thoughts, heart and soul were always on a quest for a real horse encounter beyond the plastic ones lined up on my dresser. My very first words included “horse”.  As I approached my teen years, my parents bought their first house up in the country, and my quest for those horse encounters became real. My Dad or grandmother took me to a riding stable every weekend, and within a short time, I was working there as a trail guide. Those years were exciting, meeting many new horses each year and leading hundreds of horseback riders through the woods and fields of Templed Hills in Jefferson Valley, NY. When I graduated High School, Mrs. B, the owner, gave me my lead horse as a gift.

Since those days, I have owned, trained, ridden and cared for many horses over the past 50 years. I came to natural horse and hoof care because of lameness issues that kept creeping up on my horse, Sage, when he was shod.  A warmer than usual winter had me riding Sage for 3 months barefooted, as I always pulled shoes for the winter months. A happier riding horse and a magazine article that read “Is Barefoot for Your Horse”, opened the door to thinking differently about what I was doing.  There was no one in my area close enough to trim my horses using the concepts of  “natural trimming” I was reading about. I learned to trim my own horses with, Certified Hoof Care Professional, Amy Sheehy, and then applied to the Equine Sciences Academy where I was accepted and awarded an Excellence Scholarship for my studies. I became the first student to earn an Equine Sciences Degree and Natural Hoof Care Certification from the ESA, and also serve as a ESA Field Instructor.  I received my certification at the American Hoof Association, an organization of peer- reviewed hoof care professionals offering progressive, preventative and rehabilitative services, education and information. I served as the Director of Education and on the Board of Directors as a Member at Large and 2 terms as President. The AHA has now merged with the Progressive Hoof Care Practitioners, and my certification has been accepted within this organization. I am currently a Mentor for the PHCP.

I collaborate with many Holistic Equine Professionals passionate in their fields, offering a team approach to whole horse wellness with Dentistry, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Massage, Reiki, Body Work and Essential Oils  as the foundation of care. More recently, I have been working with Joy Heckman NHCP, ND offering Energy Medicine. When needed, we incorporate the skills of other practitioners to reach optimal function and health. Our goal is to promote the wellness of the equine and prevent injury and disease through working together for the whole horse.

I believe in educating owners on a more natural paradigm of horsekeeping.  I want owners to understand and know why we need to embrace these changes. Because much of my work has been rehabilitative, it has become evident that we need to change how we are caring for our horses. We need to put them on a path of wellness from the start by understanding their needs as a species, and rethinking what has become convenient for us. I also utilize the Cherokee Way of Right Relationship through the Four Directions under the teaching of Cherokee Medicine Elder JT Garrett, to find harmony and balance between humans and the horses in their lives, weather it be be performance, pleasure or retirement. Healthy feet grow from healthy horses. Healthy in body, mind, spirit and natural space…it’s more than just a trim.

 

If You Are Looking for a Trimmmer in the NY/ CT/ MA area...

I only recommend Trimmers who are peer reviewed, ESA and/or PHCP certified, ESA and PHCP student trimmers with Instructor/ mentor report for level of skill, and trimmers who have personally worked with me.

Emily Valerio has a Degree in Equine Studies from Centenary University in Hackettstown, NJ.  She is a Equine Sciences Academy Student, has apprenticed with me and is currently taking clients. Lexington, NY (Greene County) 518/527-3637 http://www.groundedequine.com/ 

Humberto "Beto" Perez has worked with me for several years and based in Westerlo, NY (Greene County) 518/755-3099

Rachel Cintula  RC Hoof Care based in Charlton, NY   518/320-6353  https://www.rchoofcare.com/

Matt Davis is a current ESA Student who apprenticed with me for 2 years and is based in Shutesbury, MA 413/366-5181

contact information is also on the contacts page

You can also find help by visiting:

www.equinesciencesacademy.com

www.progressivehoofcare.org

www.easycareinc.com

www.thehorseshoof.com

Helpful Links for Education on Natural Horse & Hoof Care

Pete Ramey: www.hoofrehab.com

Cindy "Hawk" Sullivan: www.tribeequus.com

EasyCare: www.easycareinc.com

ESA: equinesciencesacademy.com

PHCP: https://progressivehoofcare.org

Joe Camp: www.thesoulofahorse.com

There are many more great sites, but this will give you a leg up, and you will find many links on these sites as well.

There is more on my article page too.

I regularly attend conferences, symposiums, events, online support groups and forums as continued education in all aspects of horse care. 

MEET MY HORSES

SAGE is my tri-colored tobiano Arabian/Paint (98).  My friend and trail mate. I bought Sage as a 5 year old who was a diamond in the rough. He is the one who pushed me in the direction to where I find myself now with whole horse care. A friendly horse with a great attitude toward other horses, people and small children. A true gem.

He had acute laminitis in 2008, and after a susessful rehabilitation was riding bare on trail in 11 months. He is barefoot sound even on river stones.

MAIZIE, a registered Haflinger mare 1985 (Christen MSC) is my head mare and head trainer with an amazing story.  Maizie had a yearling filly by her side when her owner needed to find her a new home. She was thin with a malnutrition belly and had not been groomed in quite some time.  The filly was spoken for, but she was not, and the auction was a possibility in her future. We had recently lost a gelding I had for 28 years and Sage was by himself, and despreately needed an equine herd mate. She had a need and so did we, so I said I would take her home.

After some searching online, I found that she was a broodmare who had 14 foals registered with the Halfinger Registry and 4 others that were not. She had never been trained for riding, and when she indicated that she wanted the same attention that Sage got, I began training her, and she really taught me the beginnings of true equine communication. She was a great ride in just 5 weeks.

Her place as a dominant mare, and with young horses coming to visit really showed me how valuable she is as a teacher. How she communicated with them and how they responded to her mapped my plans for working with each one. One of my greatest mentors.

Our beautiful herd matriarch crossed over in October 2018

KHUBLA KHAN (we call him Khubie) is a registered Arabian Gelding (1987).  Khubie was given to me by a friend who no longer had time for him. Despite having an auto-immune disorder, he was an enjoyable ride until I retired him to enjoy the rest of his life with his herdmates. He was a patient teacher with ESA students and participated in our "Being a Better You" Women's gatherings I did with Avis Burnett. You can see highlights on the clinics page.

KHUBIE CROSSED OVER PEACEFULLY ON A BEAUTIFUL SPRING DAY APRIL 7, 2020 AMONG US AND HIS HERD OF 14 YEARS. HE WAS 33 YEARS OLD.

DASH  arrived here on New Years Eve 2010 from Rosemary Farm Sanctuary. He is an Appaloosa gelding . He is a medicine horse. I have seen many people let go of tears when he appraoches and stands quietly near them. The letters I received after our "Being a Better You" event of how he helped them made me let go of tears too!



BOJANGLES (aka Bo) Bo came here under foster care from Rosemary Farm Sanctuary in Feb 2012 for rehabilitation and the expertise of the Native Hoof Team. He had Lyme disease, central sulcus infections in both front feet and a atrophied body from standing around after an injury for possibly 2 years prior to his move to Rosemary Farm. When he arrive here 6 months later, each one of his steps was chosen carefully, and though only 8 years old, he acted and moved like a very old horse. We started him on nutritional therapy, immune boosting supplements, herbs as needed, and homeopathy under the direction of Dr. Tonya Holonko, DVM. He received chiropractic adjustments every 2 weeks in the beginning with 2 practitioners as well as Reiki and massage by Connie Grob of Helping Hands Equine Massage. Both Tom and I had exercises to do with him daily. I casted his front hooves while treating the deep infections and they healed well in 2-3 weeks, and he was able to move barefoot and with increasing confidence even on pea gravel. He was trimmed and kept balanced every 2-3 weeks. Natural Balance Dentist, Wendy Bryant balanced his teeth for maximum motion in his jaw, which translates to the rest of the body. My herd gently encouraged him to move- it was an amazing experience to watch, and as we all assisted him in healing his body, he continues to gain ground steadily.
Just recently he reached some very significant milestones. He initiated a "play" session with the herd, he rolled over for the first time and he mutually groomed with another herdmate. This may not sound like much for those who see their horses do these things and don't really think about what it means for a horse, but for Bo, each new ability he found opened the door to the next. It's like watching a flower open.
He no longer looks nor acts like an old horse. His body has built the muscle it takes to keep a chiropractic adjustment, and to move, spar, rear, twist, buck and run at speed and be able to do it again the next day without hesitation. In 1 year with regular natural and alternative therapies, 24/7 turnout with a herd in a paddock paradise environment, his progress has exceeded my expectations.

Bo and Maizie looking for green sprouts under the snow in Dec 2012

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