In a nut shell...

I have owned, trained, ridden and cared for many horses over the past 35+ years. I came to natural horse and hoof care because of lameness issues that kept creeping up on my club footed paint, Sage, when he was shod. 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 am the first student to earn an Equine Sciences Degree and Natural Hoof Care Certification from the ESA. www.equinesciencesacademy.com

I am certified by the American Hoof Association, an organization of peer- reviewed hoof care professionals offering progressive, preventative and rehabilitative services, education and information. www.americanhoofassociation.org

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

Andy Beck: www.equine-behavior.com

Joe Camp: www.thesoulofahorse.com

Lisa Ross Williams: www.naturalhorsetalk.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. 13 years old (2011) 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 (aka Christen MSC) is my head mare and head trainer with an amazing story. (26 years old 2011). 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 we 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 trainer. How she communicated with them and how they responded to her mapped my plans for working with each one. Still a beauty at 26, and one of my greatest mentors.

KHUBLA KHAN (we call him Khubie) is a registered Arabian Gelding. (23 years old 2011) Khubie was given to me by a friend who no longer had time for him. Despite having an auto-immune disorder and DSLD, he was an enjoyable ride until I retired him last year to enjoy the rest of his life with his herdmates.

DASH is our newest addition, arriving here on New Years Eve 2010 from Rosemary Farm Sanctuary. He is an Appaloosa gelding (with I believe a hint of Arabian) is just coming 4 years old. He is smart and a beautiful mover with an exciting future.