Welcome to The Holistic Hoof
Healthy Hooves Start Here
Caring for a horse is a team effort. Success comes from open communication, mutual trust, and a horse-centric approach. By prioritizing the needs of the horse and keeping an open dialogue, we ensure that every step of the journey is met with care, respect, and attention to detail. Let’s work as partners to help your horse thrive.
What you can expect from me:
- Clear communication on scheduling: Most horses in our environment do best on a 4-5 week cycle. I reschedule at the conclusion of each appointment so you can count on my consistency
- Fair approach: I do my best to find a place of physical and emotional comfort for the horses I work with. I understand some have had bad experiences, or may be dealing with pain that makes certain postures difficult. I take these things into consideration to give each horse the best possible trim while working within their limits.
- Proactive Feedback: I offer feedback about changes to the hoof or body that I notice during our sessions. Hoof and body changes can be normal, and both positive of negative. Sometimes changes are temporary compensations, and sometimes they are subtle signs that something isn’t ideal for the horse. I am not a vet, and I cannot diagnose, but I offer observations as information for the owner to take to their vet, trainer, body worker or other team members so that we can take a proactive approach to the whole horse.
- Treatment: I will treat all thrush, white line or other such microbial infections at our appointments, and will give instruction on continued treating so that each owner is empowered to establish and maintain healthy hooves. Hoof treatments with topicals are complimentary with the exception of services listed at a fee on my pricing page.
- Pricing Communication: I am committed to offer the best possible hoof care at competitive pricing. Any change to my service pricing will be communicated up front with at least 30 days notice. I cannot control the pricing increases of items I carry for resale, such as hoof boots, or hoof care products that may be impacted by price increases.
- Commitment to Continued Education: I care about every horse I work with. I understand that information is ever changing, and doing my best for the horses entrusted to my care requires a progressive, committed approach to learning. I attend continuing education clinics at least quarterly, and take advantage of numerous online opportunities to keep myself abreast of new science and techniques. The horses in my care and their owners directly benefit from my continuing education.
What I expect from clients:
- Scheduling Consistency: While my books are usually full, I am able to serve a wide radius throughout the North Georgia area by staying committed to my established routes and schedule. Maintaining this consistency allows me to provide reliable, timely hoof care for every client. I understand that unexpected situations arise and may occasionally require a cancellation. However, because my schedule is filled 5–10 weeks in advance, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to return to your horse in a timely manner if an appointment is missed. For this reason, I am likely not the best fit for those seeking sporadic or infrequent hoof care. Regular, scheduled maintenance is essential for your horse’s soundness and overall well-being, and I prioritize partnerships with clients who value that consistency.
- Horses physically prepared for our visit: Horses with excessive mud on the legs and feet can be very difficult to trim. Wiping with a towel or rag is preferred to rinsing unless there is enough time for the horse to dry prior to our appointment. I am always happy to bring in horses for appointments where the owner cannot be present. I accept responsibility for cleaning up legs and feet in these instances.
- Horses prepared for safe handling: I do ask that horses be prepared for our appointment through proper training and desensitizing to the location designated for hoof care. If you are aware your horse has a comfort or training issues that would interfere with me doing my best work, please involve a trainer or vet to ensure these issues are addressed so that your horse can receive the full benefit of our appointment. I will work with sedated horses in extreme situations. I do not carry sedation and cannot administer sedation per the law.
- Safe work environment: For myself and your horse, I require a flat area, free of debris and trip hazards where I can safely and accurately assess my work from multiple angles. I don’t need a fancy barn, but do need shade in the summer and cover from wet weather. In the summer months, fly spray is often necessary to keep me safe and your horse comfortable. Glue on shoe applications require a clean, dry area. Please do not apply fly spray to the legs once a hoof is prepped for shoes. You can learn more about glue on shoes under the hoof protection tab.
- Timely Payment: Payment for services and products is due at the conclusion of the appointment. I accept cash, check, and electronic payments.