Holistic Horse Education

25/11/2025

This is a lovely little hoof… with a few secrets hiding under the dirt. A little of thrush, a bit of separation, nothing dramatic yet, but this is exactly where the real care counts.

A few extra minutes with the wire brush, a bit of preventative packed in the right places, and we keep this foot feeling comfortable instead of waiting for it to fall apart. Little things owners can do now = fewer big problems later.

In this video I’m using a wire brush hoof pick, Blue Balls, Hoof Spray and Hoof IX Pink as my preventatives, all from .co (discount link is in the comments).

25/11/2025

21/11/2025

Massive sale is on now! If you want to get the new goodies to help you through this horrible hoof bug season head over to the sale!
If you use the link in the comments you get another %10 off on top 😁

21/11/2025

This! When we have to raise our prices it’s not because we want to get rich it’s because we want to be able to pay our bills. This isn’t a lucrative industry like many people like to assume.

Recently I've seen a few posts from trimmers advertising their prices, and had to cover jobs for others, and one thing that has really stood out to me is how unsustainable a lot of farrier pricing is. The days of $60 trims need to come to an end, especially for those businesses who are registered, qualified, insured, and paying their taxes. Farrier organisations generally suggest about $80-$85 / head in Australia, plus travel where needed. This would bring the cost of single horse trims closer to $100 / horse as a recommended industry standard, So... ever wondered where a $100 trim fee actually goes? (Hint, most of it doesn't go to your Farrier!)

Here’s a simple breakdown based *roughly* on my real-world business costs; fuel, vehicle wear, tools, BAS, booking/admin time, and the reality of running a rural mobile trade.

🥕 $40 – Business overheads
Fuel, tyres annually, vehicle servicing, rasps, tools, insurance, admin, bookkeeping, software, and the big one; saving for a new vehicle every 6–8 years (I’m already about to hit 500,000 km on mine!).

🥕 $18 – ATO obligations
GST, PAYG instalments, and tax withheld.

🥕 $5 – Superannuation
When you run a company in Australia, you must pay compulsory 12% super on your own wages, just like any other employer! Hoof trimming is physically demanding, and super isn’t optional anymore; it's part of keeping a long-term, sustainable career.

🥕 $37 – Useable income
This is what I’m left with to pay myself after running the business and keeping your horses safe and sound.

Hoof care is a highly skilled, physically demanding trade with significant ongoing costs; especially in rural areas with long travel distances. Transparent and sustainable pricing helps keep hoof care practitioners in business long-term so your horses receive consistent, reliable care.

Unsustainable pricing equals:
❌ No sick pay / emergency money
❌ No retirement plan
❌ Having to cram in bulk numbers and rush stops
❌ Burnt out / grumpy / late practitioners
❌ Poor industry retention - limited young people wanting to STAY in the trade as all the old guys leave

Which leads to a future where it will be VERY hard to find a farrier, and pricing could actually then skyrocket as a result, or... the possibility of more farriers refusing to provide for mobile services or attend small stops for recreational owners.

So for those of you who can see the value we Hoof Care Practitioners provide; thank you for supporting small, qualified local businesses ❤️

Your horses' feet (and your trimmer’s back!) appreciate it.

16/11/2025

That time of year again..
However, there’s a chance I’ve been invited to a Xmas party for the first time in since I can remember.. yay for me.

15/11/2025

I’ve been trying out some of the awesome new products for .co loving the Shuugoo for making things shoo on horses who don’t like spray bottles! Mine wanted to eat it 🤣

Link with my discount in the comments.

12/11/2025

Food during trims is not cheating. It is welfare and safety. Today a client felt ashamed for using lucerne to help their horse stand quietly for a trim. The hay made the trim calm, easy, and safe. The horse relaxed, I could work efficiently, and everyone won. Yet they had been told the horse should just stand without food, and they felt bad, like they had done a poor job training and the horse was misbehaving, for helping their own animal cope.

If you have heard that using food means your horse does not respect you, here is a reframe. Food changes emotion by supporting a calmer nervous system and building positive associations with handling. It is reinforcement, not a bribe. It also improves safety. A relaxed, occupied horse is safer for the horse, the handlers, and your hoof-care provider. Feeding at chest height also helps the equine stand in a healthier position that allows the body to relax and balance itself for standing on three legs.

In my trims I encourage simple, continuous eating. Hay or a big bucket of chaff or soaked hay pellets works well. Whatever is tasty enough to keep them occupied and won’t run out part way through the trim. Kind handling matters too, including a safe area the equine feels comfortable in, good footing, fly control, and pain-aware trimming.

Some horses can stand without support. Many are coping with fear, past experiences, body soreness, arthritis, or metabolic discomfort. Expecting perfect stillness without support can push them past threshold.

If food helps your horse feel safe and successful, you are not giving in. You are training with compassion and setting everyone up to win. As a hoof-care professional, I appreciate clients who feed during trims. It makes my job safer and your horse’s experience better. You have my full permission to use the food.

Big thank yous to my clients who let me film this or sent me footage!