Vikki

I started riding as a child and had weekly lessons for 9 years, culminating in taking a horse on loan for 2 1/2 years, only giving her up when I headed off to University. During the summer holidays I used to work in the riding school, helping with stable duties and eventually progressing to teaching some of the younger children’s riding and stable management lessons.

I have owned my own horses since 2003. I used to ride my now sadly departed boy English and Western styles and have competed in both. He had some ligament issues so was not ridden for his last 8 years and was promoted to chief lawn mower until he passed at the age of 25. We used to jump at competition to about 2’6 but jumped higher at home. We hacked out when weather and work allowed, our favourite ride was down to the local pub where the hitching rail has a nice patch of grass that needs regular “mowing”. The picture shows us very much enjoying the lake crossing at the Blenheim Palace fun ride in 2012. You can just see that we went round in a set of hoof boots, which performed exceptionally well, even going through the water.

My horse had been barefoot under the care of an EP since 2006. He had problems with the transition to going barefoot so I made it a priority to try and understand how best to help him be as comfortable as possible whilst still keeping him barefoot. During that time I became more and more fascinated with the amazing engineering feat that is the horse’s hoof. This fuelled my interest in the field of Equine Podiatry.

I now have three beautiful if cheeky mares who share the job of chief lawn mower between them. One of them has decided she doesn’t like being ridden although she has had a rider on. The other two are 10 hands and there is no-one small enough in my life to try to sit on them.

Training

I am a graduate of Equine Podiatry Training Ltd’s training course with a Diploma in Equine Podiatry. The course is fascinating and teaches about the hoof and how it works and is affected by environmental influences, including but not limited to trimming, diet and exercise. As well as hoof anatomy, students are also taught whole equine anatomy, business skills, recognising lameness, pathologies of the hoof, nutrition, behaviour and even an awareness of farriery. The course was recently been rated as OFQAL level 5 and is now awarded by LANTRA.

My diploma in Equine Podiatry (DEP) allows me to be a full member of the EPA(UK), currently this is the only entry route into the EPA(UK) as a full member.

As a full member of the EPA(UK) I am required to undertake at least 40 hours of Continuing Professional Development per year, I often do far more than this because there is so much to learn about the huge subject that is the horse. Most recently, I have been furthering my understanding of the anatomy of the horse, in order that I can assist with the anatomy modules on the Equine Podiatry Training’s courses.

Contact

If you wish to contact me about Equine Podiatry or Hoof Boot Fitting please see my Contact Me page.