๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป๐ธ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ—๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป—๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐น๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ.
Nearly twenty years ago, I stepped into an industry dominated by men as a fresh apprentice. My apprenticeship was with a kind hearted mentor who loved donkeys. So much of what I do now is a reflection of that first year. The apprenticeship wrapped up and I headed to horseshoeing school, and that is when things changed. From the start, I sensed an unease about how things were done—the methods, the attitudes, the treatment of animals. It felt wrong. But, as a newcomer eager to learn, I kept my head down and pushed forward.
๐๐ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ป’๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐น๐ผ๐ป๐ด, ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต, ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ป ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ป’๐ ๐๐ถ๐ ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐บ๐ฒ.
My early introduction to donkeys, with the support a mentor who loved them, was such a blessing, and what I like to call one of my divine assignments. ( I have had many, and I hope to share them in other stories) It became painfully clear that donkeys were the underdogs: misunderstood, mistreated, and so underserved. Championing their cause became my mission. But that choice came with ridicule and harsh judgment. My softer, gentler approach—treating donkeys with kindness and respect, moving away from sedation and heavy restraints—was met with mockery, and relentless doubt. I was told I was naive, and foolish.
Yet, I blazed ahead. Because that is what I do! I'm a rebel at heart - so it makes sense that my perseverance became my greatest strength. Fueled by a deep love for donkeys and a desire for real change. I continued to serve them, while sharing my success stories and the faces of the donkeys who were better off because they met me.
Fast forward to 2020, when I launched the DIY Donkey Hoof Trimming Course—now a cornerstone of the Donkey Hooves & Health Academy. The idea was labeled “irresponsible.” Skeptics said there was no way I could empower owners to care for their own donkeys, especially from an online course. But I didn’t stop. I believed that donkeys deserved better—and so did their caregivers.
๐๐ค๐๐๐ฎ, ๐๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง๐จ ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐๐ง, ๐’๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ค๐ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐ก๐๐๐.
Hundreds of donkey owners have joined my course, transforming their relationships with their donkeys and ensuring they get the hoof care they deserve.
๐’๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ช๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ง๐ข๐จ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฃ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ง๐ฎ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ซ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐, ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ-๐๐๐จ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฃ’๐ฉ ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฅ๐ค๐จ๐จ๐๐๐ก๐—๐๐ฉ’๐จ ๐ฅ๐ค๐ฌ๐๐ง๐๐ช๐ก.
This Academy isn’t just my work; it’s the next chapter of my life’s mission. I’ve bucked tradition and chosen a path rooted in respect, love, and advocacy for donkeys everywhere. If my voice resonates, if you believe in this mission, then know that this is just the beginning.
If you find yourself inspired and wanting to create real change in your donkey’s care—building trust, confidence, and a deep, meaningful connection—I invite you to join us in the Donkey Hooves & Health Academy. Together, we’re transforming how donkeys are cared for, giving owners the skills, knowledge, and support to make a lasting difference. Be part of a compassionate movement where donkeys and their caregivers thrive, side by side.
As a special thank you for reading this article, I’m offering 60% off the All Access Pass to the Donkey Hooves & Health Academy. [Tap here for One-Time-Payment] or [Here for a 6-Month-Pay-Plan] to unlock this exclusive offer and take the next step toward transforming your donkey’s hooves and health care. ๐
