"Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally."

This quote appeared on my desktop flip calendar on March 8th. Actually, it was February, and I had randomly flipped to this page. I liked it so much that it's still there today. To me, success means happiness!

About three years ago, I was at my desk in the basement, reluctantly working through my daily tasks for corporate America. Working from home for several years had taken its toll. I felt an itch, a desire, a sense that something was missing. Then, my husband showed me a Facebook ad for a nearby horse rescue looking for volunteers. The post featured a skin-and-bone thoroughbred staring deep into my soul. "Just go check it out," he said. He didn't have to ask me twice!

Horses have always been my passion, ever since I was a young girl. However, life hadn’t granted me the blessing of having horses until then. I attended orientation at CobberBowl Ranch in Monticello, Minnesota. Walking into the paddock to meet the first horse, Freckles, I was scared! How could I fear something I loved so much? I had a lot to learn. Little did I know he was one of the kindest gentle horses I've met. 

I started volunteering the next day and was instantly hooked! My fear transformed into absolute joy and excitement. Being around these incredible animals was a true blessing. Over the years, we experienced several successes and losses at the ranch. I quickly learned the importance of hoof health and how a small ailment could lead to catastrophic disaster. I became meticulous about caring for their hooves.

Here in Minnesota, the weather is incredibly unpredictable. The dry-wet cycles are endless, and the mud and grime are constant. After several abscesses and
some helpful advice from our farrier, we realized we needed a better solution for hoof care, especially during the muddy season. The mud would build up and, if I didn’t remove it, would clump and dry like concrete. The only way to get it off was to use a hoof pick or my hands, which got old fast. The waterlogged hooves would scratch when I used the hoof pick, which I knew wasn't good, especially when they stood in muddy, urine- and poo-soaked water for several hours. Bacteria would seep into the cracks.

I went home and told my husband about the woes of cleaning muddy hooves. He is a true inventor at heart, always coming up with new ideas, so it didn’t take long before we created a new and innovative solution, the Hoof Wand™.  

Today, I am doing what I love most: caring for my equine friends. I am grateful for the opportunity to share the Hoof Wand™ with equestrians worldwide, helping horses achieve superior hoof care.