31/07/2026
There was a point where no one could trim Archie. Multiple farriers had given up on him, labelling him as ātoo difficult.ā
Nowā¦
He willingly chooses to participate in his hoof care.
This didnāt happen because he finally ābehavedā or āgot over itā. It happened because I finally listened, stood up for him and gave him the support he needed.
Archieās hoof care journey was shaped by fear, pain, an injury that restricted his abilities, and repeated experiences where his boundaries were repeatedly ignored.
After the last farrier left me in tears because of the way he treated both Archie and me, I took on managing Archieās hoof care alone. For the next 18 months, I poured everything I had into regaining Archieās trust and understanding his physical limitations and complications (we still donāt have the full picture).
I knew I was out of my depth with my trimming capabilities and knowledge and that we needed help. And I was terrified that one more traumatic experience would undo everything weād worked so hard to rebuild.
Then we met Katie.
She didnāt ask Archie to push through his fear. She respected his boundaries, worked at his pace, and became part of a team that prioritised safety, trust, and choice, for every being involved.
Now Archie knows what to expect. He has a voice in the process, and hoof care is no longer something that happens to himāitās something he willingly participates in.
He showed us both the power of slowing down, listening, and meeting him in the moment.
Thank you Katie, for believing in both of us š¤
