Archive for the ‘Guest Authors’ Category

By Dawn E. Willoughby, Natural Trimmer
Mario Chamorro, a horse owner living in Panama said, “I started barefoot trimming on my own about 3 years ago, in 2007. Since I didn’t have any guidance, I looked at the Hoof Jack™ as a non vital part of my tool set. When Dawn Willoughby came to Panama to teach a seminar this past January, she brought some stands with her. It was the missing link of my trim; it was what I’ve needed all along. I can now get very good mustang rolls on my horses’ hooves; they are even all the way around. Before I would rest the hooves on my leg, and to be honest, it is very hard to look and roll them in that position. Now I don’t even think of trimming the without the stand.”

Trimming Cliff from the bottom

Mario’s testimonial was typical of everyone I met in Panama who was new to trimming. I encouraged clinic attendees to trim with and without the stand. Learning to trim your own horse is hard enough without having him lean on you throughout the process. Horses love the stand too.
Only the two experienced farriers I worked with preferred to hold the hooves without the stand but of course they have developed the muscles for this work over many years. For novice trimmers, I strongly recommend the Hoof Jack hoof stand. I always have a few on hand at my place in Delaware and keep a few at Laura Florence’s Holistic Hoof Center in Unionville, Pa. I have tried metal hoof stands and the knock off of the Hoof Jack. They all have serious drawbacks.
Carol Delonis of Boquete Mountain Safari Tours organized my 3 clinics in western Panama for American and British Ex Patriots as well as local Panamanians interested in natural hoof care. Half day lectures, followed by lunch and full afternoons of hands on trimming made for a great 10 days in Caldera, a tropical paradise.

Louisa and baby Tornado

We worked on the beautiful horses used for safari tours as well as horses located at attendees’ farms.
Gina Cronin kindly hosted my 10 day stay at her boutique hotel, Rancho de Caldera, an Eco-tourist’s dream. I was awakened by the sun warming my toes and went to sleep with the sky filled with more stars than I had ever seen. Tropical birds visited my porch every morning sharing breakfast crumbs from my English muffin.

Piscano de Rancho

Happily they weren’t interested in my famed, organic coffee grown near by. With unlimited wind, solar and hydro power, Rancho de Caldera is off the grid. I don’t have words to describe Chef Craig’s ethnic cuisine. You will have to visit Caldera and experience it for yourself!
The trip to Panama was an experience of a lifetime I will never forget. I am already making plans for a 2011 visit with my husband.

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