Melody O’Brien, APF

I have been a Natural Hoof Care Practitioner since 2011 and am a certified Practitioner, Mentor and Clinician with the Progressive Hoof Care Practitioners (PHCP). I give thanks to Sally Hugg, proprietor of California Trace, for encouraging me to enroll in the PHCP training program. Since I began this journey, I have gained a depth of experience in the field, combined with ongoing education through webinars, clinics, and conferences with teachers and mentors such as Pete Ramey, Dr. Robert Bowker, Dr. Debra Taylor, Dr. Kerry Ridgeway, Dr. Cindy Nielson, Dr. Tomas Teskey, Sally Hugg, Carol Layton, and Eleanor Kellon, among many others. I continue my education each and every year, and the longer I am in this field, the more humbled I am. I feel that above all else, the horse is my greatest teacher when I am still enough to listen.

My intention is to advocate for horses by educating and empowering horse owners in Whole Health Hoof Care: An approach to trimming that emphasizes that healthy hooves are a result of proper nutrition, an active lifestyle, and frequent, non-invasive trimming. (Source)