Barefoot hoof care, rooted in practice.
In 2022, on only my second visit to Calan Horse Sanctuary south of Perth, the owner Alan put a rasp in my hand. I wasn't expecting it. Four years later, I'm still trimming.
The herd at Calan is a mixed one — mostly retired Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds, a Morgan, some minis — living across 100 acres with the freedom to move and graze as they please. That environment turned out to be a remarkable classroom. I watched hooves change across seasons, corrected my own mistakes in real time, and built an understanding of the hoof that no single book could have given me. I filled the gaps with Pete Ramey, Jaime Jackson, and anyone else worth reading.
Alan taught me everything he knew. The rest I earned through repetition — learning to read a hoof, maintaining regular 4–6 week cycles, and developing a feel for what each horse needed. The herd wasn't in crisis; none had particularly bad hooves. That gave me room to be curious, to experiment, and to learn what resilience and adaptation actually look like in practice.
In October 2026 I begin a formal 12-month hoof care education — deepening the technical foundations and working under mentorship. It's the natural next step from four years of hands-on practice with a herd of over a dozen horses.
Where James is heading next
A look at upcoming areas — see the full schedule for more.
Week of 17/08/2026
- Perth - South (18/08/2026 – 20/08/2026)
Week of 24/08/2026
- Perth - East (25/08/2026 – 27/08/2026)
Expressions of interest
I'm opening a waitlist for horse owners across the Perth region and surrounding areas.
I'm available to take on clients now, ahead of my formal course beginning in October. Four years of regular practice with a diverse herd is genuine preparation — the course deepens that foundation, it doesn't replace it. Rates during this pre-course period are discounted to reflect where I'm at, and I'll be transparent with you about every horse I work on.
I'm looking for horses I can visit on a regular 4–6 week cycle — not one-off trims. Consistent, ongoing care is where the real work happens, and it's the only model I'm interested in building around.
I have no interest in poaching clients from trimmers or farriers you're happy with. If your horses are well cared for, that's what matters. But if you're looking for something different — a practitioner who will take the time to understand your horse's whole picture — I'd like to hear from you.
The form alongside this collects the basics: where you are, how many horses, and what you're currently doing for hoof care. It helps me map demand across the region so I can plan efficient runs and give you a realistic sense of when I'll be in your area.
Discounted rates apply now and throughout the mentorship year. Pre-course clients will transition seamlessly into the mentorship period — your horses will have continuity of care, with the added oversight of qualified mentors from October.
More than a trim — a full record of care
Clients get access to a private portal where their horses' history is always on hand.
Every visit, documented
Each trim is logged with notes, hoof photos, and stage-by-stage comparisons — before and after, all four hooves. Nothing falls through the cracks.
A living record for each horse
Track conditions, progress photos, and health notes over time. See how a horse has changed across seasons — not just since the last visit.
Your own client portal
Log in any time to view your horses, browse visit history, and follow their progress. Everything in one place — no chasing messages or relying on memory.
