course feedback

Bywong ACT Courses Oct 10-15

I really enjoyed the course and by the end of it I felt much more confident about tackling my horses feet. It gave me concrete information about just what to do and what not to do and David was very approachable and informative.
Say a big thank you to him,

Wendy Eddey

Again, many thanks
Barb

My horses are all barefoot so I was only trimming, but I still found it interesting to observe other students learning to correctly shoe their horses.

I found that I had been leaving the toes way too long on my horses and also cutting their heels too low. I took my young grand-daughter's horse to the course with me as he had a bad crack in his off hind foot (almost to the coronet). David showed us how to clean out the crack and then he filled it for me. You would not now know the crack had been there unless you look very closely - great job!

I would definitely recommend David's course to anyone wanting to learn how to make their horse more comfortable by balancing the hoof properly - and of course getting rid of those flares! David is a good teacher and he gave everyone equal attention.

Virginia Tropeano

I learnt heaps from attending the weekend hoofcare course. David is an excellent teacher (I used to be a teacher before I retired) who obviously loves passing on what he knows to other people. He doesn't just talk at you all the time - there is plenty of opportunity for questions and comments, and lots of practical demonstration of the things being talked about.
We were happy that David found time to come and look at our mare with the sore feet/legs, and to trim them to make her more comfortable. She is still sore on the arthritic leg but in general is much happier to move around and we know what to do to keep her feet as he left them.
I've done some trimming of a few of our horses since the course, and will keep going till I get better at it. Hard to get the sole out and cut the bars back, not so hard to work the nippers and the file. All hard with the ones that don't cooperate, and so much more pleasant and successful with the ones that do.....heaps to practise and more to learn but I have a sound theory to work on now.
Regards,

Kristen Proudfoot

David and Anne

First of all a very big thank you. The course was very interesting, informative, well presented and fun. David's passion for hoof care has inspired me to pursue a career as a farrier, hopefully with David as a mentor (I'll stay in touch as I gain more experience), and can guarantee you will see me at Oakbank within the next six months.

David's no fuss, straight down the line style makes it easy and simple for anyone to grasp and understand, the small groups meant that every one had a chance to ask questions and get one on one tuition. His genuine want to help all horses by informing their owners/farriers meant he didn't keep any secrets, if he knew something that would help he would show it to us and explain it.

I definitely recommend the course to anyone who cares about the well being of their horses.

Also a big thank you to the Dawson's at Country Herbs in Bywong, their hospitality was second to none. The experience is one I will remember and has resulted in meeting of people I hope to be lifelong friends.

Thank you

Steven Magee

Only bit would have been handy to have would have been 5 or 10 minutes on tools, tool care in particular His skill in his trade combines very well with his skill as a trainer as every person, from the highly experienced to the learner in the course I attended, would have learnt a great deal, and developed more.

Simon Campbell


We really enjoyed the weekend and once again learnt lots. The things we got out of the weekend were about the critical heel and how far you can take it off. Where the pedal bone and what it does.In taking off the toe and how far, some times we are cautions about what we take off. Also the junction between the frog and the sole how far you can go in an untouched hoof. Seeing the crack in the sole and how to treat.How to trim cow hocked and turned out hoofs (still will need to confirm this one more). I guess a lot of checking that you’re dong the right thing.

Thanks for a great weekend

Jim and Sue


What an awesome experience. David taught all the participants so much and we all took away a little something to carry on with our own horses.
David has a brilliant knack of teaching and getting his point across in laymans terms so that we all understand.
Personally I intend on travelling to SA to do the five day course at some point, very keen to learn more.

Sarah Rayner

As horse owners we are continually striving to learn more to enable us to care for our horses in the best possible way. David's course was a enormous step forward into better horse management. It encompassed all aspects of the workings of the hoof, effective hoof trimming and hoof balance making it clear and easy to understand. How exciting to know, armed with this
valuable knowledge following David's methods, this skill can only improve every time you look at and attend to your horses hooves. Every single moment we spend with our horses builds our bond and understanding, now I really can start from the feet up! Thanks David it was a great weekend. Thanks also to Sue Jacobson who was always there if you needed a bit of support and encouragement when David was trying to spread himself around our group.

Melissa Guest
Perth

Thank you for your time, knowledge and patience. You got your message across to me and I understand what is required of me to produce a healthy and balanced hoof and a happy and competitive horse. I have since begun trimming and shoeing my horses and will revise the process again in 4 weeks to gradually achieve balance.I am amazed at the shoe size reduction after one trimming, and when comparing old shoe to new shoe just how long hooves were being left. Nothing you haven't seen or heard, just to let you know I see it. Again, thank you, I will contact you again at some point either to ask you for advice or to express my gratitude after further work.Please take care - I don't think there's another quite like you.

Lachlan Ellis


Regarding the course, It was amazing for me. I have been barefoot for about 5 years following methods of Gene Olvenik and reading as much as I can - but was not equiped by these teachings to deal with either of the horses that I bought to the course. After balancing and shoeing of Sahara who had been in paddock condition for last 18 months, I found a smoothness of gait and responsiveness that I had previously never experinced. Similarly Dawn, who we have had for 12 months and came to us with poor hoof confirmation ( long toe, contracted heels and no frog contact) the changes to her gait after the corrections that we started were impressive. I look forward to seeing her progress as we get her hoof balanced over the next couple of trims.

David's patience and method of teaching was fantastic - and the method of balancing the hoof was a huge piece of information that to date had been missing for me. I look forward to seeing David again.

Thanks again,
Andrew

I think one of the first things David said about the 5 day intensive course was that it'd be life changing... Well, it certainly was

My horses feet look incredible, they don't have any cracks, flares, seedy toes and Im not shoeing them as a result. Theyre happier better performing balanced horses.

I'm doing the Second Chance horses every 21 days and slowly getting them looking good - although a lot of the work with these horses is to do with the training of the horse - and less about the actual work.

Reflecting on the time in Adelaide, Id say that it was challenging to the point of making it interesting without overdoing it. What I took away was huge a big difference to many horses.

I just can't thank David enough... And Anne - still dream about that hot bread and butter!
Thanks guys!

Andrew Turnbull Perth

2 Day Hoof Care Course

We found the course to be an amazing experience.

Firstly the attention to detail with the hospitality and accommodation was exceptional - we have been less well looked after at so called "luxury" b&b's.

The course content and delivery were nothing short of remarkable- David's knowledge, enthusiasm and patience made for a very productive educational experience.

Having just spent the weekend vetting an endurance ride (I picked up and looked at 320 feet if you do the maths!), there is no doubt that the Hoof Care Course has resulted in a paradigm shift in my understanding of the relationship between feet, performance and lameness in athletic horses.

David, you may live to regret offering that lifetime consultancy - we will be picking your brain on a regular basis!

Many thanks
Bruce and Kerri

2 Day Hoof Care Course

Hi David & Anne
Thank you so much for letting us come to your place at Oakbank, to learn more about hoof care.

The course was great and really I"m not sure how you could improve it. On completing the course I
realized how important correct balance of the hoof is for the performance and wellbeing of the horse.

Correct balance is more than just getting the sole flat and whacking a shoe on.
Well done and thankyou both again
Dave Hoare

Muttaburra QLD July 19-20

I've really benefited from doing this course – I’m confident that I can balance a horses foot and with practice Im looking forward to being able to shoe all of our horses, full time.

As I’m sure its been said many times, I doubt I’m going to be able to go away to polocrosse tournaments without looking at every horses hooves. And I’ll make sure I check the feet of my opposing number 1s horse! (thanks David!)

Your welcoming attitude and manner along with the great accommodation facilities really made for an enjoyable weekend and I’m sure I’ll be back again in the future as we never stop learning!

Thanks again for everything!
Ebony

Some feed back re course, while I can do appreciate the fact that some people are going to learn from observing and that some of their input and questions are beneficial. I found it difficult to get your tutorial during the course as these observers were monopolising your time with story telling. This was a bit frustrating when I was trying to improve a develop my technique and at times I felt though the squeakiest or noisiest student got the most tutoring. As a hands on paying student who is investing more into the course I think time devoted to these hands on students should be the priority and the observers learn from observing and asking questions at more appropriate times.

Mobile phones should be left in vehicles as they are disturbing and an interruption to students and teachers.

Over the next few weeks while we are in off season for Polocrosse I am going to canvass my club members and others and try and get sufficient numbers for you to hold a course for hands on students only in Mount Barker or Albany as I think this will be of huge benefit to our club and fellow horse owners. Look forward to working with you in the future and hope you don't mind my feedback.

Best Regards
Darren Rutley

I took my two arabs on a 20km training run today and can not believe the difference, their strides we so much longer and smoother as well as we cover the ground a lot faster than their usual training times. They both worked really well and the difference is very noticeable.

The only suggestion I have is not to have so many beginners on the same course, as it was very hard to get through all our questions or get David to check what we had done. I know it is very hard to be in 10 places at once and we did get the job done in the end. (only a suggestion)
I would love to be notified when the next course will be in Perth

Vanessa Crispe

I was enlightened on how a horse could be trimmed and shod correctly. This clinic opened my eyes on how correct balance can be achieved so that our horses are more comfortable and will remain sound throughout their competitive career.

Your decades of experience shone through and this course is a must for all horse owners so that they know that their equine friends are being trimmed or shod correctly.

Farriers would also benefit as it will refresh their understanding of a correctly balanced hoof and their clients will certainly notice a change in their horse’s performance.

Without the correct balance a horse cannot perform to its best ability and will show signs of soreness through its body, whether it is lameness, proppy gait, sore back, grumpiness, lack of forward or unwilling to work.

My farrier Harvey Excell also attended the Clinic and we can now work together on my horses balance. We also have a better understanding of how to use the Hoofline tool.

I am fortunate to have had a wonderful farrier and friend, Jim Ellis, for 27 years who is always particular about the correct balance of the horse. Jim is now 73 and still trimming my two oldies that move like 5 year olds. He took me along to many Farrier clinics to educate me on the correct trimming of horses but I feel that your clinic was the best that I have attended. You have managed to take a serious and technical subject and present it in layman’s terms allowing both novice and professionals alike to understand your concepts.

Thanks also to your wife, Anne, who is just lovely and such a wonderful host and cook. Your hospitality and friendliness made everyone attending feel like a part of their family.

I feel honoured to have been a part of this clinic and Country Park will be hosting a course with you when the Equine Flu situation is over.

I also would like to come back for another refresher clinic with you soon.

Warm regards
Carol Dawson (Country Park Animal Herbs)

It has now been almost 3 years since I witnessed your talent. You were teaching one of your 3-day hoof care classes on Walhallow Station. I was writing to you to say thank you so much for everything you ever taught me. My horses would say thank you too if they could talk.

Those three days down at the horse yards helped me to build patience and understanding for my horse as well as for myself. Even though I am now only 17 I can shoe the backside off most of the stock camp here. The only competition I get is from my older brother and sister; my sister being one of your students at the same 3 day courses. The other is 32 so he has a slight advantage. For the rest of my life I will always be employable, as long as I can keep my back in good order. Wherever there are horses I will be able to make a living. I hope you realize how much of a gift that is in an age where millions rely on others for money and support.

I am a terrible boast, every time the others get on their high horse about how good they can shoe I just laugh and ask them if they can shoe a horse in ½ an hour. If they say no, I just tell them that the fella that taught me was about sixty and could do a freaking good job in that time. Ask them if they could fix seedy toe and they just look at you like you are from another planet. Show them that book (ABC Hoof care) and they soon change their minds about how they go about shoeing; even though they don’t admit it.

Even though it was 3 years ago I still remember everything you taught us there. The book that you gave us sits right next to my bible on my bedside table; the pages are worn and torn from 3 years of constant study.

I hope to catch you at another of your shoeing courses sooner or later (unless you’ve retired).

Once again, thank you from the bottom of my shoeing kit.

Possum Vaughan

David Farmilo is a fantastic teacher with a wealth of knowledge, and by the end of the weekend all participants were assessing, balancing and correcting their horses hooves with confidence. Even muggins here is confident that I can provide Mannie (my beloved 1st pony) with a lifetime of good health care from this time forward. David's humour, insight and patience makes for a lively and open discourse on the subject throughout the whole course.

He came well prepared, with tools for everyone and good course materials and handouts. We were able to buy basic hoof care tools from him - a real boon and useful in the extreme. We even received a copy of his book, which along with many amusing anecdotes from his over 40 years as a farrier, also contains a swag of instruction and graphics on hoof care and trimming. This is exceptionally useful for future reference when refreshing knowledge from the original course. It turns out that a DVD is on its way and most of our course, myself included, fully intend to add this to our resources for the ongoing programme we have all committed to.

Those courageous enough to attempt their own shoeing found his method simple and easy to follow; we were all treated to full instruction on this, a full course on conformation and correction of issues, as well as ongoing hoof care for any horse.

David is one of those rare teachers who wishes to impart all his knowledge, and is particularly keen to teach youngsters; he was thrilled to see Alex and Emma on the course. He also has supplied his home phone number to everyone to call him anytime with queries and problems (a rare find indeed!) and the students all remarked to me afterward that they thought it was the best course they had attended on anything to do with horse care.

I would recommend this course to anyone - I got bagloads out of it myself, and will continue to make my horses lives more comfortable and ensure optimum performance by treating their feet correctly and in a timely manner. Remember, 'No hoof - no horse' and 'Flares are your enemy'! Most participants remarked that the first thing they learned was how little they actually knew, and not a few of us were forced to face the fact that we had taken the incorrect/ignorant words of our farriers and other horse people as gospel.

One young participant has decided that she wishes to be a farrier and at the end of her Navy tenure at the base will take up studying with David's system full time! Lets hope she ends up with David and practising in the area :). The club has also obtained two new members and an offer of sponsorship from one of them. What a fabulous weekend!

I was hoping to have recovered from a crushed nerve in my back before this course, but it was not to be so; David kindly bought along hoof stands for those that required them, and it was easy to go at your own pace, making it comfortable for any level of fitness and ability. So dont feel that you will be unable to take this on due to one of those issues.

I'm packed in ice packs at the moment; made it through but its giving me curry now for pushing it a bit. MOTH (Man of the House) called on the Sunday night from OS and soundly berated me for pushing the envelope. With the reply "But Mannie is Comfortable now!", my very wise beloved husband changed the subject. :))

For those who missed this unbelievably life changing weekend; lets hope David comes back for a second course with us as it is entirely your loss, I can assure you.

Mt Pleasant Pony Club Newsletter,
by Michelle Hungerford

Some of us have already talked about a return visit in the future. You truly do have a lot to offer. I spoke with the horse-owners throughout the clinic and they finally had a chance to listen to someone who explained things in a manner they could understand.
There were a lot of different levels of expertice at the clinic and you had EVERYONE'S attention and everyone followed you from horse to horse .
NOT once did I hear anyone say, " I am confused".
Back to Basics by David Farmilo will be the talk among farriers up here for a while to come.

We were HONORED to have you teach us.
Thankyou

Bruce Matthews CJF
Vermont Farriers Association President
Northeast Drafthorse Shoeing LLC

Very informative, the course has given us the tools and knowledge to look after our horses feet and make their working lives more comfortable. The change in our horses in 12 months has been outstanding.
Geoff Murrell, Manager, Helen Springs, NT

There aren't enough words to describe the feelings I have from doing the ABC hoof care clinic with David, but if I could do anything for my horse this would be it. I didn't realise I could be in charge of such a big part of
horse care & the most important part hoof care. David is an amazing person & an inspiration to all horse owners & I would do another clinic tomorrow in the blink of an eyelid. Thank you to David & Anne for making such a
workable & inspirational course!
Kristi McVee, WA

I signed on as a fence sitter looking to improve my trimming techniques as I had stopped paying professionals to shoe my older horse 4 years ago when he was becoming progressively lamer with each shoeing.
We have been much sounder bare foot with our trusty old macks forbackup. After the 1st day I had to upgrade and the 2nd day saw ME put two good front shoes on my old boy, there is no holding either of us back now.
(Which is good for me and something to work on with him).
Liesa Platten, WA

We have just got home from Corryong where Rowan (16 yrs) competed in The Man from Snowy River Challenge

I thought you might be interested to know that in the Horse Shoeing section in the Juniors Rowan came first, he had to do a trim on one front and one hind in 15 mins.

We got Rowan all the tools you had suggested and he made himself one of your boxes, boy were they all impressed, during the comp all the officials and judges were gathered round just pulling his box about looking at it all.There was the sole chisel tool that one judge was particularly interested in, saying “Where did you get that” -he was really inquisitive.So we told him proudly.

Thankyou once again for the great tuition you gave the Boys - they look at horses feet constantly now, evaluating them and trimming a couple of our own horses. It was great on the weekend as Rowan’s competition horse threw a shoe on Saturday, but as we had the box and a spare shoe he was able to just put another one back on, and he was right for Sunday.

Lyn Ross NSW