course feedback

Hi Anne and David,
I have to start with saying thankyou both for a wonderful weekend and a huge thanks to David for showing me how to look after my horses hoofs correctly. Taking the knowledge that David gave me, going home and trimming and shoeing my horses so they are balanced and knowing that I did it myself was very rewarding. Davids training has already paid for itself.
To anyone thinking about doing Davids course, stop thinking about it and just do it you wont reget it and your horse will love you for it.
Once again thankyou for everything.
Regards Jason McDonald.

Dear Anne and David,
Thank you very much for all that you taught me and for your hospitality last weekend. I think that everything went well and I certainly learnt a huge amount and much more than I expected! I don't think that anything more could have been fitted in to the weekend. I'm glad to have the tapes so that if I have forgotton something I will be able to look it up.
Thanks again, I'm very glad to have completed the course and I really enjoyed it.
regards Derek

Course Jun 18-19

My whole reason for enrolling in your course was to understand the hoof and its function for myelf and my Equine Bowen Therapy studies. It was the best thing I ever did!
As I am about to start my own Equine Bowen Therapy business I feel your course has been life changing and will help the way I treat horses. I now know more about the hoof and I am so excited to go out and assess the horses hoof along with their body when I treat my clients horses. I think I can now offer more advise and hopefully educate the horse owner more on what to look for in their horses hoof.
I thouroghly enjoyed working along side the boys with the hands on work...and have even more respect for what the farrier does, gees its hard work!
David is a great teacher and answered all my questions and thoughts on the hoof and its balance.
I will HIGHLY recommend your course to my clients, friends and family out there in the Equine world!
HOOF ASSESSMENT HERE I COME!!!
Tracey Meakin
After Hours Equine Bowen Therapy

Just a note to say a huge thank you for your hospitality over the weekend.
I found the course to be extremely informative and David is a total inspiration. Thank you to Anne for all the lovely meals and you both have a beautiful home.
I am now looking forward to practicing what I learned over the weekend on my horses, thank you for giving me the confidence and enough basic knowledge so I can give it a go!! Poor horses I will probably do one foot a day ha-ha.
I would like to get some practice and come back on one of your five day courses.
I would recommend the course to anyone of all levels as David is so knowledgeable and a fantastic teacher.
Can't thank you both enough and hope to meet again soon.
Mervyn Hill
Bunbury (WA)

Course May 28-29

I just wanted to take the time to thankyou for the 2 day Hoof care course Matt and I attended in May. The course was very well organised and you made us so welcome we felt at home!
Although I was only spectating I have learnt so much, I was so ignorant to how correct farriery can affect a horse and I thankyou for opening my eyes - my only regret is that I didnt do it earlier!
My horse and I are very lucky to have Matt who now has the basic skills to care for his hooves the correct way. I would not hesitate to reccommend this course, and I know we will be back to continue learning! - thankyou.
Priscilla Staltari

Advanced course, March 7-11

Hi David and Anne,

There would not be one Horse person in Australia that would not gain from doing a Hoof Care Course with David.

I work full time as a Farrier actually I'm a 5th Generation Farrier, not too many around, and I gained more from 5 days with David than I could have hope too in a lifetime working by myself. Big statement I know, but I fully believe that people like David are a national treasure for the hard earned knowledge that they posses and are able to pass on.

Not much else to say but what are you waiting for, book a course or just talk to either David or Anne.

Highest Regards.
Chris Arbuthnot.
Equus Performance Farriers.

P.S Anne.
Thank you for being fantastic and gracious host and for welcoming me into your lives its something i will treasure forever.

Oakbank March 19-20

Hi Anne and David,

Enjoyed the course and the stay in lovely Oakbank.

David is a wealth of knowledge regarding hoofcare. His Hoof-Line and trimming formula takes the guess work out of the equation.
We received plenty of supervision and David's enthusiasm is boundless. Anne's cooking and hospitality are second to none!

Regards
Peter McCarthy

Murgon QLD Feb 12-13

I have read a lot of David's articles in stock horse magazines over the years and thought, from what I read that I would always like to participate in a course. Even though I had bought a hoof shaping tool and tried to follow directions from articles, nothing can replace hands on tuition. I find myself thinking a lot about the horses I have and what I have been doing wrong to their feet. It is the first time I am looking forward to re shoeing the horses I shod last weeekend.

I was impressed by David's enthusiasm and his all round horsemanship - he just has a way with the horses and puts them at ease with their comfort being a priority. It was the same with us 'students'. David has a casual, no nonesense style of expressing himself that appeals to the people who are attracted to these type courses.

With the extra knowledge I gained from the course I now have some confidence to know how much to trim, how far to go, to gain that balance required and to keep improving until each foot is right
.
The course was very enjoyable, the venue was great, a blessing in disguise, as Kilkivan could not have offered a venue close by to view the videos etc on the Saturday night in such comfort.

Anyhow, I would recommend this course to anyone interested in shoeing.
CJR

Oakbank Feb 20-21

Please thank David for me again for all his time, knowledge and patience!! And thank you so much for the lovely place to stay, beautiful meals and handling all the admin.
I'd love to keep in contact, without a doubt you guys delivered on your word that the course is "life changing", it certainly has been for me and is without a doubt the best thing I've ever done for myself. I'd definately like to get to work with my own horses, then take on some friends horses and see where it takes me.
Thanks again so much for such a great weekend.
Cheers, Christy

Mike and I both thoroughly enjoyed the course.
Mike says what he got out of it was - sore shoulders, sore back, sore legs etc etc - hehe.
I didn't seem to be so sore for some reason!! Seriously, we both got an enormous amount out of the course. In theory I had it all down pat after watching the DVD's, reading the book and being shown over the past 6 months how the hoof should be balanced - BUT, a whole other ball game to do it in practice and that was where the course was so advantageous. To be able to actually do it yourself under guidance was extremely beneficial - and very hard work!! I would certainly recommend the course anyone who cares about their horses welfare - in fact, it should be a must do for any horse owner esp as so many problems can be related back to unbalanced feet.
Thank you also for a wonderful dinner. We really enjoyed sharing time with the other people on the course and with both of you.
Cheers,
Lyn and Mike.

October 16-17

I thoroughly enjoyed the week-end, even though the price was high to pay - I don't think I have been this sore for a long time!
My aim with attending this course was not to be able to shoe my horses myself. The main reason was to get a good understanding of how to properly balance and shoe a hoof, so that I can make sure my horses are well looked after - and that they can perform to the best of their ability when I compete. Even though there are DVD's and books, I don't think there can be a better way to learn than 'hands on' practice.
I also wanted to be able to pull a loose shoe off without wrecking the hoof, and, if necessary, put a shoe back on until I can get to a farrier next time. I think I will be able to do both after this week-end, even though I seriously have to practice my 'hammer and nail' skills...!
David is very patient, gives all participants an equal amount of attention, and constantly checks to make sure that you don't make a mistake that can injure the horse that you are working on. Something else I really think was important during the course was that David showed why a horse might be difficult to shoe - the fact that they may be sore, have had a bad experience, be afraid or uncomfortable - and that you have to learn how to make the horse relax and work with you rather than against you. Even though it may mean that the first couple of times you trim them, you may not be able to do anywhere near as much as you would like.
Spending the Saturday night with all the participants (over a lovely dinner - thank you!) adds something extra to the week-end. Personally, I would have preferred to finish a bit earlier that night, after dinner we kept going until 11:20pm and I was absolutely exhausted! I can see the difficulty in doing this any differently though, because the information we covered in the evening is very important and I would not have wanted to miss it. Perhaps some could have been covered on the Sunday afternoon, when most participants seemed to be fairly tired from just the physical efforts over the week-end?
This is really all I can think of, all in all the course is very well laid out and everything covered is done so in an instructive and easy to follow manner. It has certainly made me realise how important it is to take care of your horses hooves, and I am hoping to be able to see David a few times to get both my boys back on the right track again.
Cheers, Annika

Mackay - October 2010

I learnt a lot on the course and found David to be a lovely bloke and really willing to share his knowledge with all .I had his hoofline and latest book and was trying to trim to his methods but didn't really understand how to find the critical heel frog junction.Once David showed me how to find that the rest of the measurements just fell into place.I was doing a good job before the clinic but was starting to let my horses heels get too high which was causing the frog to reduce in size from not contacting the ground.I now know how to balance the hoof exactly to the millimetre and also how to correct conformation faults in the conformation of the horse's legs.This knowledge is priceless and very empowering.
Kind regards, Eric Hicks

I am so glad that I did the school, I learnt so much and hopefully my horses will benefit from my new skills. I must say David sure does make it look easy !!! Anyway couldn't really fault the course in anyway, David spoke to us in a manner that made it easy to understand, which was great. I would love to try and make it to another school in 6-12mths after I've done a few horses and hopefully fine tune a little more.
With thanks, Susan Danastas

Oakbank Oct 10-14

Hi Guys
Well, where do you start?
I will keep it short. I have taken a lot of courses be it military or other, yes and most of these had some effect on my life, but this course has and will forever alter how I look at and work around horses, and for that I am forever thankful. You can guarantee that I will be back for another course. I hope that one day I will be able to pass on this method to someone else and change their horseworld like mine has. Like a wise older man from oakbank once said (nothing is impossible it just takes time) Once again thank you and I will see you soon.
Matt

After a couple of weeks I can now say that my skills have improved out of sight, even my customers have noticed a difference in my work, my approach and in their horses, so thanks very much. Thanks again for a great course
Doug

Hi Dave and Anne,
From the course I gained:
- more confidence in my shoeing
- more patience
- understanding of the hoof structure
- understanding of the balance
- gained knowledge of good tool to make the job easier
The accommodation company and hospitality especially the meals were excellent
In the future I think I would benefit from a refresher so as to cement the knowledge after some practice
Dave's delivery of information I found suitable to my leaning skills, easy to understand and pick up, above all he was a true blue bloke to be around.
Best regards, Spike and Ann Butler

Oakbank Oct 5-6

I found the course extremely informative and I gained a lot of confidence and knowledge in properly trimming and shoeing my horses. Your style of teaching makes it easy to understand and your encouragement helped to show that were personally interested in each of us as individuals. Thankyou for being such a good bloke to learn from and be around.
Since being home from your course, I have had a number of people interested in doing your course and asking me a lot about it.
Once again, thankyou for the terrific experience and for your kindness in passing on your wealth of knowledge.
Regards, John Chalk

Oakbank Aug 14-15

We had a wonderful weekend at the school and feel very privileged to have been able to have spent time with such a wonderful teacher and farrier. Never in our wildest dreams did we think that buying your dvd and book (which led to us attending the school) would have such a remarkable effect on the performance and enjoyment of our horses. The change in our horses has been so dramatic since we have started using your methods that I can not speak highly enough of the course. Every horse owner should do it! Our little ASH gelding came second in the open working stock horse class at the royal (the horse that placed 1st recently won the working event at the national championships).... a pretty brilliant effort considering this horse could not work to save himself a year ago. He was so bad he very nearly went to greener pastures. Little did we know he was plagued by poor hoof care which was debilitating every part of his body. Now he is a different horse thanks to a little David Farmilo magic! Thank you both for such wonderful hospitality (the dinner was amazing) over the weekend. I don't think we can put into words how thankful we are for passing on your knowledge to us simple horse owners. We are now shoeing and trimming all of our horses thanks to your course (when I say 'we' I mostly mean Dave!) and they are all going better than ever. Up until now the farrier world seemed to be some elusive world that horse owners were not allowed to be a part of..... so thank you for changing that. We all want the best for our horses and we know that by doing your course we have gone a long way towards achieving that.
Kind regards, Rachel Fenn and David Neale.

It's been over 18 months now since doing the 2 day course at Oakbank SA. I'm from WA & where I live in the Pilbara (1600 kms north of Perth) we are very limited of farriers around the place, so I bit the bullet & flew over to SA to do this 2 day course. This's the best thing that i've done for my own benefit being a race horse trainer. I've got the confidence now where I can walk up to any horse, trim, nail the correct size shoe on & the most importantly thing is to have the foot CORRECTLY BALANCED.Once again David & Anne thank you very much for you knowledge & your friendship.
Mick Ball

Oakbank July 17-18

Just a short note to say a big thank-you. This course has exceeded any expectations that I had. David your knowledge and life experiences within the horse industry are amazing and your willingness to share your knowledge is so strong. Your passion to 'fix' the lame horse never wavers. I can't believe that after 55 yrs your passion is still so strong and you are willing to share. The course content was spot on - I never had any idea that I would have the ability to shoe a horse but under your tuition and guidance I achieved this. Your method is clear and easy to understand and the basics are all there. My motivation to attend your course was to get my daughters horse fit and healthy after being lame for nearly 12 mths - after learning your principals I am even more convinced that her issue lays with a poorly balanced hoof.
Thank-you Anne for your hospitality beautiful meals and great accommodation - They say behind every great man is an even better woman :) sorry David - you both are amazing people and thanks again.
Regards
Sharon MIKA

I am finally home. I had a terrific time, thank you both for your hospitality and the education.
I found the course was well paced and once again learned a lot. I refined my trimming techniques and David taught me a couple of new ones which assist with my work flow out in the field as well as extra information on hoof pathologies. I came away from the shoeing aspects much more confident of being able to shoe our own and begin to shoe the client horses that are asking for shoes rather than boots. Some of the information David gave me on shoeing endurance horses was excellent. The class size was great with a lot of individual attention and discussion between us. Being able to sit down afterwards and discuss techniques and problems and being instructed on how to deal with them was great. Everything stayed on time. The meals and accommodation were great. It was well worth the 2000km drive.
Glen Hammond

Oakbank June 12-13

I had a great time and really enjoyed the experience.
I learned a lot from listening to David and his stories of what he has experienced along the way and hope to be able to use the new skills I have gained to improve my horses' feet. Even if it is as simple as being able to discuss with a farrier what is going on with their feet and feel confident about what I am looking at and what I want out of my horses' feet.
I feel that David is absolutely correct when he says it is important that every horse owner should know about how to care for their horse's feet because there are too many horses out there suffering unnecessarily through ignorance. And too many owners placing faith in farriers who are just as ignorant as the owners in some cases. I am now telling everyone I see who owns a horse what a valuable experience the 2 day course is and recommending they attend.
I want to go out now and get a lot more experience at trimming and hopefully come back at some stage and do another two day course and practice the shoeing again under supervision.
Your information Anne is thorough and I can't think of anything I would suggest to improve the communication or information.
Thank you both for being so very welcoming and I look forward to meeting again.

Regards, Rebecca Bettiens

Oakbank June 12-13

A brand new rasp, hammer and knife, a shoe and some nails and an internal fear!
Instantly gone. David and his passion to teach and spread his knowledge instantly instilled confidence to me and the others on the course.
I have been on many Equine courses over the years and I can safely say that this has been the MOST beneficial. I have come away feeling inspired, motivated and excited.
David is excellent at explaining things, I have always known the anatomy of the lower leg, but as I see now, perhaps never really understood it....now I do. I feel very confident in what I have learnt and to continue with it, with Davids clear offer of always being at the other end of the phone when needed.
Anne straight from the initial booking to feeding us and making sure we were comfortable during our stay has been so welcoming and hospitable. Everything being very clear from start to finish.

A huge thank you to both of you for creating a weekend to remember.

Kind Regards, Lucy

Oakbank June 12-13

Thanks so much for the great weekend. I learned such a lot and really enjoyed your hospitality. The accommodation provided for my horses was also excellent – please pass on my thanks to Lyn.

I trimmed my old horse yesterday just to make sure everything had sunk in and been retained and felt much more confidant in what I was doing – removing all the flares and dealing with his club foot. The horse seemed to be much happier with me doing it than usual too so I must have improved!

I followed this up with a quick read through your book which will be a great reference for me in the future and has helped to consolidate what I learned on the weekend.

Thanks again, Carolyn

PS. My horse Cosi has now recovered his normal good manners and will allow his feet to be picked up and hit with no problems. He can also once again self load on the float. Two days away from home must have been too much for his little brain!!
PPS. My bruises and stiff muscles are also recovering. Slowly.

Oakbank Oct 14-15

I arrived back in Melbourne only to find that the arctic temperatures and rain had chased me all the way from Oakbank. Thanks again for for the excellent taxi service to the airport. I also have to thank both you and David again for the warm hospitality extended to all of us on the course and to say how much I appreciated the excellent quality of the bunkhouse accommodation.

The course may officially be for two days but between Friday night and Sunday night David somehow managed to spend 31 hours sharing his knowledge and experience with us. In my 57 years I have never met a man who gave of his time so willingly and passionately, this was only complimented by the logic and clarity of his system of hoof care. I was greatly impressed by the science, anatomy, physics and extensive sampling that validates David's system. His farriery skills were also pretty impressive.

What I gained from the course, David's expert tuition and guidance was only limited by my own lack experience in horsemanship. I look forward to returning for another course with yourself and David when I have remedied that lack.

Once again an unqualified thank you to both you and David.

Warm regards, Mick Whelan.

Oakbank Oct 14-15

I found the course was well paced and once again learned a lot. I refined my trimming techniques and David taught me a couple of new ones which assist with my work flow out in the field as well as extra information on hoof pathologies. I came away from the shoeing aspects much more confident of being able to shoe our own and begin to shoe the client horses that are asking for shoes rather than boots. Some of the information David gave me on shoeing endurance horses was excellent. The class size was great with a lot of individual attention and discussion between us. Being able to sit down afterwards and discuss techniques and problems and being instructed on how to deal with them was great. Everything stayed on time. The meals and accommodation were great. It was well worth the 2000km drive. - Julia Wynn

Oakbank April 22-23

I have to say I put a set of shoes on my horse to day & it took me 2.5 hours to do all 4, got the hoof balanced well, horse was not lame at all.

In fact she seemed quite happy to be walking around after I had finished.

The only issues I had was getting the nails to a good height in the wall all the way around, some are a bit low, but I checked her tonight & she is still not lame & they are all still on.

I got a bit more used to using the rasp by holding the handle in my hand & the body of the rasp up my forearm by the last shoe which in my opinion turned out to be the best.

I can’t wait to make sure they are on again tomorrow!

Stuart

OAKBANK APR 17-18

Having just completed David’s 2 day hoof care course at Oakbank I would have to say amazing & get yourself there whether to be trained to be a full blown farrier one day or just be a lot more informed about your horse’s hooves and how to balance them.
I was amazed at how much depends on a horse’s performance & just overall well being is linked to the balance of the hoof. And you will see this in a horse’s demeanor over the couple of days. I have been around horses all my life & there is so much more to learn, I made a few mistakes on the course but it was no problem to David, and I was a bit heavy handed on the rasp which David promptly told me so which I respect as it was just honest feedback, if he didn’t I would keep doing the same thing (I will be working on it David, light hands) & not fighting the horse with say a back leg picked up, much to the help of my classmates improvement, they told me later! Also I would suggest staying if you go to Oakbank as Anne will have a great meal for you at the end of the day & you feel right at home from the start. After many years in the trade David’s knowledge & experience will astound you whether you be working on the horse or listening to advice, listening to past experiences, just watching how he gets around a horse while working (That will astound you) & his overall enthusiasm about passing on his knowledge is something I have learned is hard to get from people or they just do not have an answers.

My advice to others thinking about it in 3 steps;

1. Don’t listen to everyone who thinks they know, get that advice from someone who does
2. Do the course
3. Get home & get your horse balanced

Thanks David & Anne I really enjoyed the couple of days at Oakbank doing what we did.

Regards, Stuart Reseck

After completing your 2 day course I have learnt so much I would not change a thing with what you have taught us.
You are one gentleman with a wealth of knowledge. I have completed many courses, & on the plane home I said I had the best time and our horses feet would always be in good health with the knowledge I have learnt from David and the way he teaches people. I love your book on hoof care - every lunch break I read chapter so if something does change or if there are any problems I will have a fair idea what to look for. The book also helps me to remember about a lot of what you explained - just like you its the love of this animal that makes it worth while. When I first got a farrier out sometimes I was happy with their work sometimes not, now I know right from wrong -you have changed my life in knowing I can help and look after our horses and maybe others too.
Phil

Charleville QLD March 20-21

Both my daughter and I both gained an immense amount of knowledge from the weekend.
David's down to earth and relaxed teaching style made learning enjoyable and you could instantly see the benefits from his techniques. My daughter, aged 14 said she would love to spend a week following David and learning more of his horse techniques.
This speaks volumes for his ability to relate and engage with all members of the group.
I thought that the group size was ideal and that everyone was well catered for.
After many years of trimming hooves and being guided by other veteran farriers, I now finally know how to correct and identify many hoof related problems, that I had previously been at a loss as to how to fix.
Thanks to David, I have the basic skills and knowledge to make the process much more rewarding and successful for both myself and the horse.
David has a wealth of knowledge and we could have easily spent much more than the weekend, learning from him.
Everyone that attends David's course will come away with a whole new understanding and outlook regarding hoof care.
Thank you for a very rewarding weekend.
Glenn Landsberg & Emily Landsberg

It was a great privilege to meet David and learn from his vast experience – as he said it is mainly common sense and his approach to the instructing was just that.
The benefit to me was that I now understand and can see what I am trying to achieve when dressing feet, a lot of what David was educating us with was to ­assess­ first before diving in to the tools. This made the best sense and the fact that David did not try and confuse anyone by using a whole heap of technical terms instead the plain English approach meant that we could all focus on the objective of what David was saying.
Honestly, I do not think anything could be improved – I have attended a lot of courses (horsemanship type not shoeing) and I am also a trainer as part of my occupation. David is able to maintain the focus of what he is demonstrating and any deviation from this is always by way of an actual example that is relevant to the topic at hand.
Now that I am armed with this new knowledge I am looking forward to the coming months to see how my horses feet respond to this improved technique of feet dressing.
Best regards
Tony

Overall I thought the course was very beneficial to my career in shoeing.
Being a beginner I didn't know how to attack a horses hoof, after completing the course I can now confidently put a set of shoes on a horse without worrying if the job was done properly, also iI can now identify if my shoeing job is causing a horse pain or lameness.
Thank you
James Neal

Millendon WA March 6-7

As always the course was extremely informative and enjoyable. It's the third course I've done, and I learn more each time! As long as David keeps coming to WA, I'll keep booking his courses :o)
I particularly like the opportunity to work on horses with problems hooves (and boy, did we have some!) and also horses with behavioural issues. I think we all learned a bit about horsemanship over the weekend.
This time I was reassured that what I'd been doing so far was pretty much correct (just need the 50 years experience now!), and I also learned how to go about correcting faults in my young horse (like uneven wear, long toes, and boxy front feet).
David is clearly passionate about horses and their feet, and very knowledgeable, and tells a great yarn. It was a pleasure, as always! Now I'm just waiting for my daughter to grow up so I can pass on this knowledge - she's currently 15 months old :o)
Cheers
Sarah

A huge thanks David for last weekend.
The value to me is that I have been shoeing my own horses feet for a while and am now able to define and know how to balance, also have a set of guide lines to follow which make it easy. Prior to your course I was not able to consistently do this or really know how to handle poor feet. Your relaxed, open teaching style, plenty of time to talk and ask questions was a good format.
Of interest, on Monday afternoon, all inspired I did a trim and your sole knife is unreal.
Once again, many thanks.
Bill

Hi Anne & David
Thank you for organising the course, it was a fabulous weekend apart from the sun burn!
Even though I attended only as a viewer I feel I got alot out of it from David sharing his language and feel I can communicate with my farrier alot easier now I have a better understanding and have an urge to learn more about it.
Hopefully you will have another course over here again where I might be game enough to actually get my hands dirty.
Kind Regards
Bridie

Serpentine WA March 3-4

Absolutely Fantastic and could not thank David enough for passing on his knowledge that he has leant over time.
In particular what I learnt from this course was to take the time to properly assess a horses confirmation and attitude. relating this to what I see in their feet.
Another was that speed in completing a job was not as important as a job well done (Now I know why I can't get as quick as those "Packet Fitters").
To top it all off, its now magic as to how easy it is to lift feet from the ground, and how this seems to give horses confidence when I step in to work.
If any one was wondering whether or not to do a course the answer is obvious, YES YES YES.
Kind Regards
Steve Clarke

Bunbury WA Feb 27-28

After completing this two day course, I realised that it was something I had done just for myself.
I very much enjoyed the opportunity of learning something new, and also going about a task that has always been done for me.
It will take a lot of practice, but David's patient tuition during the course, and using the hoof line, gives you an immediate confidence to go about trimming your own horses hooves.
The opportunity was also great to meet like minded people and an email network has been set up amongst the group to discuss further learning experiences. Thank you!
Donna Brown, Boyanup WA.

Great Course, well worth it. Learnt and saw so much in the 2 days, the course has given me great confidence.Thanks so much David.
Naomi Bonacci

It was a really informative course and I learnt more about horses in two days than in the previous ten years. I can’t think of any improvements but what I gained was what to expect just by watching a horse walk and that when my clydies seem a bit work shy it may not be that they are lazy. I really enjoy all aspects and found David a teacher of passion with a real depth of knowledge, very easy to learn from.
Kind regards
Doug

I found the course very rewarding and well run, I am now a couple of trims down the line and can see the improvement in my horses hooves, its nice to see the flares reducing and them developing nice strong heels.
It would be nice if David ran refresher courses once in a while as I can see that in another 6 months I would benefit from a bit of an update and the horses that we bring along would be a reflection in where we are going wrong.
Kind Regards,
Tracey Bannister

I really enjoyed the course, so much so I am thinking of a career change. I enjoyed the fact we were given a talk and notes to refer back to but we were able to basically get on with it. I found being able to go and look at other horses on the course with different problems and how to fix them was very helpful. I think David presented the course well, and demonstrated great patience with us all !!!
I would love to do another course to in the near future, to revise what I learnt from the last course and to get some more assistance / feedback with my technique.
Thanks Again,
Bronwen

What can I say other than the Bunbury, WA, course was “great”, which really doesn’t tell you much except that I liked it.
You have heard it all before…David’s patience, humour and teaching style made it all flow and gave the group much confidence.
For me it was a huge difference to be able to be “hands on” this year rather than merely observe as I did last year. From seeing my work David was able to put me back on track, correct some of my misdirection and give me a few pointers to keep me going. The most important point that I gained was his emphasis on NEVER EVER filing the heels lower than to 6 mm above the critical junction. I had previously been able to get the numbers right (toe to heel) but at the expense of possibly compromising the digital cushion by bringing the heels down to the critical junction.
With that in mind David noted that sometimes we can’t balance the foot in one trim but over time and with consistency it will come.
Knowing that and having regained my enthusiasm I am more prepared to go on.
Having attended various clinics at different times one of the most useful tools to learning has been when the clinician has asked each participant “What did you learn from the course?” This cemented particular points and was a reminder of things that might have been overlooked as well as raising questions and misconceptions which were then answered before the clinic disbanded. I would suggest that such a question would be asked of everyone at a group meeting, perhaps at lunch on the last day. David started to do that just before we cleaned up to go home but by then half the group had already gone so it may not have been quite so effective.
Many thanks and I look forward to another session another time.
Regards
Skip Groman

Oakbank 6-7 Feb 2010

Thank you both so much for everything this weekend and David thank you again for the opportunity to work alongside you today.
This course has been as you say, "life changing".

I must say I was a bit skeptical about that beforehand but it's certainly true.
It's like discovering something that has been in front of you all along.
I would liken it to what I imagine a born again Christian must feel after conversion but as its based on fact not faith its infinitely more useful :)

I just cannot understand why this is not common knowledge in the horse world particularly amongst the professionals!!
It just baffles me.
So, suffice to say, the course was practical, informative and extremely well delivered.
The hospitality was what I would expect from a high end B&B and very much appreciated.

The group was a great bunch of people and very interesting to talk to.
I would highly recommend this course to anyone interested in the health of their horse as the benefits of good hoof care don't stop at the pastern (as I now understand).

My only negative feedback is:

1. I am now extremely frustrated that farriers/vets etc don't know this and so many issues that we see are so often hoof related and can
be easily resolved. It's going to drive me crazy seeing terrible hooves everywhere!!

2. As I discussed with David in the car this afternoon, it would have been a big help to have some zombie-like horses to start on, to learn
to drive before having to deal with the traffic so to speak. But having said that, the learning curve was brilliant. I can certainly
deal with my horses now after being flung about by an overfed spoilt two year old!

It was an absolutely fantastic weekend, thank you both so much for everything. Im looking forward to doing the five day course in the
near future so brace yourselves!!
Kind regards,
Ailsa

Thank you for the course it was amazing! I love every aspect of it, but can see the benefits of bringing your own horse!
You have convinced me to take it up as a profession and I have already inquired about the cert 3 course via NSW Tafe, but now I have vital information for the building blocks to my career.
Thank you again and will see you in the future for the 5 day course.
Giddy

Where do I start?
I find it amazing that I have just arrived home and talking with my girls that the terminology being used is also understood, even (poofteenth) and I feel I can now contribute in helping with their ambitions and aspirations as I now understand the hoof, what it does and how it works and most of all the importance of "balancing the hoof".
I certainly understand what to look for and how to identify a problem and even correct it, I am not sure how I will get that through to the farrier.
Aside from this, a very big thank you to you David for your patience and understanding with me as I am sure you realised just how green I am/was with horses and the fear I had being sooooo close to them.
You allowed me to take my time without pressure to move into it at my pace, your selection of the perfect school master on Sunday was sensational which gave me the opportunity to come and do what I set out to do and that was to trim an entire horse. I did it and cant wait to do it again, fantastic. It may not seem much to other people but to me (a non horse person) it was like climbing everest although I would have never tried to let on just how nervous I was, so thank you so much, I will recommend you and your course to anyone and every one and drop you a line and some photos from time to time.

Thanks again,
Terry.

Toowoomba Sept 09

This course should be done by every horse owner, farrier and vet.
I had the best time doing my 2 day course with David - it was for sure one of the best things I could have done. I learnt so much in just a short time.
I would like to thank David for sharing his knowledge with me,(my horses are much happier for it). Anyone considering this course should do it straight away - you wont regret it,
Thankyou again David and Anne.
Paul

Oakbank Jan 16-17

Hi David and Anne

Its hard to believe the course was nearly 2 weeks ago. It was definitely an amazing, life changing experience - sounds quite dramatic but in so many ways things have changed.

David, I must say the way you presented the information for us was very easy to understand, with emphasis on the necessary important parts, but never at any stage did I feel that I wouldn't be able to achieve the task at hand. I learned to understand the ABC of hoof care with confidence and have talked about it to others with the same confidence and have made them question the effects of their farriers work on their horses.

As you said I will never look at a horse (hooves) the same. I am feeling more at ease with using the tools definitely losing that "Japanese" way, even getting looser in my wrist when using the mallet on the sole chisel. I will need to think about having to do the shoes before long - it's where I'm the most unsure I just need to think how I'm going to tackle it. This is where I feel I need follow up lessons. Its all practice - trimming I have plenty to work on with some challenges to keep me on track and I won't get any prizes for time!! It took 2.5hrs to trim one yesterday - he hasn't been trimmed for over 16 weeks and not the best job done previously. I have got some inner tube to make water boots when I do him again in a couple of weeks.

I learn so much more than just hoof care, David you gave so many horsemanship tips which I took on board, through both stories and also watching you around the horses. I read your blue book at breakfast and as I get near the end thoughts and information continuously being confirmed gives me confidence that I have become more complete as a horse person which improves my teaching. I have seen that so many horses hooves look wrong but didn't know why other than long toes. I can now read and observe others - horses and people with much more assurance that I can see the difference between better and worse ways and in some cases straight out right and wrong.

Your whole setup was wonderful to experience - the blacksmith shop and how it effected the horses, I have never had a whole day (or 2) where I could observe my horses and learned a lot about them. Anne, the bunk house and your home was so inviting and relaxing in an exciting way - I wanted to take it home too! Also for having Steve for dinner was very kind, and all the meals were excellent. Steve learned a lot too which has helped me to be able to discuss everything with him.

I will continue to sing praise for you both and will continue to encourage all my clients now and in the future to have a greater understanding about their horses hooves and the effects of hoof care.

Thankyou for wanting to share you knowledge and life experiences to help make a better life for horses.

I look forward to seeing you both again.

Kindest regards
Marianne

Jan 9-10 Oakbank

This course far exceeded my expectations. I expected to learn a lot, but the hands-on nature of David's teaching opens up the possibility for quite profound learning in a short space of time. David's supervision, his generosity with his knowledge, and his passion for the proper care of horses sustained us through experiences that will change lifelong how I take care of my horses' feet.

Anne and David's hospitality made for a very pleasant weekend, despite the extreme heat and hard work. They took care of us with warmth and great attention to detail. The accommodation for the horses at Aebi Park was wonderful - safe, very horse (and owner) friendly and very well supported. This took away a major anxiety I had about bringing my horses along.

Dr Eva Hornung, Visiting Research Fellow, English, University of Adelaide

Dear David and Anne,

Thank you so much for having me on the weekend course, I never thought I'd ever be able to shoe a horse in such a short amount of time.

Your course not only taught me how to see potential hoof problems but it also showed me how to accurately measure the hoof to achieve a perfect balance and help the horse to move far more freely, as was shown with those two horses I brought in.

I understand far more about the fundamentals of hoof work and the cause of different problems to the horse with the flight pattern and pressure points. Most importantly of course, how to fix these issues before they get worse or affect the performance or well being of the horse.

I thoroughly enjoyed the course and found it extremely interesting, it was great having only two people as I think you were able to help us far more.

Both horses STILL have their shoes on, which amazing as it may seem is quite a personal goal for me. I had an amazing time.

Rory

Anne, David
Thank you for a brilliant weekend, hospitality was outstanding and Davids knowledge and instruction was pretty good too.
In all seriousness what Joel and I learnt over the weekend was invaluable; as with all learning we need to return to answer all the new questions that have resulted from the course. Thank you 10/10 in all respects we will be in touch and back for more.
regards Tim / Joel

Dear Anne & David,

I wish to thank you David for taking the time to explain the principles of hoof balance and care. Coming from a Barefoot trimming background, I was impressed as to your openess, thorough and practical manner in which you teach.

I certainly have benefited by attending your 2-day course (which is actually around 4 days compressed into a weekend) and my clients are equally impressed with the results.

In addition, I would like to thank you Anne for providing a boutique B&B experience that is rarely found in resort destinations – let alone an Equine clinic. I was expecting to stay in the usual ramshackle accommodation and to my surprise it was spotless, homely and 5-star rating. It was the small things like the jars of vegemite, jam & honey that were all new and unopened - not pre-used. Also having a fridge full of soft-drink, sports drink and beer (too busy to drink) showed your attention to the wishes of the students. AND I even think that the toilet paper was scented – WOW.

David, I am now using your principles of balance on each horse. It is easy to explain, is easy to show to the client (flares etc) and has me wishing to book in for another clinic. I am certainly proud to mention your name to my clients.

Martin Godwin

Hi David - thank you so much for a wonderful hoof care course. Having come from a racing background I was blown away with the
knowledge gained from yourself and the variety of fellow students. The practical skills gained through observation and hands on training was excellent. With such a variety of horses to work on, including ex-racehorses, polo horses and ponies I could not have been more impressed.
Anne, I must send you a big thank you as well. After two big days the food was excellent and is really appreciated. I know you put a great deal of effort in and both of you make a great team. The wonderful facilities and hospitality added to such a great course.
Thanks so much,
Regards Michael Wooller

Hi David and Anne,
I really enjoyed the course.
I consolidated my basic understanding, clarified some cloudy areas and learnt new stuff. Over the years it's easy to get different info. which doesn't make sense, and then lose one's confidence in looking after our horses feet.
David, you have made it very simple and mathematical, which clears up any guess work; and systematic, which has really given me confidence. Backing all this up with a great understanding of why! And proof of how it all works.

I learnt to make it 10 times less physical by taking time and going slowly. I loved that David has such huge respect for the horse and listens to what the horse is saying with his body...something I find I often have to defend around people who just want to 'sort them out'.

They say you have to hear something 3 times to remember it, so I loved the repetition, both verbal and visual.

I enjoyed the opportunity to see so many different 'normal' horses and their feet. The social aspect was great, meeting people who enjoy different horse interests, and different levels of experience.

The course was well structured for getting the information but also having general discussion; all questions given respectful answers; anecdotes and humour all make it easier to remember stuff.

I really thankyou, David, and will be telling every horse owner I know that they need to know more about their horses feet than what their farrier tells them.

PS: Haven't seen any Afghanistan climbing camels, but we've had a Horse eating Hollosaurus lurking around for years. Never actually sighted by humans, but it must be terrifying judging by the horses' reactions.....
Diana Lyall

The Gloucester course was fantastic - I am so glad I did it the second time around, and my husband loved it too. Doing it the second time really helped me clarify a lot of what I had learned in the first course, and especially the parts that I was really unsure about.

I had planned to bring my own 2 horses, but they're not great travellers and at the last minute they wouldn't load so we ended up not taking them. The upside of this was that both Phil and I ended up being spectators for the whole weekend, and followed David around to every single horse and looked at how he instructed the treatment of each one. I can't tell you what a valuable experience that was! Instead of seeing just 2 horses in detail we got an overview of more than 15 horses, which was amazing. I now feel a lot more confident in being able to assess and identify problems in the hoof.

Phil hasn't really expressed a huge interest in horses and I think he probably came along more to humour me, but he was so impressed and inspired, he's now completely fired up about it all - a true convert!

Thanks so much for another life and hoof-changing experience!
Nicole Goodwin

Townsville Oct 10-11

I learnt from the course that a currently balanced hoof can solve so many problems that we we think are unsolvable or “just the way the hoof is”. I have more confidence to do my horses feet now and find that the hoof line is there to reassure and show that the correct thing is being done for the horse and his feet. Looking after my horses feet myself is now something I can do.
I really enjoyed and got a lot out of the course and all I can say is that it is a shame that David lives so far away – maybe it is a good thing for him as he would get sick of people hanging around trying to learn more.
Thanks for everything and we may talk again.
Celia McNamara

I really enjoyed the course and have no complaints. I have recommended the course to a number of friends here in central Queensland and they are interested learning these new skills. I definately want to do more of these courses with David in the future. Please keep me posted if you intend on doing anymore Queensland tours.

I'd also like to add that my friend Conal who was a veiwer at the course had a great experience. She is very new to the world of horses and horse riding. In her words the course was amazing and she recommends everyone to do it before or when you get your first horse. She learnt an incredible amount of info. I'd also like to thank you for all your communications via email, it has been extremely helpful.

Thanks again
Rebecca

Childers Sept 26-27

I would like to say a big thank-you for giving me the opportunity to participate in the 2 day hoof trimming course. I expected that I might gain a basic ability to trim my horse’s feet, perhaps in between trims by a professional farrier. Instead, the understanding I gathered, not only about being able to maintain a balanced trim, but to also identify and correct problems in the hoof far exceeded my expectations.

Before I participated in David Farmilo’s hoof trimming course, I was aware that my farrier was making some errors on my horse’s feet, but I was frustrated by my inability to correct it. I am now confident that I have the ability to keep my horses feet in healthy shape, (and in the long term save money…).

I feel that every horse owner would hugely benefit from any time spent in David’s company, as he is an extremely knowledgeable and skilled man who is more than happy to share what he knows if it means helping the horse. He explained everything in an easily understood manner and answered all questions with patience and honesty, no matter how seemingly silly the question may have been.
Thank-you again,
BARB, MARYBOROUGH QLD

Bauhinia/Comely Sept 29-30

My partner Steve and I thoroughly enjoyed the course. It was presented well and we found David very easy to talk to and answers our questions in a way that was easy to understand. This helped us improve our knowledge greatly and gave us more confidence to trim and shoe our horses safely and effectively.
We would definately come back for another one.
Thanks again
Ranelle and Steve

Toowoomba Sept 15-15

The course was very informative. The information was well presented in a casual yet professional way. David was always happy to help. Although I was not there to do shoeing as everyone else was, I still felt included and still learned lots. I even ended up assisting with putting on 2 shoes which was great but also confirmed why I leave that part up to the professionals.
At least now I can confidently do my own trimming and know how to balance a hoof.
Michelle Dawson

Injune QLD Sept 09

The course was great. Straight forward and the right mix of practical and theory. Highly recommended for any horse owner to attend. I
would happily do another one if David is through this way again.
Lisa Bennett

David was so happy with the weekend. He has learnt so much from this course and I assure you he will be following on with what he has learnt. On Saturday night he came home and said "our poor horses". Yesterday when he came home I could straight away tell the difference in his horse's off front foot. That horse left here with I thought a Club Foot but came home with a normal hoof. Amazing how just to be shown something the right way can change. Thanks so much from us and our horses.
David & Sue Walmsley

I found this course changed the way I look at my horse. I came home and could see problems in all of the horses hoofs that I had in work all from the way I had been shoeing them. I have since reshod them using all the knowledge I gained from the school and have fixed a lot of these problems. I like the fact this school is so hands on, not were you are just watching. David has a good way of explaining things in terms that every person from experienced farrier to beginners can understand. Being able to use a tool to measure what you are doing helps to makes sure you get it right every time. Thank you
Bill Taylor

I thought I'd give it a few weeks before giving feedback and I'm glad I did. I went away from the course feeling unsure of how much I retained, But I am pleased to say I learnt more than I gave myself credit for. The course and Daves delivery of knowledge makes a huge impact the way I see horses overall I now have a greater appreciation and understanding of how much pain and behavioural issues are caused by poor shoeing/trimming practices. I remember most of the stuff dave taught us and have been able to talk to other class members to jog my memory. I am very appreciative of the knowledge that Dave has passed on. The only thing that would have made the course better for me is if I had only brought one horse then followed Dave around on the second day listening to the advise that he gave to other class members, If Dave ever does come back to W.A please email me as I will definitely do the course again.
Cheers
Helena O'Dwyer

Clonbinane VIC Aug 29-30

Hi Anne

A big thank you for all your hard work in making the Clonbinane course a huge success. David’s courses always exceed expectation and get better and better, he really is a gifted teacher with the patients of a saint. Anyone who does this course will never look at a horses hoof again in the same way, and this is totally to the benefit of horses everywhere. The knowledge you receive from David’s course should be mandatory for all horse owners.
Jane Lamb – Clonbinane Vic.

To say that the course would be life changing is just about an understatement! David and Lukas were patient and always clearly and honestly explained themselves and answered any questions. They provided me with constant encouragement and confidence. The hoof anatomy sessions held at the start of each day were very informative and vital to the overall understanding of hoof care. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about David and Lukas’s experiences as farriers. I felt that I learnt a lot from their stories as they were both interesting and sometimes most amusing.
The only area of improvement could be, that sometimes we had to wait a very long time before we could get help. I did do as was suggested and follow either David or Lukas but having to wait so long stopped the flow of what we were doing. Perhaps limiting the time they spent with each person/horse could help this.
Overall I can’t speak highly enough of the course. It was the best value for money that I can think of. My horses would also like to say a BIG thank you. In particular ‘Nibbles’ (little chestnut pony-David may remember him) says THANK YOU my feet don’t hurt anymore!!
Peg Twitchett.

Hi Anne,

A big thank you to everyone. It was such an informative course. We both learnt plenty - we got home Sunday night and by Monday we were straight into it, pulling pony's out of their paddocks for trims!

It exceeded my expectations as far as the quality of the information that was taught. Having Lucus there to assist David was definitely a
plus - there was always something going on and always someone there to field a question.

We both learnt that by following the basic principles, it's so simple (we still need to get a bit quicker of course) to dress the hoof, yet
getting it wrong can affect the soundness of a horse more than you realise. We feel pretty honoured to have had the opportunity of David's tuition.

The format of the course has struck the right balance too, just enough classroom and hands on time.

Please pass on my thanks to everyone, especially David!

Take care
Joyce

Dear David, Lucas and Anne,

Many thanks for making the trek to Victoria to deliver the hoof care course. The venue was ideal with great teaching and horse facilities (well done to Jane!). The course structure offered a good balance of "class room" and hands-on learning, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions, clarify issues and to discuss concerns / experiences. I have since read through the notes in full and they will be a useful reference in the future.

Despite only being an observer, I certainly got a lot out of attending. It was great having both David and Lucas working on the horses too. I could bounce between the two of you when you were helping others work on their horses and see your approach to assessing the horses and solving their problems. In some ways, I think I probably got more out of that than if I had had my horse there, as I was able to watch you assess and work on each of the horses (each of which had different issues).

The course validated some of the things I have been doing when trimming my mare's feet (eg using the shape of the coronet band as a guide and trimming away the flares) and pointed out many other areas where I can improve (eg the way to identify the reference point and measure the hoof to achieve balance and not being afraid to trim the frog and sole!!). Having a science background, David's mathematical approach made a lot of sense to me and, once you know it, it is so simple.

Other little tips that David has gained during his 53 years of experience were willingly imparted throughout the course and were also really useful for us novices! For example, how to position the horse and its legs for the safety and comfort of you both, how best to position yourself and to hold and use the tools, the use of the breeching rope, etc. It was also great to be able to purchase some of the tools at the course as there are no saddlery or horse supply shops near me. It was good to be able to purchase tools that are recommended by those who regularly use them and to also get advice on how to best maintain them.

I can't wait to get cracking on my horse - I'm sure she will be happy that I attended.....!

Thanks again for a great course,
Joy

I really enjoyed attending the 2 day hoof care course at clonbinane. Having had horses for years I learnt heaps about how the hoof funtions and what a properly trimmed hoof should look like. I also learnt how to correctively trim a horses hoof to improve gait problems and also muscle problems.
Thank you so much for sharing your wealth of information with us David, I enjoyed the course so much and have been telling heaps of people about it.

Sharon Mazzella

Oakbank Aug 22-23

Dear David and Anne,
I have to let you know that I had the most unique, wholistic, incredible full on learning experience of my life at the "House of Farmilo" last week!!
Your welcome, hospitality & kindness was more than I ever would have imagined.
The A B C training David was excellent.
I know the other participants have probably given you similar feed back because we all shared positive and challenging learning experiences (Me less challenging with not doing the shoeing part).
I learnt heaps to overload and have started on the 28 feet that stomp this patch I call home, not quite mirror imaging the Master Farrier yet!
Heh, thanks for everything.
Best wishes & until next time.
Rosemary

Oberon, NSW, March 2009

This was a great course i would recomend this course to anyone that would like to learn about hoof care from owners to farriers.
Thankyou very much
Tj McGovern

Kununurra July 4-5 2009

Anne, Thankyou…..for ‘lending’ David to us for the weekend. I can’t remember ever being so happy and so damn sore at the same time ever in my life before!
Danee Jenks

The course was just amazing. A real eye opener for all of us at the Kununurra session. I think we all now know how important correctly trimming and balancing is. I am now quite confident that I will be able to trim and balance my horses feet. My appreciation to David for his dedication in attention to detail for the wellbeing of the horse.
Denise Hales

Oakbank May 2009

I would recommend this to anyone who wants to learn how to balance a horse's hoof correctly. With David's knowledge it has helped me to train my 1st winner on the weekend.
Mick Ball

Thank you so much for a wonderful weekend, although im not feeling so wonderful today...ha ha. The course was great and appreciate all that I was taught. And the hospitality was a refreshing change you both made me feel very welcome in your home, and I thank you both
very much for that. I look forward to continuing along this path and im sure we will cross paths again in the not too distant future.
Thank you both again,
Kind regards
Amanda

Lismore NSW April 4-5

David's private consulation and 2 day course was a real eye opener into how modern hoofcare has deviated from the basic truth of the balanced hoof.
The logic is so simple, even I now feel confident to have a go at trimming hooves.
I thought my horses suffered from bad feet and that was their lot, but David showed that with correct trimming, foot problems could be reduced or eliminated.
My 28 year old mare is feeling so good now, she took herself off 250m up the road to visit the neighbours! - Ali

I feel that the course was really nice and beneficial for me. I just wish it lasted longer as I am not the most talented student.
Thanks to David for sharing his knowledge and demonstrating that even after 53 years of horse shoeing, you can still be passionate about it!
Thanks to you Anne for the very quick communication, it was very much appreciated. - Saskia

I have just completed my second ABC Hoof Care Course at Oberon and it was fantastic.
I went along as an Observer which means I didn't get to actually have a go on the day but I watched everything that occurred and David very kindly answered any questions I had.
This Course was especially good as people brought along so many horses with problem legs which, without properly balanced hooves (David's method), were breaking down on a regular basis.
It was amazing to see how David balanced the feet correctly and then we could see how the horses walked and trotted better straight away.
There were also some amazing hoof problems presented and we witness the difference in them once David had shown the owner how to balance the foot.
One horse had been battling Seedy Toe for over 2 years and arrived with a gaping hole in her hind hoof.
David worked with the horse's farrier (a student at the course) to show us how to remove the hoof wall as high as possible to allow the air to get to the bacteria causing the problem, then rebuilt the hoof, just leaving the top section open to the air, then reshod her.
She was sound enough to ride then.
It was a truly fantastic course and I learnt so much, I also have a copy of David's DVD to refer to at home, so I feel very confident in doing my own horses now. - Patricia Preston

First of all thank you for running the school.
I got lots of information out of it... from ,using the right size nails, how to hold the horse correctly, the use of the breaching rope , which i have used already.
I got a lot of information about shaping the shoes, especially where to hit the shoe.
The main thing was the use of the hoof line so we can get more out of the horse and the horse is more comfortable in his stride and his working.
When I got home i looked at a horse that I shod before I went to the school and i had to pull them of and re do them with the information from the school. I must have learnt something.
Thank you - Steven Crawford

The course was very educational as well as entertaining.
David has a great sense of humor and – as is to be expected after so many years of experience – a whole lot of true stories to tell as well.
I had booked a course before, but – “thanks” to equine influenza – that one had to be called off.
When the next course was on after EI, I was overseas, so this was my third time lucky, and I am so glad I finally made it!
I had bought the DVDs before, and – yes – they are certainly helpful.
But for someone like me who is a lay-person when it comes to trimming and not all that confident or brave either, there’s nothing more valuable than the experienced look over the shoulder (and the occasional “hands-on” assistance, especially when hooves are rock-solid due to drought ;-).
I watched the DVDs since, and now they make even more sense to me.
As David says, the hoof mechanism is not rocket science (albeit an amazing piece of evolutionary engineering), but David has a real talent for explaining how poor trimming or shoeing will impede the horse’s performance and well-being.
Not only do I now feel more knowledgeable about hoof care in a technical sense, I also feel much better emotionally, knowing that I am doing the right thing by my horses.
THANKS A LOT! - Eva

This was my 2nd course within a year and I loved it and learnt plenty more.
Thanks to David my lil black pony NYFTY will be heaps better soon.
The course was brilliant and the venue gorgeous as ever.
Thank you Jan for supplying tea and coffee and the lovely scones and of course the grounds.
Candice Dahlstrom

I have thoroughly enjoyed the HoofCare Course in Capel and I feel that I have learned a lot, even if I didn't have the "hands-on" experience. It was very well presented, easy to follow and all so logical even for complete beginners like me. Every little bit of information made absolute sense for me and it was good to see how your method works straight away when put to the test.

Thank you so much for your assessment and correction on my horses feet! I have spoken to my farrier about your method and I hope he will follow his word and contact you in the near future, so I can work with him on keeping Cruiser's feet correctly balanced. I have taken photos of his feet today, so I know what we're aiming for and to keep track. Thanks again, kind regards,
Ann Young

I have to say I was very apprehensive to do the course and was very wary of David before I even got there. I was completely wrong, he turned out to be funny, kind and extremely helpful. The reason I was so worried was due to the nature of the wording in the very first lot of pamphlets I received from you. I found the way it was worded to be blunt, rude and very offensive to me. That's my opinion, it may not be anyone else's but since you asked, I decided to be honest and share my opinion with you.

In the end I am so glad I did the course, the paperwork was correct in one big way, yes it has changed my life. I can now trim my horses feet correctly and also help my dad as he can't do it anymore with a sore back...

It was expensive for me - my dad was taught by an older gentleman who didn't ask for money, but I guess he didn't have the "centre of the hoof" knowledge David has and I really appreciate that. I also appreciated David helping my dads horse. Braefields Araminta (Minty) is 25 and a new pony. What an absolute legend David is. My dad is still talking about it and you've made him extremely happy.

I thank you David from the bottom of my heart.
Kind regards
Nola Wright

I really liked the fact that we got our "hands dirty" right from the start. No pussyfooting around - a bit of theory then do it. I am too old (as in, running out of years!) to obtain the knowledge and skills David has, so to have someone pass down their wealth of knowledge was wonderful. It was a professional course that was not overwhelmingly formal and restrictive.

Your hospitality and friendliness was most welcome and the premises were a home away from home.
Lindy Read

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

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

Many thanks
Bruce and Kerri

Muttaburra QLD July 19-20

The school was excellent, a great teacher, very patient, very sharp assessment skills in terms of participant skills levels, great co-learners, enjoyed every moment of it and of course that runs through to some strong recommendations if anyone asks me (as they will!).

All the best, thanks again, cheers,

Simon

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