Emma Baker; Equine Podiatry DEP MEPA

05/04/2026

I never claim to be the best ‘trimmer’ in the world. There are plenty of people out there doing truly remarkable work.

What I can do is say

‘I don’t know’

….and that’s what I believe makes me good at my job.

I know when to put ego & personal preferences to one side for the good of the horse. And as a result, I never stop learning.

If you don’t know that about me, you simply don’t know me.

02/04/2026

A routine trim.

Simple….boring even.

It can sometimes be hard to see the value in the boring routine stuff, but this is exactly the point.

Preventative maintenance. Boring, effective & essential.

19/03/2026

Creating easy to follow trim instructions gives you a message that is so easy to convey & sell.

Put enough power & conviction behind it and it spreads like wildfire before anyone has chance to think I through properly.

“Maybe there are other ways to bake a potato and we didn’t have to start that bonfire….” But if that’s the only way you’ve been cooking for years, it can be hard to change.

There are many ways a horse can walk (sounds obvious I know).
There are many ways a hoof can grow & distort (also obvious)

So can there really only be one way to balance a hoof?

Have a look at this sole. Notice any asymmetry?
Look at the walls - notice anything unusual there?
Look at the solar corium & how the pedal bone sits on it.

Do you think this foot should always, ALWAYS(!!), be balanced to the sole? What do you think would happen if we did?

Stay curious and don’t be too sure you’ve got it all figured out.

15/03/2026

I’ve often felt that bio security can be a little lacking within the equestrian world.

When you take your small animal to the vets; table & equipment is usually disinfected between animals. I’ve often seen large animal farm vets disinfect their boots and overalls between farms. But it’s rarely done within the Equestrian world. Maybe because it’s not linked to the food chain or purely just logistics.

Either way, it’s important we all do our bit where we can.

I am pretty well equipped to deal with any bio security concerns; I just need a heads up.

I have some fresh packs of disinfectant here ready & water proof overalls. I’m pretty flexible as well so we could probably arrange for a day that I only see you so I can make sure I go home and shower before seeing anyone else. Lots of options.

If you have any concerns of possible infection on your yard, pop me a message and we will find a work around.

09/03/2026

Another fantastic few days with the EPT! 🤓

01/03/2026

What we return to after 5 weeks says so much more about hoof health than what we leave behind after a trim.

Preventative maintenance.

Let’s give a shout out to those Hoof Care Providers who are out there quietly doing their thing and preventing your horses from becoming click bait through dramatic before and after pictures!

We are here - just a little quieter.

15/02/2026

💦 ☢️ 💦 ☢️ 💦 ☢️ 💦 ☢️ 💦

Why giving your horses feet an opportunity to dry is likely a good idea but using hoof hardeners might make your long term goals more difficult to achieve.

From my experience, I struggle to find a significant correlation between ground sensitivity and wet feet. I see too many rock crunchers throughout the winter and too many sore horses with rock hard feet over the summer.

However, feet CAN suffer from prolonged exposure to the wet, particularly their frogs and soft tissue structures at the back of the foot. Those that suffer from central sulcus infections can be particularly susceptible.

During these soggy times, standing your horse in nappies for an hour or and then applying a gentle product such as Hoof Clay (from Horse Leads) or using ‘Soledry’ for horses in hoof boots; will protect your horses frogs from pesky bacteria that thrive in these anaerobic, wet, warm conditions.

These products are non corrosive, non toxic and are designed to respect the natural function & anatomy of the hoof. Used alongside appropriate hoof care with a holistic approach; you won’t go far wrong.

But what about hoof hardeners?

The most popular hoof hardeners will have ingredients such as formaldehyde; an ingredient used to harden and dehydrate wood, along side others, also designed in the treatment & longevity of wooden structures.

From my experience, I have not seen these products, in any way, aid ground comfort for the horse. Ground sensitivity is so much more complex than wet feet; we are rapidly realising the need for whole horse resolution in these cases.

Secondly to this, please practice extra caution if you are applying these products to aid a thin soled horse. It is unlikely that your horses soles are thin from external abrasion, wear or a damp environment; it is most likely an internal issue with the solar corium (soles thin from the inside 🤯). Thin soles don’t want to exfoliate. Applying formaldehyde to an already compromised thin sole could result in that delicate sole becoming dehydrated, brittle and potentially exfoliating when it doesn’t want to!

Please start from the inside and give any external products some careful thought, especially if they have hazardous warning labels on the bottle ☢️☢️☢️☢️

15/02/2026

Well. What can I say. She smashed it, and I knew she would.

If you are looking for a hoof care provider who has a nationally recognised qualification (equivalent to a HND), fully insured and answerable to a governing body (EPA UK), please contact Heel 1st Hoof Care - Sian Hilbourne Student EP!

She will take a truly holistic approach to your horses hoof care needs.

Please trust a hands on approach.

This is what our horses deserve.

2 ½ years of study, hard work and dedication… Blood, sweat and tears – I am so happy to say I have passed my final year exams on my Level 5 LANTRA accredited Diploma with Equine Podiatry Training Ltd and I am now a qualified EP!

I’d like to say a HUGE thank you to Emma Baker; Equine Podiatry DEP MEPA & Christian Egeler for their mentorship, their kindness with their time and knowledge and I’m sure their on going support.
Also a massive thank you to all my existing clients who have very kindly let me learn on their beloved equines. Please know that you have been a huge part of my journey and I appreciate every single one of you !

Right now I’m a bit overwhelmed that all the hard work has paid off and that the journey will now continue and I hope to help many horses and owners over my career

02/02/2026

Another fantastic few days teaching the Year 1 students with the Equine Podiatry Training Ltd. This was their first venture into tool use and where they start pulling together their anatomy knowledge.

Tool use is such an underestimated skill of craftsmanship & this group showed real potential, patience and determination.

The on line world of barefoot trimming (and the remote trimming advice that comes with it!) fills me with so much concern; but these last few days has reignited my sense of hope & excitement for the future of Equine Podiatry.

This is NOT a weekend course for a few hundred quid!

These students have already spent months studying functional anatomy before they have laid their hands on a rasp.

This is a Nationally Recognised Level 5 Diploma (HND Equivalent) which takes 2 years to complete, followed by another year to complete case studies before they sit their final exams.

We don’t teach students a set of rules to follow (always balance a foot to x,y or z) we teach them the skills needed to make their own decisions & develop vital skills for clinical reasoning!

Every case will be different!

This is why your course mentors will spend just as much time discussing feet amongst themselves as we do with the students!

And I even got a chance to have a little play myself with a very overgrown hoof!!

This is how it should be done.

This is what our horses deserve.

25/01/2026

Introducing - Gabby Wilcox

Areas Covered – Swansea & South Wales

Recently qualified and passionate about keeping horses sound, happy, and moving well. With a background in human nursing, I bring a keen eye for detail, a solid understanding of anatomy, and a calm, compassionate approach to hoof care. I offer barefoot trimming with a focus on whole-horse health and practical, owner-friendly support. Rosie is my Welsh Section D mare and the heart behind everything I do. She’s strong-willed, full of character, and has taught me more about hooves (and patience!) than any textbook ever could. Working with her has deepened my appreciation for the importance of balance, movement, and trust — lessons I carry into every hoof care session.

Please click here to connect with Gabby: https://www.epauk.org/membership/our-members/gabby-wilcox/

14/01/2026

My fluffy mud monsters isn’t coming out of this winter looking as well as I would like. With a complex history of choke and poor dentistry, I was struggling to decide where to turn next.

I’ve just had a fantastic consult with Nia at Finer Forage - Naturally Better Horsefood. She took a full history, listened to my concerns and has mapped out a plan for us.

Feeding horses is never straightforward but I feel so much better already; reassured, supported & equipped with more knowledge.

20/12/2025

Proud to say that you can now find me listed on the Equine Podiatry Training Ltd website as a course tutor.

Really looking forward to supporting this years in take!

Link to full list of tutors in comments.