ABOUT HOOF SCHOOL
We're here to help you and your horse thrive - together.
Online courses for horse owners
We present hoof care education in a way that is easy to understand. You don't need any prior knowledge about hooves to study with us; we meet you at the level you're at, and walk you through good hoof care principles, one step at a time.
Education that makes sense
The world is full of hoof trimming methods, some better than others. At Hoof School, we do not represent or offer you a method, but hoof care education that is based on research and things that we have tested and documented over decades, so we know it works.
We're here for the horse
We want horses all around to world to have healthier hooves, so that they can be happier horses. Our courses are carefully crafted to empower owners with the knowledge and skills required to keep their horse's hooves healthy and strong.
Meet our team
We're driven by a desire to see horses all around the world thrive barefoot.
Minna Sarkkinen
Minna has worked as a professional barefoot trimmer for over 15 years in Australia. Her expertise lies in rehabbing laminitic hooves, and she is passionate about including the owner in the horse's ongoing hoof care.
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At home, Minna has a herd of horses (who even counts after 5??), but Cedric the Friesian is her favourite.
Riikka Kemppainen
Riikka is the technical half of the team. She manages the online course content and website, and makes sure that the day-to-day admin functions of the business run smoothly.
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Riikka is the servant of two horses, George and Cody, whose hooves she cares for independently, after learning the craft from Minna.
Education that makes sense
Minna has been "under the horses" in Australia for over a decade. She doesn't teach a "method" of trimming, nor does she come from a specific "school".
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Minna says: " My initial inspiration and go-to mentor (still) is my favourite equine vet Dr. Melanie Quick, who is a multi-skilled holistic professional. I am very, very fortunate to have access to such knowledge which I’m yet to come across anywhere else. On the whole, my own work is influenced and inspired by aspects of many people’s work - some scientists and some far from it. I’ve looked and continue to look in many corners, but mainly I am a student of the horse. I’ve worked independently gathering my own information for over 15 years by using questioning, observation and recording my findings. And always asking the horse."​
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Our courses bring you proven-in-the-trenches, common sense approach to horse- and hoof care, that is based on and respects the anatomy of the hoof and places a huge importance on observing the horse. Do they get better or not? And is the improvement a sustainable result driving better health and soundness, or a short term band-aid that causes more trouble down the track?
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We are here for the horse, and we are here to empower you to make the best possible hoof care decisions for your horse. Are you ready to take the guess work out of the equation? Then join us!
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