“Having the chance to learn with David how to help horses in so many ways has been a dream come true for me. Finding people who care so deeply and align with your own values is no easy feat. I’m now able to take charge of my horses welfare, while giving them a voice. It’s the most precious and valuable thing I could ever aspire to. Thank you all for your help and support, I could not have started this journey without you. I am a proud Hoof Builder.” - Crystal Greenlaw

“1 year ago I was working as an apprentice and shoeing horses. 1 year ago was when I first found your work and methodology, and 1 year ago was the last time I pulled steel off of Gordo, my Arabian/Quarter main ranch horse. I can show you what your approach has done for my horses feet and body condition. What I CAN’T show you, is what your approach has done for my training success, effectiveness as a working horseman, the mood and demeanor of my horses, my relationship with my horses, my approach to my own health and wellness, and my relationship with my wife. I never realized how much a white-knuckled, hardened approach to shoeing horses was affecting (or, representing) the way I lived the rest of my life. Thank you for opening the door, not only to an alternative approach to hoofcare, but to an alternative way to live.” - Nikolai Fornwalt

“First I subscribed to David’s Patreon, then I upgraded to be part of Hoof Builders. Then I was fortunate to host a clinic. And it has been an honor to be able to learn from David and this wonderful community in such a diversity of forms. I think David has a wide range of capacity to explain and share. Doesn’t matter if your learning style is auditory, read & write, visual or kinesthetic. Or if you consider yourself logical, rational, intuitive, emotional or spiritual. David and all the Hoof Builders team have you covered. You will find the best feedback, lots of rehab cases that you can relate to, trimming videos and tips. I’m just grateful to be part of this and thanks David for sharing your amazing way to feel and care for the horse. Forever grateful.” - Carlos Mancera Esquivel

“I follow David's work for 5 years now, I have tried to understand everything by myself, tried to imitate his way of trimming for a while, and finally, I decided to pay to learn more. I could watch all his videos and have advices on the Facebook group. The first video blowed my mind: I thought I understood things, but no... obviously, not every things! So I've watched all the others... I started to trim the way he is really doing, with his wise advices on FB page, and in a few months, already great results on my two very different horses. Can't wait to see what it will be in a few years.” - Justine Utile

“I can't thank David enough for sharing his knowledge so openly, thoughtfully, and humbly. To watch him trim horses at liberty (and in particular, ones who would be considered "difficult" to trim, even tied up) is deeply insightful. I am so grateful to be part of Hoof Builders and receive ongoing advice on my trimming, as well as to have had the recent opportunity to participate in a face-to-face clinic. For me, the real icing on the cake though, is seeing my horses progress to soundness in a matter of months once I started following David's trimming recommendations. To track the changes with photographs and see the feet evolve and become healthier, along with astonishing changes in the horse's bodies reflecting a new level of physical comfort has been amazing and I will be eternally grateful I have been taught how to help my horses in this way.” - Cathy Talley

“When I signed up for Hoof Builders, I didn't know how big of an impact it would have on me and my horses. It was a bit of a learning curve at first, but when I attended the Cumming, GA clinic in 2022 things really clicked for me. David has not only helped me with making my horse's feet better, but his approach to horsemanship has also improved my relationship with my horse. My horse who had always been hard to trim, now trusts me to trim her 100% at liberty.” - Kimberly Ramírez

“David’s approach to connection through trimming horses literally opened the door to a new life for my mare. Being told previously by a vet I had to make “serious decisions “ about her feet, I found David and progressed to seeing improvements in her feet, body and demeanor that were life changing for her and me. If you are open to learning how to really connect with your horse and change its feet, body and life for the better, this is the place for you.” - Michelle Coburn

“I am 72-years-old. I started trimming full-time at 50. I saw some success by doing what I was taught: sole off the ground, frog kissing the ground, heels flat and level and bring them back even if it meant whacking them off. A few horses agreed with me, but some didn’t. Then 6 months ago I stumbled on David’s website, and I was forced to rethink everything. Trimming “wrong” might be too strong a word for what I was doing. Not trimming right might be more accurate. I wanted what was best for the horse, so my heart was in the right place. My head and my hands weren’t. So, thanks to David, I started doing set-up trims on 300 horses. Some of them I’d been trimming for years. I’m already seeing positive changes on some of them. I know it’s a cliché, but you are never too old to learn. But your old back might make the process slower 🙂 Thank you David, Mollie for teaching and students willing to re-think what he/she thought was right. If you don’t do what’s right, you have to deal with what’s left.” - Billy Blackman

HOOF BUILDERS FOUNDER & LEAD ADVISOR

David has dedicated the last 20 years to building hooves, and teaching others to do the same. He advocates for consistent, long term photo documentation to track and demonstrate the hoof development possible with effective trimming. He has always been hesitant about teaching hoof care online, concerned that all the elements of feel and connection would not translate. With his daughter Claudia behind the camera, they started creating videos that would capture the technical elements of the trim, as well as the emotional connection with the horse. Combining these videos with the photo documentation based facebook group enables David to teach the intricate details involved in complicated hoof rehabilitation in a virtual setting.

EDITOR & VIDEOGRAPHER

Stephanie and David have been married since 1991, and she has spent many years reading and editing David’s writing before it is published to ensure it is clear and accessible, and it has the feel that David is intending it to. She holds an unwavering commitment to the welfare of horses, and generously supports David’s busy schedule, enabling the hoof building approach to reach as wide as possible. Stephanie is also the videographer for most of the Live Trims in the group, as well as many of the foundation series videos.

VIDEOGRAPHER

Claudia has been watching David trim since she was 10 years old, and has rehabbed some tough cases on her own. She can most often be found with a camera in hand, and her videos make up a large portion of the library. She combines her understanding of what to focus on during a trim with her ability to recognize and capture the horse’s expression, creating educational trim videos that speak for themselves. Claudia and her horse Osiris are now based at the Frying Pan Ranch in Texas, and you will see some videos pop up from there when David goes to visit.

HOOF BUILDERS MANAGER, LEAD ADVISOR & CLINICS COORDINATOR

Mollie is responsible for organising David’s ideas, knowledge and schedule into formats and events that can reach as many people as possible. She grew up eventing, grooming and teaching horse riding and horsemanship, before eventually becoming addicted to hoof care in 2018. Mollie had hosted 2 clinics with David and was planning more when travel in 2020 had to be cancelled. David was looking for another way to help people with their trimming, and he mentioned the idea of a facebook group to Mollie. Hoof Builders quickly became a reality. Mollie runs the administration side of Hoof Builders, advises in the group, manages the video library and coordinates David’s clinics with local hosts across the world.

ADMIN ASSISTANT

“I have always had a deep love for horses and was fortunate to own my first horse at just 13 years old. Since then, horses have been a constant part of my life. My journey into hoof care began out of necessity, when finding a farrier in my area became increasingly difficult. When trims did happen, I often noticed my horses were sore or for a week or two afterward. I knew there had to be a better way. Determined to do what was best for my horses, I came across David and attended one of David’s clinics in Yackandandah (Victoria, Australia). Everything finally made sense. That experience changed the way I viewed hoof care and set me on a better path. I have been trimming my own horses ever since.”

ADMIN ASSISTANT & JUNIOR ADVISOR

“Horses are my passion but I seem to attract the ones with problems. As a result I have studied nutrition, land management, bodywork, herbal therapy, homeopathy all to help the horses. When my mare’s feet started to fail and I couldn’t find anyone to help me I stumbled on David’s work in 2021. That started me on Hoof Building it being so complimentary to all the other ways I had been working to help my horses and I loved the energy and connection that was embedded in how David works.”