Willa is a dedicated endurance rider and an equine bodyworker in training, and lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with her two horses, Metro and Maxie. She hopes to open her bodywork practice within the year and begin helping horses and riders.
Metro (Metrapalotan RCF) is her 11-year-old Arabian endurance gelding, He has a heart big enough for 10 horses and has carried her countless miles. Willa started him when he was 6 years old and he recently placed 1st and won best condition on an LD in Renegade Hoof Boots. He loves his job and Willa hopes to take him all the way to the 100 mile distance.
Maxie (Maxeglow RA) is a 13-year-old arab/quarter horse mare that technically belongs to Willa’s Mom, but Willa frequently steals her. She had a bit of a rocky start in life but she is finally coming around and Willa has helped her through a lot. She has raced alongside Metro for a few years now and Willa is hoping to level her up to 50s.
Willa's horses are barefoot and use Renegade Hoof Boots
Metro and Maxie were barefoot for a long time until Willa switched to steel shoes for a year. Soon she realized that she had strayed from her true beliefs in hoof care and decided to pull shoes and stick with hoof boots. Nothing can replace the magic of a functional hoof and no horse shoe can replicate a healthy barefoot hoof. Steel shoes present a myriad of issues and Willa says she will never go back to them.
Willa has been using Renegades for about 2 years. She kept seeing them pop up on social media and loved all the fun colors they come in. She also consistently saw horses finishing endurance races in Renegade hoof boots, and decided to try them out!
Endurance racing is so much easier when Willa doesn't have to worry about hoof boots flying off or rubbing, which is why she chose Renegades.
Willa loves adventuring with her horses, she goes by the “No trail is too technical” mindset
She aims to cultivate confident and trustworthy mounts. Renegade hoof boots help her horses maintain traction on sketchy surfaces (loose rubble, pavement and rock scrambles). A horse that can tackle any terrain is sure to place well in endurance races.
Willa’s journey with her own horses has not been easy and it isn’t over yet. They have pushed her into growth time and time again, and when she doesn’t learn the lesson, they spiral her right back into it. At times it is frustrating and feels defeating, but she knows that even the most difficult rides are ultimately for her benefit.
Willa began trimming her own horses after she decided to pull shoes
She says she got tired of farriers preaching different sciences when the actual science was right in front of her: "Farriers and trimmers don’t always see the everyday movement and behavior of a horse, and a six week cycle just isn’t enough to keep hooves healthy and balanced."
Willa likes to study the hoof conformation of wild horses and relate that to her trimming practices. She also pays close attention to muscle imbalances and movement inconsistencies so that she can keep her horses landing correctly over the long miles.
Willa says she is 'a little bit woo-woo' when it comes to horses (and pretty much everything). She uses tarot cards and oracle cards in the presence of horses and keeps an open channel in her mind to receive messages. She also incorporates energy work into her everyday routine with her horses. “I know, crazy” Willa laughs.
Willa's your favorite horsemanship quote is:
“The path isn’t a straight line, it’s a spiral. You continually come back to things you thought you understood, and see deeper truths.”
Willa hopes to rise in the industry and in the sport she loves. She wants to continue training endurance horses and become the best horsewoman she can be.
Follow her adventures here:
Instagram: @littleredarabian
Youtube: @willa_mae
