About us
Who We Are
Pony Pedicures is a partnership ran by Nia Cooke and Ali Taylor. We are both Equine Podiatrists who hold Diplomas in Equine Podiatry. We are members of and regulated by the Equine Podiatry Association (UK).
Every horse is unique. We work with you and horse as individuals, dealing with any issues your horse may have and around any restrictions you may have, to prepare a customised plan to manage your horses hooves.
We are passionate about helping owners to have the best possible hooves under their horse. Pony Pedicures was established in 2012 by Nia, and Ali joined the practice soon after.
We cover North and Mid Wales and the North West of England.
Ali and Nia live in rural North Wales with their baby daughter Rhiannon, and 4 horses, 2 dogs, 2 cats and 4 hens.
WHAT WE DO
An Equine Podiatrist (or EP for short) is a trained specialist who has studied the anatomy and science of the equine foot and will be able to shape the development of your horses’ hoof by use of both trim and environment. We mainly work with unshod horses in work, both pleasure and competition horses. We also work with horses with issues such as laminitis, navicular, seedy toe and biomechanical issues.
We need to understand the environment your horse is kept in and what level of work you would expect to be able to do with your horse, so as we can advise accordingly. If any changes to the diet, turnout, exercise or any other factors happen in between visits, it is important that we discuss them, because all of these things can affect the condition of the hooves.
I will need a suitable space to work in, as well as somewhere with ideally a hard flat surface to trot the horse up and watch it move. Your horse should be ready with clean, dry legs and feet picked out. (These things do of course depend on the facilities you have!) I will need someone to hold the horse during trimming and to trot the horse up. I am trained in horse handling but it is really important that you let me know whether your horse has any behavioural issues such as biting, kicking, rearing, etc. so as I can safely try to work with them.
I will normally make some recommendations with regards to what needs to be done between now and the next trim to encourage healthy hoof development. If you feel the recommendations are not achievable, either because of time, facilities or any other reason, we can always discuss it and work around the restrictions to make workable recommendations.
The first visit may take up to 2 hours, thereafter each visit will take about an hour. I will visit every 4-8 weeks, dependant on the condition of the horses hooves, any on-going conditions and the horses regime of work etc.
Meet The Team
ABOUT ALI
I became involved with horses much later on in life than some. Although always admiring their beauty, it wasn’t until meeting my partner that I became much more involved, and very quickly became obsessed.
I was very much sports orientated in my youth, but ill health put paid to any chance of fulfilling a very promising cricketing career. It is this background in sport that influences my view of the horse as an athlete, and my quest to improve the wellbeing of horses through balance, correct movement, as well an improved environment.
It is my interest in the efficiency of movement and how it aids good health, that drives my belief that horses should, wherever possible be allowed to move unhindered by the use of shoes, boots, or poor hoof conformation.
I really enjoy riding and have had lessons in trick riding and I regularly take classical riding lessons.
ABOUT NIA
Nia grew up around horses, attending Pony Club, working in the local stables and being a typical horse-obsessed girl! She became an equine podiatrist after deciding on a career change from chartered accountancy in 2011.
In 2015 due to some health issues, Nia handed the reins over to Ali who now does most of the trimming work for the practice. Nia went back to university and gained a First Class Honours BSc in Equine and Veterinary Biosciences from Aberystwyth University, before embarking on a Masters in Animal Nutrition at Glasgow University.
"An immense level of knowledge and experience along with a genuine passion and love for horses, I would absolutely recommend Pony Pedicures"
"The absolute font of knowledge that is Nia and Ali is incredible. I learn something new every time my horses have their feet trimmed! Friendly, funny, kind and fabulous with the horses. Highly recommend"
