About Ida Hammer

Ida Hammer is the creator and owner of Mackinaw Dells 2 Home Whole Horse Hoof Care, founded in 2009. She has taught over 2,000 people around the globe about hoof care and personally trimmed over 200,000 hooves, making her one of the most experienced trimmers and equine educators in the world.

Ida has been involved with horses just about all of her life and in a variety of disciplines; from jockeying racing quarter horses, to competitive trail riding, to dabbling in cutting, and barrel racing. She has said that she has tried her entire life trying to make a living with horses. They were all she ever wanted to do. But no matter what she did with horses or how hard she tried, the income was not enough to support her family.

And then their first cutting-bred mare, Seeker, came down with navicular disease after being at a fancy trainer’s barn for six months. Ida, and her spouse, Ada, were told Seeker would be their ‘million dollar horse’ - and it certainly seemed like it! Ida and Ada followed all the veterinarian suggestions, but nothing worked.

Fast forward several years, Ada decided she wanted a beautiful blue roan. So they searched high and low until they found the most stunning blue roan mare, named Bobbi. Unfortunately Bobbi had her looks going for her, but not necessarily the ‘sound and sane’ part that most riders are looking for. After Bobbi expressed her rather strong opinions, Ada decided that Ida should be her partner instead.

Ida took Bobbi down to Florida for a week-long clinic and did well. Unfortunately the day after they returned to Illinois, Bobbi came up lame. Radiographs revealed a significant right front navicular bone spur and treatment plans were the same as what DIDN’T work for Seeker.

At that point, Ada put her foot down and said find a better way, sell her, or put her down. However Ida is known for being determined and doesn't give up on animals. So that was the beginning of her trimming journey.

Ida started with the AANHCP (Association for the Advancement of Natural Horse Care Practices), mentoring with some of the best trimmers in the country, came back, changed their whole horse-keeping philosophy, and started trimming their own horses and all of their friends’ horses.

Within two trim cycles and with a new lifestyle, both Bobbi AND Seeker were sound! Ida began trimming professionally, became somewhat (more) obsessed with horses, to the point of trimming twenty horses a day, six days a week. She taught for the AANHCP, until leaving them to join the American Hoof Association. Ida was with the AHA until they folded in 2019.

Ida started her own certification program, Mackinaw Dells 2 Whole Horse Trimming around 2009. She has over 170 graduates throughout the U.S and abroad. She teaches classes throughout the U.S. and has recently made the commitment to teaching online, putting in the time to make online certification and trimming education valid, realistic, stringent, and supportive.

Continuing education is a huge part of Ida’s focus, both for herself and her students, so much so that she has started writing books (her second to be printed this winter) and forming the Hoof Nerds Unite Community space and membership on her learning platform. Ida also remains a member and mentor for the PHCP (Progressive Hoof Care Practitioners), while maintaining a client base of around 30 horses a week, and mentoring many up-and-coming trimmers.

Ida's 2024 Presentations

Introduction
I see and teach the hoof-curious all around the country, and the most heartfelt complaint I hear is that students don't know how to stand up for their horses' needs. They do not feel confident in their vocabulary, in their confidence to be their horse's advocate, to feel empowered to insist their horse gets the treatment they feel is needed. I am using this platform to hopefully answer this need. The videos are meant to be watched sequentially.

Knowledge is Power and Power Starts Here

Understanding Builds Enough Confidence to Question the Norm

Empowerment Gives You the Freedom to be Your Horse's Voice

Where You Can Find Ida Hammer