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The Cavallo Team

Changing the world…one horse at a time.

Carole Herder | Cavallo President

Cavallo President Carole Herder

I am Carole Herder, President of Cavallo Horse & Rider Inc. I grew up in Edmonton, Canada. I was educated and started my own business at an early age, but city life wasn’t for me. As soon as able, I moved to the country and got involved with horses. It’s a true privilege to shovel manure! Of course, my non-horsey friends don’t get it.

My study, observation and experience in equine wellness, uncovered that riders experience great difficulty keeping their horses 100% sound 100% of the time. This intrigued me, not only because it is heartbreaking when your horse goes lame, but because horses have been on the planet for a very long time – over 50 million years. They are NOT a design flaw. They should NOT be plagued with problems that humans feel compelled to fix. I believe that caring for horses naturally and keeping them comfortably barefoot is essential to their long-term health and well-being. It is as nature intended.

I’ve accumulated a great deal of knowledge over extensive learning of natural hoof care, the barefoot movement, through industry experts and the development of Cavallo Hoof Boots. I started Cavallo in 1993 and am firm in my belief that Cavallo Hoof Boots are the best alternative to the archaic tradition of nailing metal into horses’ feet. I now speak about this at horse events around the world. I am the author of the #1 International Bestseller ‘There Are No Horseshoes in Heaven’ and the newly released Hoofprints on The Journey. I co-authored the book ‘The Cavallo Barefoot Trim’, I have published articles in various horse publications and have a genuine passion to help educate horse owners. I also designed and developed the Total Comfort System Saddles Pads to address the other “hot spot” for horses ridden under saddle – their sore backs. Cavallo TCS Pads correct saddle fit problems and prevent injuries to both the horse and human back.

My husband, Greg and I run Cavallo from our acreage in Roberts Creek, together with our team of super star employees and accompanied by our horses and dogs.

Greg Giles | Cavallo Chief Executive Officer

Cavallo Hoof Boots CEO, Greg Giles

Cavallo CEO, Greg Giles, moved from Australia to join The Cavallo Team. His history and years of experience in design, production and the business of footwear taught him that exceptionally high quality is imperative to longevity and customer satisfaction. His standards are uncompromising. In 1999, as Managing Director of Old Macs, Greg began his hoof boot education by developing and delivering Old Mac Boots to the equine industry. In 2006 Greg delivered his wealth of sourcing, manufacturing, commerce and marketing prowess to further expand both the Cavallo Products and the Cavallo Brand.

Greg believes that stellar relationships with people in the equine industry are the driving foundation for an impeccable business; thus, ensuring on-time delivery, no backorders, perfect lines of distribution and complete end-user satisfaction with a hoof boot that is suitably built for purpose.

Cavallo Hoof Boots are distributed in 25 countries. Tens of thousands of horses every year are benefiting from the comfort and protection provided their hoofs while being ridden on any terrain at any speed. Greg and Carole are passionate about their work and their lives. They have surrounded themselves with a powerful team of like-minded avid experts. The Cavallo Team is dedicated to developing and delivering innovative products of excellent quality that provide comfort, protection, safety, security and support for both horse and rider.

Patricia | Chief Financial Officer

Patricia Quinn Cavallo

Patricia grew up in Quebec, Canada and began riding at a young age. After moving to British Columbia she had 4 beautiful children who are now just as horse-crazy as she is. She now lives in Gibsons, BC with her children and 2 horses and works as Cavallo’s Chief Financial Officer. Patricia’s compassion and love of animals make her a perfect fit and a valuable member of the Cavallo Team.

Krystle Davies | Customer Experience Manager

Krystle Davies, Cavallo Hoof Boots Customer Service

Krystle’s love for horses started at a very young age and she began riding seriously at 10 years old. She joined the Cavallo team in 2009 as a customer service representative and has been with Cavallo ever since. Since then she has completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, married her wonderful partner Aaron, and has started her own hobby farm in beautiful Roberts Creek, B.C. She passionately shares Cavallo’s mission to develop and distribute innovative products of excellent quality that provide comfort, protection, support and value for money for both horse and rider.

Jennifer Mundell | Relations Coordinator

Jennifer Mundell, Relations Coordinator, Cavallo Hoof Boots

Jenny began working with Cavallo in 2015, left for a short time to pursue other interests but felt called back and resumed her position in 2017. Jenny handles social media, marketing and growing partnerships between Cavallo and other equine industry organizations. She spends a lot of time outdoors with her dogs, on the beach or in the beautiful BC forest. She grew up with horses but has not had her own horse as an adult, so her job at Cavallo works to fill that gap!

Jenny’s job at Cavallo is tied to her passion for helping animals. Everyone at Cavallo is bonded by a deep love for animals (specifically horses), and a drive to do whatever is in their power to help horses thrive and be understood – free of pain and discomfort.

Yvonne Welz | Customer Experience Expert

Yvonne welz, Horse's Hoof Magazine Cavallo Hoof Boots

Yvonne is a lifelong horsewoman with over 30 years of equine management and training experience. Formerly a competitive dressage rider, she schooled many horses up to an advanced level and achieved national awards with them. Always focused on learning, she studied the art of classical horsemanship for over 25 years. Professionally, she was an Advertising Art Director, until fate intervened when her beloved champion dressage mare foundered in the summer of 1999. The journey to save that mare altered the course of her life, and from then on, Yvonne was completely devoted to the barefoot horse movement.

Through founding The Horse’s Hoof Magazine and website in 2000, Yvonne was instrumental in helping to introduce the methods of natural barefoot horse care to the USA. That publication, which celebrates its 20th-anniversary issue this year, is devoted to barefoot hoof trimming, natural horse care, bitless riding, and ethical horse care topics (available as a collection of online back issues.)

Yvonne’s number one passion in life is helping horse owners and their horses stay healthy and happy – so joining the Cavallo Team was simply a “natural” for her! For years now, she has used Cavallo Hoof Boots on her own horses every single day, and can testify about the superior comfort and protection they provide on hard, rocky Arizona desert ground.

Yvonne lives in Queen Creek, Arizona with her husband, James (a barefoot hoof care professional since 2000), and their herd of 4 bay mares. She created a small riding school and enjoys giving lessons on her beautiful barefoot, Cavallo-booted, bitless school horses – teaching the next generation of horse people all about healthy horse care!

Tina | Customer Experience Expert

Tina, Cavallo Hoof Boots Customer Service

The Sunshine Coast in beautiful BC has been Tina’s home for the past twenty plus years. She was attracted to the rugged beauty of the pacific west coast and enjoys meaningful relationships with nature, animal life and people. On sunny days you’ll find her on a beach walk or at home in her garden. Awesome customer service, happy horses and grateful humans light up Tina’s days at Cavallo.

Brigitta Luettgue | Customer Experience Expert

Brigitta, Cavallo Hoof Boots Customer Service

Brigitta has always loved horses, and ALL animals, for that matter. And our customers tell us it shows!

She has gone through many recent life changes that led her to her niche here, at Cavallo. Brigitta and her life partner, Andrew, recently sold their iconic Sunshine Coast restaurant after ten years of creating incredible food. They also just purchased an acreage (for her two gorgeous horses) very near the Cavallo offices. Word got out that Brigitta was nearby and had some time on her hands, so Carole quickly reached out to invite her to become part of the Cavallo Customer Service Team.

Brigitta brings along 28 years of experience in dealing with every horsey matter known to man, after owning the SweetWater Ranch, a horse-riding business in Whistler, BC. She is happy to support products because she truly believes in Cavallo Boots and the comfort they offer her horses.

Christine Mutch | Customer Experience Expert

Christine Mutch, Cavallo Hoof Boots Customer Service

Christine’s love of horses started as a child. She attended Pony Club at 12 years old and got her first horse at 14. She has owned horses ever since and has had experience with all kinds of riding over the years from showing, trails and the hunt field. She attended Humber College’s Equine Studies Program right out of high school. When she moved to the Sunshine Coast of BC in the mid-1990s she met Carole Herder and got hooked right away on the barefoot horse (and of course the hoof boots)! She loves the more natural way of dealing with horses and how it’s about how the horse is feeling, both physically and emotionally. Recently, she has started to work more with Liberty and going Bitless. Horses never stop amazing her and what they can teach us all if we truly listen. She presently lives on a small ranch in the BC Cariboo with her husband, 3 horses, 60 chickens and a dog and cat

Heidi Melocco | Public Relations & Press

Heidi Melocco, Cavallo Hoof Boots Press Coordinator

Heidi helps Cavallo spread the word about new products and equine wellness. She works in the horse magazine and equine publishing world—and has for over 20 years. Heidi authored Western Horseman’s Understanding Lameness, Western Horseman’s Legends 6 and 9, and Goodnight’s Guide to Great Horsemanship. She writes for several nationally-circulated horse magazines and holds first-prize awards from American Horse Publications for her writing and photography.

Heidi started riding Ponies of the Americas at age five at Smiley R Ranch in Hilliard, Ohio. In college, she was president and later assistant coach of the Ohio Wesleyan University Equestrian Team. Now, she’s a registered instructor with PATH International.

Melocco resides on her small-acreage horse property with her husband, Jared, daughter, Savannah, registered AQHA gelding named “Charlie,” a pony named “Romeo,” dogs “Lucy” and “Rosie,” four friendly hens, and three orange barn kitties.