Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Carroll.
Erika, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
In 2016, I needed a change and decided to take a risk and quit my job in commercial real estate. I moved home to Yorba Linda, CA to regroup and ended up taking the summer to focus on my health and my family. Not only was I helping to care for our family’s aging dogs in the last months of their lives, but I was also helping care for my grandmother who had fallen very ill and was suffering from Parkinson’s disease and Advanced Parkinson’s Dementia.
Last fall, I decided to challenge myself to take on two things I had always wanted to do; at 26 years old I signed myself up for voice lessons and horseback riding lessons. Immediately, I knew I had found a home in the horse community. It felt like this was where I was supposed to be and I decided to see where it would take me and to be open to any and all opportunities. At the end of November, I met a 16-year-old American Paint Horse named Blue who was available for a full-lease. Three and a half months later, Blue became mine. If someone had told me a year prior that I would be the owner of a horse, I would have laughed and said, “yeah, in my dreams!”. Like every little animal-crazed girl, I had begged my parents for a horse. I was making my dreams come true.
Animals are not only a passion of mine, but they have always played a large role in my life. At the age of 12, I became a vegetarian, and have been vegan for the past 5 years. I have always had more than a sensitive spot for animals but was never sure how to turn this into a career for myself. My sensitive nature couldn’t handle the everyday loss that veterinarians and veterinary technicians deal with on a daily basis, so veterinary school was not on the table for me. I gave myself grace with taking the time to discover how my passion and skills could best be translated into a job.
I spend every day at the stables with Blue, and every spare minute learning more about horses and their care. One day I came across the field of equine sports massage. This immediately peaked my interest, as I had often done therapeutic massage for the old English sheepdogs that I had grown up with and cared for into their old age. I saw how that helped calm them, and knew that I had an instinct with animals that would help me in this line of work. After some research, I knew I had found the perfect career for me. I also had a background in social media marketing, having served on the board of directors for a local animal and environmental awareness non-profit as their Social Media Marketing Manager. I signed up for a certification course through Equissage International, Inc. and got right to work!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
While I am still in the beginning stages of starting a business, I would say that so far, the biggest struggle is the slow start of growing your own small business. Each day I remind myself to be patient and that in time, if I am persistent, Hoof N Paw will grow to what I envision. My only goal is to be able to help as many animals feel their best as possible.
Hoof N Paw Therapeutic Sports Massage – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Hoof N Paw is an equine and canine massage business. I would say that in this early stage of my business the focus thus far has been on equine sports massage and essential oil treatments. Horses are athletes, no matter their age, they benefit from massage for a variety of reasons whether the goal is to prevent injury, treat an injury, increase circulation and performance, in addition to a list of many other benefits. Sports massage is a systematic process focusing on all of the muscle groups and pressure points in a specific approach. I provide massage and oil treatments for horses to prepare them for shows, chiropractic adjustments, dental appointments, to treat pain and injury, and as a way to maintain a horse’s overall health and prevent injury.
For canines, I offer therapeutic massage and essential oil treatments. Therapeutic massage differs from sports massage in that it is less rigorous. Therapeutic massage benefits dogs that have behavioral issues such as anxiety, as well as for dogs recovering from an injury, working dogs, and especially elderly canines with mobility issues and arthritis.
What makes me the proudest about what I do, is that I get to help animals feel their best and this is extremely rewarding. Additionally, when I created my business I decided to set aside one day each month to donate my services to a horse in need, whether it is a rescue horse, or a retired pasture horse; I call this “Hoof N Paw gives back”.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is a broad term that has a different meaning to everyone. The vision of “success” that I had when I set out on my personal journey was to discover a way I could make a living, that would also align with my passions and my beliefs. Growing up, my dad always told me that if you did something you loved doing for a living, you would never feel like you were working. Every time I do a massage on a horse, I pinch myself as I am leaving. The feedback that I have received from owners and other animal healthcare professionals have been outstanding.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hoofnpawesmt.wixsite.com/info
- Phone: (714) 381-8805
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @hoofnpaw.esmt
- Facebook: @HoofNPaw.ESMT
- Other: alt insta @erikapaigec
Image Credit:
Anthony Bonafede
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