Michelle has been working with horses since 1999 when she started as a groom with the thoroughbreds at Woodbine Racetrack. She apprenticed as a farrier in 2006 and started Mountain Oak Farrier Services with a partner in 2010 and currently works as an official at Mohawk Racetrack.

The career with horses brought her to adopt a couple of off-track Thoroughbreds and several senior ponies and donkeys. She began researching equine aftercare options after a few of her cherished companions passed away and found water cremation. This option really interested Michelle because of the extremely low ecological impact and how it mimics nature’s process.

Pictured: Michelle with Royal Dalliance aka “Freshie”

Juliana has been working with animals for over two decades, starting in a pet store raising exotic birds which is where she met Michelle in 2009. The two bonded over their love of animals and started going to races to see their favourite horses running at Woodbine.

She is passionate about animal rescue and has fostered hundreds of kittens, puppies, cats and dogs over the past few years. Juliana shares her home with her wonderful partner Graeme and her daughter Gabrielle, plus her pet family; Gordo the cat, Stitch and Lily the dogs, and a small flock of budgies. In her spare time she loves introducing her daughter to the horse world with lead line rides on their part-boarded pony.