We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Karrie Cable a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Karrie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

EquiKare’s expansion from a mobile equine bodywork practice to an in-patient rehabilitation and transitional care facility wasn’t something that happened overnight. It grew from years of working directly with horses and their owners and seeing a gap in the continuum of care.

As a mobile equine bodywork practitioner, I spend my days traveling to barns and working with horses recovering from injuries, surgeries, performance issues, and age-related challenges. Again and again, I found myself asking the same question: “What happens between the veterinary hospital and home?” Many horses were being discharged from excellent veterinary care, but their owners often faced significant challenges managing the next phase of recovery. Not every owner has access to the facilities, time, experience, or support system needed to safely navigate stall rest, controlled exercise programs, wound management, medication schedules, and gradual return-to-work plans.

The idea for EquiKare’s rehabilitation and transitional care program was born from those observations. I realized there was a need for a bridge between acute veterinary care and a horse’s return to normal life—a place where horses could continue healing under professional supervision while owners had peace of mind knowing their horse’s recovery plan was being followed.

Turning that idea into reality required equal parts vision, education, and determination. I continued expanding my knowledge through advanced study in equine health and behavior while pursuing additional certifications in rehabilitation-related modalities and therapies. At the same time, I spent countless hours researching rehabilitation programs, consulting with veterinarians, and developing a business model that focused on collaboration rather than competition. From the beginning, my goal was to create a service that worked alongside veterinarians, trainers, farriers, and horse owners to provide comprehensive care for the horse.

The transition from a strictly mobile practice to that, and a dedicated facility was both exciting and challenging. I have gone from treating individual horses during scheduled appointments to creating an environment where horses could receive round-the-clock care tailored to their specific needs. Today, with this expansion, EquiKare provides in-patient rehabilitation, post-surgical recovery support, transitional care following hospital discharge, nutritional rehabilitation, injury recovery programs, and respite care for owners who need temporary assistance.

What makes me most proud is that EquiKare was built from real-world experience and a genuine desire to serve horses better. Every aspect of the program reflects challenges I witnessed firsthand while working in the field. What started as a crazy idea between client visits has evolved into a facility dedicated to helping horses recover, heal, and successfully transition back to the lives their owners envision for them.

The journey from idea to reality has reinforced something I have always believed: when you listen carefully to the needs of horses and the people who care for them, opportunities to make a meaningful difference naturally follow.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’ve always believed that the best careers happen when passion and purpose intersect. Horses have been a part of my life for more than two decades, but my professional background actually began in business management, accounting, leadership, and organizational development. For over 30 years, I’ve worked in business operations and management, building systems, solving problems, and helping organizations grow. Eventually, I realized I wanted to combine those skills with my lifelong passion for horses and make a direct impact on their well-being.

That journey led me to earn a Bachelor of Science in Equine Science and pursue graduate studies in Equine Health and Behavior. Along the way, I became certified in equine massage and bodywork, kinesiology taping, and several rehabilitation-focused modalities. What started as a mobile equine bodywork practice quickly grew into something much larger as I began working with horses recovering from injuries, surgeries, performance challenges, and age-related conditions.

The more horses I worked with, the more I recognized a significant gap in equine care. Veterinary hospitals do an incredible job providing acute medical treatment, but many horse owners need additional support once their horse is discharged. That’s where EquiKare was born. Today, we provide in-patient rehabilitation, transitional care, post-surgical recovery support, nutritional rehabilitation, wound care, and respite services. Our goal is to bridge the gap between veterinary treatment and a horse’s successful return to work, competition, retirement, or simply enjoying life comfortably.

What sets EquiKare apart is our whole-horse approach. We don’t focus solely on an injury or diagnosis—we look at the horse as an individual. Recovery is influenced by movement, nutrition, behavior, environment, emotional well-being, and the collaboration of the entire care team. We work closely with veterinarians, farriers, trainers, owners, and other professionals to ensure every horse receives comprehensive, individualized care.

I’m particularly proud that EquiKare has become a place where horses can continue healing safely while owners have peace of mind. Since launching our rehabilitation program, we’ve helped horses recover from orthopedic injuries, surgeries, nutritional challenges, and other complex conditions, with many successfully returning to their homes and intended careers. Seeing a horse leave stronger, healthier, and more confident than when they arrived is incredibly rewarding.

If there’s one thing I want people to know about me and my work, it’s that I genuinely care about every horse entrusted to us. EquiKare was built on the belief that recovery is about more than simply waiting for time to pass—it’s about providing thoughtful, evidence-based care that supports the horse physically and mentally throughout the healing process. Every horse has a story, and I feel privileged to play a small role in helping them write their next chapter.

Have you ever had to pivot?

One of the biggest pivots in my life was stepping away from a career I had spent more than 30 years building. For decades, I worked in accounting, business management, leadership, and organizational development. My days were spent in meetings, analyzing financial reports, managing budgets, developing strategies, and sitting behind a desk. It was a career I was good at and one that provided stability and professional success.

But throughout those years, horses were always a constant in my life. No matter how busy my professional career became, I found myself drawn back to the barn. Horses were where I felt most grounded, most fulfilled, and most connected to something meaningful.

The pivot didn’t happen overnight. It began with a growing realization that while I enjoyed the business side of my work, my passion was increasingly pulling me toward the equine industry. I decided to invest in that passion by earning a degree in Equine Science, pursuing graduate studies in Equine Health and Behavior, and obtaining certifications in equine bodywork and rehabilitation-focused therapies. What started as a side business eventually became something much bigger.

Today, my workday looks nothing like it did a decade ago. Instead of sitting in front of spreadsheets, I’m often in a barn for 12 or more hours a day. My days are filled with mucking stalls, filling hay nets, assessing horses, changing bandages, monitoring recovery plans, hand-walking rehabilitation patients, coordinating with veterinarians, and getting covered in far more dirt than I ever did in an office. It’s physically demanding work, and there are days when I’m exhausted by the time I get home.

But it’s also some of the most rewarding work I’ve ever done.

One of the biggest surprises has been realizing that I didn’t actually leave my previous career behind—I brought it with me. The business, leadership, and organizational skills I developed over three decades have been instrumental in building EquiKare. Running a successful rehabilitation facility requires financial management, strategic planning, problem-solving, relationship building, and operational oversight. The difference is that now those skills support something I’m deeply passionate about.

If there’s a lesson in my story, it’s that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself. Many people assume that once you’ve spent decades in a particular profession, you’re locked into that path forever. My experience has taught me otherwise. Sometimes the skills you’ve developed in one chapter of life become the foundation for something entirely new.

Today, I may spend less time behind a desk and more time pushing wheelbarrows, wrapping legs, and caring for horses, but I’ve never felt more aligned with the work I was meant to do. The transition was scary, challenging, and occasionally messy, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

One of the things I’m most grateful for is the incredible support we’ve received from the equine community. Our strongest source of new clients has been referrals from local veterinarians who recognize the value of having a trusted rehabilitation and transitional care partner available for their patients. We work hard to maintain collaborative relationships with veterinary practices, and that trust has been instrumental in helping EquiKare grow.

We’ve also been fortunate to have deep connections within the racing industry. Through my work with racehorse aftercare and rehabilitation programs, I’ve developed relationships with owners, trainers, and industry professionals who understand the importance of proper recovery and ongoing care for equine athletes. Those relationships have helped introduce many people to the services we provide.

Beyond professional referrals, our next biggest source of clients is simply word of mouth. In the horse world, reputation matters. Horse owners are incredibly passionate about their animals, and they tend to share both positive and negative experiences. When someone entrusts us with their horse during a vulnerable time—whether that’s after surgery, during injury recovery, or when they need temporary support—and sees positive results, they’re often eager to tell others.

To me, word-of-mouth referrals are one of the highest compliments we can receive. They tell me that we’re not only helping horses recover, but that we’re building trust with the people who love and care for them. At the end of the day, that’s what matters most. Every horse that comes through our doors is someone’s partner, athlete, family member, or dream horse, and we never lose sight of that responsibility.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.equikarellc.com
• Instagram: nstagram.com/equikare/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EquiKare
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karrie-cable-bs-cemt-30a15b212/

Image Credits

I own these photos