Meet Carole Herder, RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Innovation Finalist

Entering the equestrian world, Carole Herder immediately observed a troubling issue: horses, despite their evolutionary adaptations, suffered from preventable conditions such as laminitis and lameness. Instead of accepting this reality, she challenged norms and sought innovative solutions.

As the President of Cavallo and a 2025 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards finalist, she has since spearheaded a global movement in natural hoof care, transforming how riders think about equine well-being. From launching the first Cavallo Hoof Boots to partnering with Continental on sensor-driven “Smart Hoof Boots,” Carole has built a legacy of compassion, innovation, and advocacy—all rooted in her determination to protect the animals she loves.

I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur when…

As an eight-year-old child, I swept up hair in my dad’s barber shop and realized he was the one calling the shots. That kind of independence—making your own decisions, steering your own path—felt like true freedom. I wanted that responsibility for myself, knowing even the bad decisions could become my greatest teachers.

Entrepreneurship is made for me because…

I am a creative thinker, constantly reimagining possibilities and seeing opportunities where others see limits. I instinctively challenge the status quo and design solutions that address real needs—often before people even realize they have them. Entrepreneurship is made for me because I am a trailblazer; I naturally step forward to lead change and open new pathways.

The impact I hope to make through my work is…

To transform lives—horses and humans alike—by creating a new paradigm in hoof care. I want to leave behind not just a product line, but an entire movement, a vocation, and a global community committed to horse wellness and compassionate stewardship.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned on my entrepreneurial journey is…

Your people will give you their heart and soul if you are vulnerable enough to share yours with them. Building a thriving business is about more than numbers—it’s about cultivating trust, joy, and the happiness quotient of everyone around you.

My proudest accomplishment is…

Donating more than a thousand pairs of Cavallo Hoof Boots to rescues, charities, and disaster relief efforts worldwide. Knowing that these boots give horses safety, comfort, and a second chance makes me proud beyond measure.

The biggest risk I took that paid off was…

Challenging a 1,500-year-old tradition of nailing iron into horses’ feet. I stood on stage at the American Farriers Convention and spoke about a gentler, healthier alternative. It was bold, controversial, and completely worth it.

My biggest setback has been…

Launching a product called the Transport Air Boot. We were excited about its potential and rushed forward without adequate testing or validation. We invested heavily in moulds for a boot that ultimately didn’t meet our level of expectation for the needs of the horses, or our own high standards.

I overcame it by…

Making the hard call to drop the product quickly. We sold out at cost to minimize loss, but the real gain was the lesson: due diligence, research, and rigorous testing are non-negotiable. That setback made us stronger, smarter, and better.

The best advice I’ve received as an entrepreneur was…

“Don’t talk to me about turnover, revenue, or total sales. It’s not the top line, but what’s in your pocket at the end of the day.” – Jack Cowin, founder and chairman of Competitive Foods Australia and chairman of Domino’s Pizza globally.

I surprise people when I tell them…

I was the first barefoot competitor on the circuit in British Columbia in a rodeo sport called Barrel Racing—the only discipline in rodeo historically reserved for women.

If I had an extra hour in the day, I would use it to…

Clean up my computer, especially my inbox. (I’d probably feel like I won the lottery with that extra hour!)

If you Googled me, you still wouldn’t know…

I collect authentic, hand-crafted German nutcrackers and proudly display them every Christmas along my window ledges. My last count was 78.

The future excites me because…

Cavallo is once again breaking new ground—this time with the world’s first hoof boot that functions as a diagnostic tool, delivering real-time information on the health and wellness of a horse’s hoof and their way of going. The possibilities for horse welfare are limitless, and I’m thrilled to be at the forefront.

Connect with Carole Herder on LinkedIn.