Graeme Parker never expected to become a global sensation. He is now known as the Hoof GP from his beautiful corner of south-west Scotland. Parker’s hoof trimming videos are now viewed by more than 100 million people a month. He is famous enough that he gets recognised by strangers on the street when visiting the United States.
Originally growing up on the family farm in Wigtownshire, Parker went into hospitality and moved around Scotland after his father’s death. Eventually, his mother’s new husband, who was a hoof trimmer, became ill and Parker saw an opportunity to take up the job. He started freeze branding cows and absolutely loved it. As his customers admired his attention to detail, they suggested he become a hoof trimmer. Initially reluctant, Parker started filming himself at work to share with the local agricultural community.
At the beginning, the idea was to show farmers what his job entailed, but to his surprise, the questions came from people outside the industry. After one month, the channel had about 1,000 subscribers, but Parker’s videos have since grown into a business that employs five people and has a worldwide reach. Parker, however, does not want viewers to solely rely on his content from social media. He is currently writing a book and also uses his work to promote the south-west of Scotland.
As a hoof trimmer, Parker is aware of the multi-faceted impact he has on an animal’s life and a farmer’s income. He cares about the health and comfort of animals and wants them to be as comfortable as possible. This, in turn, improves the cow’s quality of life, and this can help increase the farmer’s bottom line. Parker’s success is a real testament to the power of social media and also the appeal of a humble business
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