By Iris Rosendahl
The catwalk used to be her ride. Today the heart of the former “Miss Germany” Katrin Wrobel (44) beats faster with hooves!
It’s been exactly 20 years since the former “Miss Berlin” was named “Miss Germany”. Since then she has also worked as a presenter and actress (“In aller Freundlich”). But now Katrin Wrobel has another mainstay: she works as a hoof carer!
In an interview with the BZ, the beautiful Berliner talks about her passion for horses and hooves and why the job as a hoof trimmer can also be dangerous.
In 2002 Katrin Wrobel wore the “Miss Germany” sash, today she prefers a blacksmith’s apron Photo: dpa
It all started when she bought a 100-year-old villa in Mahlsdorf 13 years ago with her husband, Klaus Fricke (69, management consultant), and their daughter, Louisa (13). Since then, more than a dozen hens and roosters have felt comfortable on their property. Wrobel also has to take care of her three horses. And she does it very professionally!
Katrin Wrobel: “I finished my training in January and have been working as a registered and self-employed hoof carer ever since. I have a small, select customer base. It’s a lot of fun for me because it’s a nice change from modeling and moderating.”
What exactly does your new job look like?
“As a hoof carer, I make sure that the hooves can grow appropriately for the horse. When hooves are crooked, I help them grow back to their natural shape.”
With the right hoof care, diseases such as laminitis or hoof cartilage ossification can be remedied or prevented, explains the specialist. The horse fan is passionate about it: “Hoofs are super exciting, they tell a lot about the horse.”
Wrobel reaches its customers through word of mouth. Once the appointment is booked, the beautiful brunette drives to the horse with her care case. Wrobel: “My equipment consists of knives, various gauze bandages and pastes, so that you can fill something out if necessary. I also have scissors, medication and solutions with me.” You can use them to rinse or disinfect wounds.
However, her dream job is not always safe either: “I have already received so many kicks from horses. That’s not funny. I recently trimmed a horse that was traumatized by a rough hoof trim. I first had to do the construction work.” And further: “The trigger was that the blacksmith had worked on the horse’s hooves with a Flex grinding machine from the hardware store. So it didn’t want to let anyone touch its hoof anymore, it kicked out so fast I couldn’t even look that fast. Zack, did I have a sit! It hurt so bad because it kicked my shin and my foot.”
Katrin Wrobel’s “hoof care case” consists of knives, scissors, gauze bandages, pastes and medication Photo: private
Thankfully, Wrobel wasn’t seriously hurt. “I’m wearing protective gear. After a horse weighing 780 kilos stood right on my foot and didn’t want to move away, I wear protective shoes.”
They have a steel cap inside, which protects the toes, and a steel instep guard on top: “If a horse steps on my foot now, I don’t notice anything anymore. I also wear a blacksmith’s apron and cut protection gloves up to the elbows.”
Wrobel doesn’t want to have to choose one of her many professions: “A lot of people say that you have to concentrate on one profession. But I only live once on this planet. When I later leave this world, turn around and then say: Oh crap, I should have tried it! Then it will be too late. If things ignite a fire in me, why not now?”
