Hi, I'm Erin Talamasca, owner and creator of Hoof It animated horses and ponies.

I joined Second Life in September 2005, on the advice of my partner who was trying to convince me it was fun. "You can do ANYTHING!" he promised - and so I commandeered his computer and spent the next week trying to build a cow to prove it.

I still have that cow. It's about 20ft tall, and I wore it proudly on my head for days. But SL had me hooked.

I've been riding horses since I was four, and messing with computers for just about as long, so it was natural to me that since I'd moved into this fantastic virtual world, I would want to fill it with horses! For every success there must have been a hundred laughable failures, but finally in November 2006 I decided that I could either keep 'improving' my horses forever, or get on with it and see if anyone else wanted any - and Hoof It! was born!

Hoof It! intends to provide the most beautiful, realistic horses and ponies in Second Life, and we hope you'll agree. As well as rideable horses, you'll find a great range of accessories - all our products can be seen on the product pages of this site, and also at the barn in Nectaris. And Hoof It! models aren't just for adults - our pony range is designed specifically to fit child avatars.

You can read more information about the horses on the product pages. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please feel free to contact me - details on the contact page!

Erin Talamasca

One November, not so very long ago, Hoof It horses threw open its barn doors on a quiet little hill in a sim called Riiki and waited to see what would happen. Now, two years on, the doors are opening onto a new sim. We hope you'll come and visit us at the beautiful Nectaris isle and welcome the horses to their new home, and perhaps take a little time to see the sights.

riding

Bring your horse and explore acres of rolling hills and woodland, or rent a pony for the day from the trekking centre by the main store. Nectaris is perfect riding country - and what better way to see it than the cross country course? Winding the breadth of the island the course will take you through the woods, down to the marsh, up into the mountains and down across the beach, while you negotiate a series of challenging natural obstacles. Try to beat your own time in practice mode, or enter competition mode to compete against other riders and see your name on the scoreboard.

livery

If you're looking for somewhere to keep your horse, or you're of the hooved persuasion yourself and looking for somewhere to hang your bridle, you need look no further than the Hoof It Livery Yard. Twelve beautiful old redbrick stables nestle beneath the clocktower and look out onto the courtyard and the old horsechestnut tree. School and train in the large sand riding arena, or try your hand at the showjumps in the paddock. Between the two, the common room is the perfect place to throw off your boots and enjoy a chat and a coffee in the warm lamplight, share pictures or leave notes for your friends, or enjoy a game of darts.

art

To the East stands Nectaris Art, a gallery of contemporary real life artworks in both traditional and modern media. Enjoy a glass of wine and take a walk through the three levels, or stroll out into the garden to watch the endless ocean. A short walk from the gallery will take you to the magical Moon Pavillion, the perfect spot for a romantic rendezvous or quite contemplation while you watch the moon rise above the water.

shopping

Nestled in the lee of a hill between the old oak forest and the sandy beach, the Hoof It barn has had a lick of paint and an expansion. Now you'll find four stables in which you can meet the most recent additions to our herd, and there's plenty more space to enjoy looking through our stock of riding clothes, tools and accessories. In the avatar shed you'll find all sorts of equestrian avatars, from donkeys to centaurs, and great accessories to go with them. And keep an eye out for our vendors markets, when you'll be able to browse a wide variety of equestrian goods from other SL residents, and perhaps pick yourself up a bargain!