Our Team
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Louis Hall | Founder
Louis is a writer, rider and explorer from Scotland. In 2020 he founded The Big Hoof, a charity that promotes adventure and wellbeing though long distance rides. Aged eighteen, he first discovered the power of the horse while in search of a tribe in northern Mongolia. Since then he has gone on to ride down the length of the UK and across Europe in aid of charitable causes. In 2022 Louis created the first conclusive horse trail across the Ligurian Alps, on his way from Siena, Italy to Cape Finisterre, Spain. He now has his eyes set on America and the Silk Road.louis@thebighoof.com
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Kiki Ho | Director of Programmes
Kiki joined The Big Hoof for the first time in 2022: Louis and Kiki rode over two thousand kilometres across Europe, together with their thoroughbred Arabs, Istia and Sasha, as their companions. Before joining the Big Hoof, Kiki worked as an assistant equine therapist and competed predominantly as a dressage rider. Outside of The Big Hoof, Kiki is a mental health activist and works as an independent documentary filmmaker.kiki@thebighoof.com
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Francesca Goodwin | FareWays Co-Organiser
Francesca is a long distance runner, teacher and podcast maker. She first encountered The Big Hoof when she interviewed Louis for the podcast Running on Joy, where she talks to individuals committed to ‘putting one foot in front of the other’ for the benefit of the planet and their own mental and physical health. Now, she is a fundamental part of the Big Hoof team in realising the FareWays project.
‘I hope to share the joy of creative, mindful connection to the outdoors with those on the FareWays journey.‘
francesca@theighoof.com
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Mariella Hall | Management Assistance
Mariella is an artist and has been an indispensable part of the Big Hoof family from the start. Together with Raphaella Parker, she drove alongside Louis and Kiki during the Europe ride, securing sleeping arrangements, horse feed and managing PR. She nows provides operational as well as organisational assistance on all fronts.“It doesn't matter if you go for 1 day or 100,
you only need one to feel what The Big Hoof is about. “maz@thebighoof.com
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Jake Scott-Masson | Events & Operational Assistance
Jake joined the Big Hoof in 2023. With a natural talent for events organisation and hospitality, Jake is in charge of Big Hoof events such as Burns Night, The Big Hoof Jam, talks and lectures.
“If I was to describe The Big Hoof in one word, adventure is an obvious one, but I feel like ‘positivity’ relates to me the most.”jake@thebighoof.com
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Raphaella Parker | Operational Assistance
Raphaella, ‘Raffi’, Parker accompanied The Big Hoof on the ride across Europe. After quitting her job as a runner on filmsets, she went to Italy by herself for some self exploration. There, she worked out that she could join her good friend Mariella and Louis on their journey. Raffi and Maz drove alongside Louis and Kiki, securing sleeping arrangements, horse feed and PR.“It was hard work, especially difficult with language barriers, but it was the most rewarding venture I have ever done in my life so far.”
raffi@thebighoof.com
Work with us.
Would you like to join the Big Hoof Family?
Contact us for vacancies, volunteering opportunities or internships.
info@thebighoof.com
+44 7837903340
Raffi Parker
“ I am a 24 year-old chef and a film maker. I studied film studies at Falmouth Art School where I met Mariella, Louis sister. The two of us spent three years together in this wonderful seaside town, which we very much did not want to leave. As a Londoner, I found that Falmouth was an escape from the noise and pressure that comes with living in the city. Returning home after such an idyllic few years was unsurprisingly very difficult. London felt big and swarming in contrast to the single high street in which all your friends lived within a 5 minute equidistance from each other. I hustled my way into working on film sets as a runner, hopping from different productions, which lasted me about 6 months. I felt exhausted and drained, the carefreeness and simplicity that played a crucial part in my well-being, felt like it had been pushed out of me. The adrenaline and the excitement of being apart of the film world also started to feel mundane and irrelevant. By this time I had already met Louis and was helping him out with some PR work for his projects and had known of his plans for the expedition. I had made a decision to stop working and go to Italy by myself for some self exploration and then worked out that I could join Mariella and Louis on their journey.
I learnt things about myself that will have forever changed my perspective on life and the world around me. It is hard to describe enormity of The Big Hoof in one word, but if I was to describe for my individual experience, my word is; unity. Because I have never felt friendship like I had then and the beautiful complexities that come with it; we were, and still are, a unit. ”
Jake Scott-Masson
“ Since leaving school I have worked predominantly in hospitality and spirits. Luckily for me, I blindly entered an industry in which I now adore. Drinks, music, food and hospitality are the things I love and I quite literally live and breathe them all (as much as I can anyway). Over the first lockdown I became in awe of The Big Hoof and have been following it ever since. A part of me always wanted to get involved and after a personally turbulent year, I felt a real urge to to reach out to Louis and the team.
If I was to describe The Big Hoof in one word, adventure is an obvious one, but I feel like ‘positivity’ relates to me the most. I’m terribly excited to see what it all brings and can’t wait for an adventure.”
Kiki Ho
