COLD LAKE - Pink Hoof Creations by Alexia is a custom gift basket business launched by youth entrepreneur Alexia Pilat. Horse-crazy Pilat aims to raise $1,000 to buy her very first horse.
Just in time for the holidays, Pilat is taking orders and working with local businesses as much as possible to create unique gift baskets for her customers. In the works are a few collaborations with other young entrepreneurs to include their wares in the gift baskets.
“Let's say somebody wants a horse themed basket, we’ll ask them questions like what your favourite colour is, who the basket is for, and if you have any dislikes. Then we will go out and find those types of things, find a nice basket to put everything in and wrap it up nicely,” explained Pilat.
Pilat said her horse addiction started at four years old at her sister’s birthday party held at Penner Ranch near Cold Lake. Eight years later she is still riding, saying the Penners are like family to her.
Pilat is part of the Lakeland Long Riders and has developed her education with horses by attending clinics, camps, doing chores in exchange for horse company, and helping out with summer camps for younger children.
“This year is my third year with the Long Riders . . . I like that we get to learn all different kinds of things and I like that you get to learn really good horsemanship,” said Pilat.
She said she’s not quite settled on where she will keep her horse but spoke about the large amount of support she has received from the horse community and her family through the process.
“I have been riding horses for a while now, and I've been riding a lot of other people's horses . . . I’m really into barrel racing right now. The breed that I think would be a good fit for me would be a quarter horse - a Palomino quarter horse, because those are my favourite. If it was a Palomino, I would name it Pickles,” said Pilat.
To raise the money for the startup fee of the business, Pilat used the money she made dog sitting and babysitting.
Pilat hopes to have found a horse of her own by the spring.
To support Pilat’s business, orders can be sent by email to [email protected]
