The formula for Fiske’s was developed by a rural veterinarian from Paradise, Nova Scotia in the late 1890’s. Before his death, Dr. Simms’s gave the formula to Leon Fiske who became the guardian of the recipe from the 1960s.

Melanie's father often boasted of having four passions, which he commonly made reference to as his own 4-H, “Horses, Hunting, Hockey and Hounds”. The greatest of all was horses and to his good fortune his passion became a big part of his livelihood. He was a livestock dealer, and over a sixty year career he owned thousands of horses of all breeds, as well as herds of other livestock, such as cattle, sheep, ponies and hounds.

He was somewhat of a legend in his own time, travelling far and wide meeting people, competing in horse and livestock events from Nova Scotia to the Royal Winter fair in Toronto. When he wasn’t participating in these events, he was judging them. Whatever the reason, if there was a horse show then he was there. In 1992, unfortunately due to health complications that were caused from being involved in a nearly fatal horse crash while competing in a livestock event, he was forced to give up his long-standing career as a horse person extraordinaire.

Nevertheless, Leon found it impossible to retire completely from the horse world of show and business, so he revamped his connection to his beloved community. He began making what many knew as “Fiske’s Hoof Lotion” and went to shows to sell the product that he had so successfully used to remedy his own stock for over six decades.

The lotions primary purpose was to help maintain a healthy stock, by soothing and comforting almost all forms of common problems, such as sore, inflamed, irritated, broken, and minorly wounded skin (hide) and hoof types. Today, we also know that it can be used effectively as a natural insect repellent, and as a rub to soothe and comfort areas of muscular soreness and swelling.

When Leon’s new venture began he had an instant market for his product. Through word of mouth people became aware of what he had to sell. They knew him…trusted him… and wanted what he had. Without trying his product sold into the United States, and as far west as Ontario. Indeed, Leon held and developed a very exclusive clientele list, which included some of the wealthiest horse owners in the world. The only complaints ever heard about this product, was “that it wasn’t always available” and it is not known whether this was simply one of Melanie’s father’s sales strategies to ‘keep the supply low and the demand high’.