Shane Togami
Shane Togami has been shoeing my horse Cappuccino, a Holstein/Hanoverian hunter/jumper show horse, pleasure horse, and pet! Cappuccino has some challenging shoeing issues, which Shane has addressed with utter success for the past 12 years! His expert care and attention to detail to Cappuccino's special needs has kept my horse sound and happy. Shane has the most pleasant attitude of anyone I have ever met. His can-do attitude and superior skills make him the "perfect" farrier in my estimation. He deserves special recognition for all that he does for so many of his equine clients!
A horse is only as good as his feet and Shane makes sure that those feet are as good as can be!!
— Nancy Bishop (Malibu, Calif.)
I purchased an 11-month-old running quarter horse back in July 1989. I named him Nickolas. I considered him my “first born” until he passed April 15, 2011. He was anything but an easy keeper, but I knew him well and we grew up together. In the summer of 2005, my husband and I built a pasture for him on our property where he was retired early from his show career as a jumper and became a trail horse. At one point during that time he went very lame. I felt his heels were too low and that it caused him soreness. I tried to find a farrier to give him some relief.
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The first farrier cost me several hundred dollars because he thought he had laminitis and suggested I get x-rays. He didn’t listen to my belief about his heels being too low. Believing a farrier knows best, I spent the money only to learn his x-rays were clean. The second farrier told me my horse was “just old.” I had a very hard time accepting these explanations and grew increasing frustrated.
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I called Shane Togami and told him about Nickolas. Shane drove over 4 hours from San Ynez to Bonsall to look at Nickolas. Shane didn’t take long to tell me he too believed his low heels caused the lameness and that we needed his heels to grow. Shane put on special Scott Morrison shoes with dental impression material and set the shoe back so… within days, Nickolas was sound! It was such a relief! Shane was kind enough to send directions on how to shoe Nickolas to my farrier. My farrier maintained an open mind and shod Nickolas as Shane suggested. Nickolas grew enough heel to where he was able to be sound barefoot till the day he passed.
I cannot thank Shane enough for his kindness to travel so far out of his way to “heal” my horse and care enough to do so. Shane has such a love for horses that it goes beyond just a profession for him. He has a desire, a true love for horses that drives him to...Shane Togami is an incredible farrier. If only he lived closer!!!!
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I used to work for Shane and this is a story I was amazed by. This is the rescue that Shane let his wife adopt. Saved from the slaughter and severely beaten this cute little guy trusted no-one! Couldn't get near him at all. Not even for a halter or carrot, nope nothing! Shane and his wife were able to gain his trust and trim him. What an ordeal this could have been. Everytime he went to pick up the back feet he would seriously kick and the front was a rearing fest!!! Not one time did Shane ever raise his voice, yank the rope, hit or harm this horse. It was astonishing to watch. It took a few trims but now this big guy stands great for his hot shoeing!!! I have told this story to many people and farriers and they all said how they or their farrier would have "shown that horse a thing or two"!!! Nope, NOT Shane. He doesn't work like that. He is the kindles and most skilled farrier I have seen and all his clients agree. I think there are some other photos of his first trim. I will see if I can locate them. Thanks for all you are doing.
— Melanie Weniger
As a human podiatrist, I would say after 30 years I am an expert on feet i have also had horses for thirty years Shane is the best farrier I have ever met or worked with. I have a gypsy mare that is driven on city roads and she has never had a lame moment thanks to Shane. I’ve tried many farriers over the years and they just don’t truely understand gait balance and conformation shane gets it and the horses float through their paces Shane Togami is the best.
— Dr. Patricia Walters, D.P.M.
I asked for Shane's expertise in rehabbing "Chubbs" after his coffin bone surgery. "Chubbs" was a rescue and had been adopted by a great man. He somehow broke off the tip of his coffin bone and needed surgery. Shane agreed to help Dr. Van Snow of Santa Lucia Farms with the rehab and special shoeing needs in order to keep the cost down for the owner. Otherwise "Chubbs" would be euthanized. Dr. Van Snow has since passed but he did the surgery and "Chubbs" was transported to Shane's facility for rehab. This included Shane making a special hospital plate that could be easily removed for cleaning and protection.
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Without Shane's kindness, the owners would not have been able to have the surgery for "Chubbs". Thank you Shane and Dr. Van Snow!
— Marlene Dodge
Valley View Rescue
Having 3 donkeys and one with laminitis had been a headache for for me for years when it came to hoof care. EXPERIMENTING WITH many FARRIERS AND being left with POORLY EXECUTED JOBS OVER AND OVER again, I HAD become desperate IN MY SEARCH FOR SOMEBODY CAPABLE.
Finally we found Shane Togami. Now we are back on track. He has gifted us with a few more years with our beloved gorgeous snow-white Andalusia Jenny. 2 years ago it looked like we had to put her down. We have seen a vast improvement in her condition. And the 2 Jacks, especially one of them, is now letting his hoofs been handled, where before he literally kicked out every Ferrier because of bad treatments (yes they are very smart!) Shane always treats every animal with utmost respect and love, a gentle hand and great knowledge. Thank you Shane! You're the Best!
— Isabel Snyder
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Just like to say a few words about my awesome Farrier Shane Tagomi! He always has a positive attitude towards his clients no matter if they are horse or human. I have witnessed him rehab countless horses, even if that means bringing them home so he can give them his full attention. Not to mention the great work he has done on my paint mare, she is always feeling great after getting her feet done!
Shane Togami always puts the horse first, that is why he is the best at what he does. Thank you!
— Erica Glen
Santa Ynez, Calif.
Shane has been shoeing my Arabian show and pleasure horses for at least 20 years. He is absolutely the very best! He has kept some special horses sound for me including an Arabian jumper who had sidebone, and now my mare who has a screw place through a fractured navicular bone.
Thank you Shane for all of your continuing work with my horses! You are appreciated!
— Jennifer Diamond
The below stories are just a just a few out of the hundreds of horses Shane has helped and continues to help over his career.
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Shane has over 25 years of experience and currently shoes high level performance horse, including Jan Ebling and Mitt Romney's horse, "Ralfalca" Although most of his large barns are jumpers and dressage, he also shoes for some top level cutting and reigning horses trainers. As well as shoeing in the performance industry Shane has a passion for therapeutic work. He assists in 4 different counties with founder and lamanitis cases and all around challenging hoof conditions, requiring extreme skill, expertise and creativity. Although he is busy beyond belief with zero free time, he still takes on new cases when the owners call and explain he is their last hope for their beloved horse. Shane's clients have trust in his ability as well as his horsemanship and it shows as he has been shoeing for his first clients for 20+ years.
I have been around horses my entire 40-plus years and Shane Togami is the first farrier I have met with such tremendous skill and dedication to his horses and clients, coupled with kindness for the animals and a strong but gentle nature. He has been shoeing for about 25 years or so yet is always ready to and continues to further his knowledge and learn as much as he can. He's always willing to share his knowledge with other farriers or owners or whomever is interested. In the years I have worked for him I have heard from veterinarians, clients, trainers and owners that Shane was the one to call to help therapeutic cases and cases that no-one seemed to know how to help. Shane does a tremendous amount of work with founder cases and laminits, and has recently taken ownership of 2 very special horses with founder. One is a metabolic founder but not an IR horse and the other is a mechanical founder. I will briefly tell their stories and send some pics.
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PURSUIT — Sent down from up north, Pursuit was lame and ready to be euthanized. Shane was able to make these magnet shoes, rehab him and re-home him as a sound, happy horse! The pads were made from scratch and were made to help improve circulation. These pads have worked extremely well and certain horses are dead lame without it. "Pursuit" lives happily in northern Calif.
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REMY — A 16-year-old Polish Arabian that foundered a few years ago and Shane was called in to assist in the case. The horse recovered and was doing well. Unfortunately, due to metabolic changes the horse had a few flare up's and severely rotated again. Eventually the owner could not afford care and did not see any hope for Remy and opted to euthanize. Shane had worked on this sweet, sweet horse and just felt he wasn't ready to go so he offered to take him. At that point the majority of vets suggested tenotomy or euthanasia. Shane consulted with a vet out of Texas who shared her opinions of options that would allow the horse to heal without cutting the tendon.
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The vet was touched by Shane's kindness and offered her services at no cost, for as long as it takes to help Remy. Shane paid for Remy to be transported to his facility and Remy is part of the family getting daily care. He had been improving and his RF is almost normal. The LF has some bone loss but the rotation is improving. With the help of the vet, Shane has been able to help Remy without any pharmaceutic medications and Remy is able to walk all day everyday out in pasture with his horse friends.
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The vet has Remy on algae, chia seed, flax seed, pro biopics, milk thistle and dandelion root. The approach of tiny adjustments to the feet without shoes weekly (but he does wear soft rides) and allowing Remy to walk and get circulation was an approach that Shane had not seen before. He researched it, spoke to people that had used this method and watched the incredible difference for himself with Remy and knew that this was the correct approach for this horse.
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Remy is doing amazing and Shane says he will be part of his family forever. He will never part with him and is so happy to see Remy with his kind eye, getting around and happily mingling with all the other horses.
PERSEUS — This is a great big 12-year-old Holsteiner. He was not Shane's client but the owner and vet were scheduled to euthanize this horse and one of Shane's client's told her to wait and please talk with Shane first. She did and Shane went out on an emergency to see if there was something he could do. Poor Persi had much of his hoof wall dremeled away and had mechanically foundered. Apparently Persi had whitelline so severely that a vet cut it out and did not leave much of the hoof wall. Persi was 3 legged lame and NWB on LF. Shane made a reverse shoe of some sort and the horse was able to bear weight and walk off.
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The owner did not know how to help Persi and the vet recommended euthanasia. Persi had no other issues and was in great health. Shane felt that he would like to try to help this amazingly kind animal and offered to take him. (Not that Shane needs any horses!!!) Shane paid for Persi to be transported to his facility and has been working on him with the vet in TX as well and a local vet here to take radiographs.
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They shot films and Persi had barely 2mm of sole depth and the coffin bone was dangerously close to penetration. Shane made a wooden, clog type reverse shoe and cast it on! It was amazing. Persi was actually walking, weight bearing and they were able to trim and shoe the rest of him DRUG FREE! It was just spectacular. Shane has since x-rayed and re shod him and he is improving and doing great. He goes out daily with Remy and they pal around together. The vet in Tx has Persi on probiotics, flax and chia seed, vitamins, hoof supp and algae, which has taken care of the whittling and encourages hoof growth. It's just a matter of time now.
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Here is a little filly that ended up on Shane's front lawn! The hauler was dropping off a rescue horse from the slaughter that Shane and his wife adopted and this little sweet filly was colicing on the trailer and had to stay at Shane's house. She got off the tuck and fell on the lawn.
What luck this little filly has to end up at Shane's house with her poor little hooves and her legs/joints having so much trouble. Shane trimmed her and glued on some little shoes to try to help the sever deformities that were developing from her lack of hoof care. Now she is doing fabulously. She is rideable and a loves getting on the cattle!!!
— Tracey Sullivan
California Equine Podiatry Center
(Solvang, Calif.)
