Shane Togami (Solvang, Calif.)
Shane Togami saved my horse from developing founder and possibly losing his life.
My horse Pino, a Selle Francais gelding who was 18-years-old at the time, had been laid up since June 2015 from an avulsion fracture in his front left leg. He had also developed a serious case of white line disease in the same foot, and was being treated by a veterinarian, who had resected the area on the hoof, leaving support at the base of his foot for stability. My previous farrier had been kept informed of the situation, but when Pino was due for shoes in August of 2015, something went awry and the base of the hoof that was supporting it was cut away. The farrier was at a loss and left my horse in that state; he got severely lame very quickly and was soon barely able to walk or stand.
Shane was recommended to me by West Coast Equine Hospital and Dr. Kent Sullivan, who came out to treat Pino after the botched trim job. Dr. Sullivan stressed the need for therapeutic shoeing as soon as possible; we were keeping him wrapped and in an Easy Boot until we could get someone out to the barn. I called Shane and was able to make an appointment for the following week, but by the next day, which was Saturday, I knew that Pino wasn’t going to make it that long. I was able to email a video of Pino’s condition to Shane’s office and he immediately expressed concern about his soundness and requested X-rays. Again, working with Dr. Sullivan, the X-rays were sent to Shane. He was dismayed to see that Pino only had 2 mm of sole between the ground and his coffin bone. He believed the situation was critical and that career-ending founder would likely be the result if Pino wasn’t treated immediately. Despite the fact that he had never met me, or worked on my horse, Shane travelled several hours on a Saturday evening to come to my barn and build up a foot and shoe for Pino.
He spent several hours building up the foot as much as he could, creating a custom, angled shoe and injecting a cushioned filler so that Pino could stand with some comfort. He recommended icing the foot and leg for the next 72 hours to keep the founder at bay. Both Shane and his office staff were excellent support for me during this time, answering questions that came up and requesting updates on Pino’s condition. For the next 72 hours, we kept our fingers crossed and iced him as much as we could, hoping we could prevent the founder and save his life. It worked. Shane’s custom therapeutic shoe and treatment plan saved Pino’s life.
He worked hand-in-hand with Dr. Sullivan to provide the very best care for him. There have been many ups and downs during Pino’s recovery, but Shane has been endlessly patient and has worked tirelessly, using the most current and advanced horseshoeing techniques that I have ever seen. It has been a very long road, but now we are able to train advanced flat work and jump some smaller obstacles on a more consistent basis. It is a rare person who would drop everything to come to the aid of a horse and owner that he has never met, and I will be forever grateful that Shane cares enough about horses to be that person. I don’t think there is anyone more deserving to be recognized in a farrier tribute than Shane Togami.
— Lori Judd (Thousand Oaks, Calif.)
I would not have a horse if it weren’t for Shane Togami, and I will be forever grateful to him for the generosity and support he has given me. We love animals and keep everything we get. Two of our horses are rescue horses, not suitable for jumping at the level I am at and I had outgrown my pony. I was leasing a horse but another girl needed the horse, which left me with nothing.
I was 10 years old when Shane trailered his Oldenburg gelding over 5 hours to give me the opportunity to ride and compete. I will never forget that day. A huge 16.1 hand bay with a long mane and quiet eyes walked out of the trailer, holding his head high. Shane, with a big contagious smile, came out of the trailer with a bag of carrots and told me the horse was mine for as long as I needed him. His name was Casthor. Casthor had been living a quiet life for several years out in Shane’s pasture. Casthor was huge and I, not so much, but Casthor never did or has done anything malicious or dangerous. He follows me like a puppy, a really BIG puppy! I made his show name “Imma Casanova” because of his huge heart and loving demeanor.
We developed an enormous bond over the next two years. I taught him to kneel and he taught me how to ride a jumper at an entirely new level. I can ride him around the arena with nothing (no bridle, no saddle) or I can enter a 1.15 jumper classic. Shane did not just disappear from either of our lives. Shane knew my family was having financial difficulties, but he believed in me and he believed in Casthor and he wanted to do anything he could for us to be happy and succeed. Shane continued to drive that long 5 hour one way drive for several months, almost a year, to shoe him and bring down supplements.
Shane continues to send supplements to ensure Casthor is at his best. Shane helped finance my horse show in Las Vegas, which was an amazing experience! Not only has Shane been there on a financial level, but he always knew we would make a great team. The positive energy Shane puts forth, his belief in me, and in Casthor, has led to many victories. But more importantly, an experience I will never forget or would have had without him. Thanks Shane.
—Mackenzie Sullivan (Solvang, Calif.)
It is known that Shane Togami is excellent at his craft. He is a farrier with knowledge and heart. He has not only brought one of my favorite horses back into full work once, but he has accomplished it twice. Goldie, a 16 year old, 16-hand quarter horse gelding whom, after a serious suspensory injury, had trouble coming back to work sound. Goldie got better immediately after Shane started working on him and was in full work 4 months later.
For several years, we were going strong but a barn move forced us to make changes and even though we worked with good farriers and vets, we thought this would be the end of the working career of this wonderful horse. We reached out to Shane to see if there was somehow a possibility for him to help us out again and he made the seemingly impossible possible. Three shoeings after he started working on Goldie again, he got 100% sound and he is enjoying his daily dressage work. He is going strong and nowhere near retirement. Thank you so much to Shane Togami and his team!
—Jessica Buchholz (Calabasas, Calif.)
My name is Rory, and I've been a client of Shane's for about a year. Since Shane began to shoe my 13-year-old mare, he was the only one able to diagnose the reason for her right front lameness issue. Even the veterinarian was not able to pinpoint the source of the problem. When Shane was trimming her, he decided to dig a little deeper, figuratively, as well as literally, and he uncovered a pink bruise and declared that she had a broken medial bar. I was astounded at his persistence and dedication. Since this discovery, he has shod my horse in a progression of three different types of shoeing. She is moving and riding so well, and he alone has returned my horse to soundness.
He is a person who has so much character and integrity in his farrier practice, and most likely in all areas of his life. I'm truly grateful for all he has done.
—Rory Stanley (Calif.)
Shane Togami has saved one of the sweetest, friendliest and kindest horses I have ever met, named "Percy".
Shane was out at a barn and was NOT the farrier for this 18h Belgum Warmblood. He was familiar with the horse and knew "Percy" was a strong third-level dressage horse. What he did not know is that the vet was called in for white line issues and recommended to the current farrier to dremel out quite a bit of hoof wall right at the dorsal wall where the coffin bone attaches. With the white line so bad and the lack of hoof wall, the horse mechanically foundered, rotated to 32 degrees and was basically on 3 legs.
What happened next is the owner was told to put the horse down, but one of Shane's clients called him and begged him to please see if he could help "Percy." Everyone at the barn knew what a sweet horse this was and to put him down without trying everything possible would be unfair on the horse and such a shame.
Shane went out there and made some special type of shoe that enabled the horse to be at least slightly weight bearing. However, euthanization was still the decision. They asked Shane if he could please take him and try to help him. Shane, not in a financial position to take on this horse knew he should not, however that being said, the horse was hauled to Shane's podiatry center. Shane and his wife were then the new owners of one of the sweetest horses ever. Shane knew "Percy" was fighting for his life at no fault of his own and Shane wanted to help him as much as possible. "Percy" got knew X-rays which showed barely 1mm of sole depth. It was a very crucial time to get him special shoeing and care. After going though a few vets, they found a vet that was just as positive about the horse as Shane and now works side by side with Shane.
It's been about 3 years now and "Percy" went from not being able to shoe without being blocked to now needing no medication for shoeing. He goes out on the grass pasture daily with his friends and gallops (though he really shouldn't because of his special shoe), bucks and plays. His quality of life is amazing. Shane and the vet are hopeful to continue to see some attachment and more correction of the coffin bone, but time will tell. For now, "Percy" is enjoying his life and has Shane Togami to thank for that!
—Lynn
Shane Togami is our farrier for our Grand Prix barn. We had a barn with soundness issues and he was brought in as a specialist. He was able to not only get all horses sound but this particular horse so sound that it performed better and at a higher level than ever. We had all sound horses and unfortunately, while off at a show, we did try to use a different farrier. However, that turned out to be a bad decision and we were back with lameness issues. Thankfully, Shane was able to fix all issues and we were back in the show ring. Although Shane has a waiting list, he is worth the wait.
There is something to the way Shane Togami trims, measures the feet, shapes his shoes and puts in very specific mechanics. We've had farriers at shows tack on one of Shane's shoes and we are always very specific to ask them not to flatten or take out the mechanics because many often want to flatten the shoes completely. Shane Togami thinks deeply about all areas of the horse from the confirmation to the footing to the person riding them or if the horse is being lunged in tight circles and so on. He asks questions, looks at the horses as we walk them up and usually knows what the horse is doing and why, before he even touches any of the horses. As a client that cares deeply for all my horses, I recognize that Shane is a true horseman and his passion is for helping the horses. You can see it when he works and when he handles the horses. He is kind to the horses and ensures that his crew is also kind and compassionate to them. You will never see Shane or anyone from CEPC be heavy handed or raise their voices to our horses.
Shane Togami is an expert, especially in footing! He is my first phone call when I am at any show or different arena and any of my horses aren't perfuming quite right with stride or movement. I can explain what my horse is doing and Shane knows why and how to fix it. I had this happen specifically. I was at a huge show and one of my horses wasn't moving right. I called Shane in a panic and to be honest, really mad and blaming. But, I was wrong and it was the footing in the arena. Shane asked me what show arena I was at, what the horse was doing and then asked me very specific questions. I answered him and he immediately told me the issue (nothing to do with shoeing) and how to fix it. My horse went great and we won first place! Not only did Shane know the exact issue, he was able to explain to me in great detail why the issue was happening.
I am forever grateful to Shane Togami and I always know he is my first phone call.
—Kathy Smith
I am beyond thrilled with the work Shane Togami did to make Huni, an Icelandic with severe white line disease, more comfortable and available to ride! I called Shane out to see Huni after I was hired by his owner to help her around her property. When I saw the existing condition of his hoofs, I knew he needed CEPC immediately. I knew Shane could make this horse way more comfortable with a positive prognosis. I had personally benefitted from his experience with my off-the-track thoroughbred Infrattini, who when he arrived home had a -2 palmar angle and no sole. He not only was able to correct him to a neutral angle, but a positive angle and created a shoe that allowed his heel and sole to grow back. Please note that when he arrived from Kentucky, I was told he would always have to wear pads! He now has a regular foot. Thank you Shane and CEPC.
—Dianna Ziaket
When I finally found my horse, Sadie, she was living in pasture in Oregon with no blanket and no shelter. She was cared for, but her owner had health issues the year before and was unable to care for her properly. After a year, he knew he needed to sell her, and I knew she was the perfect horse for me. I had spent the previous two years searching online almost every night with my dad. We were on a trip in Oregon, which is where this little 10-year-old mare was living. We did all the necessary vet testing and farrier exams, but due to the rich spring grass the year before, she had a bout of laminitis that was not revealed to us.
We shipped her to my hometown of Santa Barbara, where we began our riding journey together. She was the horse of my dreams, however, I could tell she was not responding positively and she was light on her feet. She was pinning her ears after only 15 minutes of riding, and charging when in the round pen. We consulted our equine professionals; some thought we should consider putting her down because her hoof wall separation and coffin bone issue was getting worse. She also had a club hoof.
When we had exhausted our resources, my dad reached out to Shane Tomagi at the California Equine Podiatry Center in Santa Ynez as a last resort. He heard that he was one of the most skilled in our area. Shane and his team, as busy as they were, took the time to come see my little paint mare. My dad and I were amazed at their knowledge and skills, and how friendly Shane and his team were. Sadie’s progress was amazing. Within several weeks, we saw a difference. After several months, I was able to ride my Sadie with confidence and she started to enjoy riding again. Her attitude went from a nasty mare to a pleasurable riding horse who learned to jump and dressage. It has been an incredible building year, seeing her transformation and to think that if we had not found Shane, Sadie’s life may have turned out differently. We are so grateful to Shane and the CEPC crew for taking the time to care for my little mare. We are both turning 12 this year and I hope to have many more fun years together.
—Sydney (Santa Barbara, Calif.)
