Operating a training facility that starts many young horses, we see some individuals that suffer from upward fixation of the patella, or stifle lock.  One of our first cases was striking in that it was a 3 year old that had run in Brazil and was shipped to us for racing in the U.S.  His stifle would lock at any given time and remain in a locked position until he was backed up or he would free it up on his own.  We tried placing lily pads on the hind feet and secured them with vetrap.  The horse was more comfortable and showed less reluctance to move around.  We decided to put the lily pad on and apply an Equicast to secure it.  The horse continued to improve with the addition of time out in the paddock and some additional therapies.  The foundation of the lily pad with the Equicast enabled this horse to make it back to the races and be very productive in this country.  We have used it on yearlings and 2 year olds in the same way with very favorable results.

Laure Connelly
Bradford Lane
Aberdeen, North Carolina

We had a three year old thoroughbred filly shipped to us from Delaware Park with a coffin bone fracture.  Upon arrival she was very sore (a 9 out of 10) and was in a mild state of shock from the ship.  We took radiographs and she was found to have a fractured coffin bone with joint involvement.  We applied Equicast and she was much more comfortable immediately. The amount of analgesic was greatly reduced and the filly progressed well.  We reapplied the Equicast every 3 weeks and made sure to fit the shoe so she had lots of support she was able to resume hand-walking in 45 days.  This filly was able to return to training within 5 months and went on to finish second in her return to racing.  Equicast greatly reduced the healing time and the comfort of the filly during the process was extraordinary.  



Laure Connelly
Bradford Lane
Aberdeen, North Carolina

In 1998 Roy was at his peak in the show ring. Everything changed after one shoeing job left him very uncomfortable. He went from a long elegant mover to a short choppy mover. Over time he developed joint problems. His overall attitude had changed. After trying many vets, farriers, ect., Dave began working with him. By this time Roy’s feet were small, thin walled and unbalanced. He had a club foot on the left front and a contracted heel. Dave balanced his feet and used the Equicast system to help change the shape of the club foot.

The cast enabled the foot to spread without breaking up the thin wall. By correcting the root of his problems (his feet) all of the veterinary and chiropractic work began to take hold. The Equicast was also used on his front feet to hold shoes when his feet were soft from wet weather. Roy is currently competing again and more importantly he is comfortable. He had one of his best shows while wearing the Equicast. It helped give me back the horse I had before all of the front joint problems.

Sincerely,

Glenda Haines &
Natives Royal Zero

I have been running a hunter-jumper training, lay-up and retirement farm in Southern Pines, NC. since 1998.   About five years ago Dave Richards suggested I use Equicast on a few of my horses with problem hoofs.  Always the skeptic regarding new “fixes.” I was reluctant to use Equicast.  Dave, however, was persistent and finally I agreed to try this wonderful product.  Boy, am I ever glad that that I did.  Following are just a few examples of how Equicast has worked wonders at my barn.

 “Rodeo”:  This very fancy young hunter was the best mover I’d seen in years.  Consistently the winner, Rodeo’s first season of showing was sadly interrupted by the fact that in addition to all of his many wonderful attributes, Rodeo also owned a horrible set of hoofs and we just couldn’t keep shoes on him for more than a few weeks.  Equicast not only provided the immediate support to keep this horse’s shoes on and showing, it also enabled him to grow a “normal” hoof and get back to routine shoeing. 

 “Nick”:  A well-loved, retired show jumper, Nick has been with me for more than five years.  This gentle giant had previously suffered a bad bout with Lyme’s disease and was left with a compromised immune system and terrible hoofs that were cracked up to the coronet band.  He was on and off lame and his caring owner and I were worried that his hoofs just weren’t going to stay intact enough to hold up Nick’s big frame.  After just a few weeks with Equicast, Nick was completely sound.  Now, Nick is comfortable with just occasional Equicast castings and is happily living out his days with  his “geriatric” friends.



Jayne Marshall

Southern Pines, North Carolina

I cannot say enough good things about “Equicast.” I have used them for over 5 years to keep my horses sound and in work. If you have a lost shoe you can instantly make a temporary shoe. If you have a loose shoe you can keep that shoe on and in place until your farrier arrives. I remember a clinic where my horse threw a shoe into the rafters of the barn I obviously could not reach it. I put on the Equicast and went cross-country with no loss of time or money.

 

Some people literally gave me a “rescue horse”. He had problems but primarily he had neglected, shelly, flat Irish feet. We used cast on all four feet over the shoes to protect him form the ouchiness of the corrections that had to be made to help him have balanced feet. He is now hunting and jumping like a happy guy.

 

Lastly, I have used the cast to protect horses that have popped an abscess and need protection to go out in the field. Who wants to leave a two-year-old thoroughbred in a stall because she has a sore spot on her foot? Not me.

 

These cast have saved me lots of headaches over the years. They are essential to my home and traveling medical kits. I could not keep eventing and hunting without them.

 

Adel Baker

Fox Lake Farm

Southern Pines, North Carolina