Letters
and Photos from Sneaker Users
Charlie and Bonnie Fusaro and SS Micah
Micah
was one of our favorite horses of all time. He is sadly no longer with us due to
complications from Cushing's Syndrome. He foundered and
rotated severely in both front feet perforating both soles. His feet were very
fragile and scarred from the laminitis. With extraordinary care and diligence on
the part of Bonnie and Charlie he recovered in one year. He went back to showing
and won two regional championships in the following two years. His feet required
reconstruction with Equithane to get them in show shape and were then shod with
Sneakers. Very few people were aware of his extraordinary recovery. Sadly he had
another severe episode of laminitis from which he could not recover. Both Micah
and Secretariat suffered the same affliction. Research into laminitis continues
for a greater understanding of what we can do to possibly prevent it from
occurring and to minimize the suffering of those animals so afflicted.
Management of the feet is the most important tool we have at this time to reduce
the suffering and prolong the useful lives of the horses. Sneakers are an
excellent shoe in the management of chronic laminitis.
Contact
us at Equithotics for more info on how to use Sneakers for a laminitic
horse.
Henry Christmas and Dakon
Henry
Christmas wasn't sure how well things would turn out when he showed up at the
'98 Western States Ride (the Tevis Cup) needing shoes the day before the ride.
Fortunately for him a fellow rider convinced him the only shoes for the ride
were Sneakers. He finished in great shape on that race and continued to use the
shoes. He finished in the top ten in all the rest of his rides in '98 and '99.
Henry and Dakon won the heavy weight best condition at the '99 AERC
Championships in
Patty
Martin and Loba
Received
from Patty Martin,
"God
bless you Kirk Adkins.
Tears
filled my eyes. I'd just flashed on how our Poquita was moving last year. Short,
choppy, painful strides, and how that made my heart ache.
Oct.
1995--- on the last leg of a 6 hr. ride --- down hill, hard, rocky dirt road.
Our Poquita was making long, smooth, easy strides. We stopped often for our
friends to catch up. One was riding a 12 year old Arab, the other a 13 yr. old
Doc Bar Quarterhorse. Poquita is a 19yr old Appy and has had 7 babies.
From
July of 92 until Feb 95 our lives were filled pain for Poquita and heartache for
me. What a nightmare!
Shoes
on shoes off- pads on pads off- lifts on lifts off- hand made bar shoes- bar
shoes- TheraFlex pads- rim pads- 'Level it'- Glue
on's- Slypner Athletic
shoes-Xrays, bute, herbs,
homeopathy. Lots of things worked for a while but nothing lasted. I was at the
end of my rope--and way past the end of my money.
Our
vet Dr. Paul Miller had recommended Sneakers. The only one he had to show me was
old and worn out. I didn't like the way it looked. How exasperated he must have
been! Paul had been with us the whole long 3 years and through four different
farriers.
I
called Dr. Kerry Ridgeway to see if acupuncture would help ease Poquita's pain. He said that nothing he could do would last
if her feet were not balanced and comfortable. He also suggested taking her to
Kirk.
Feb
1995- Poquita goes to see Kirk for balancing and Sneakers. It is unbelievable!
These Sneakers have made a veritable TANK out of our lame, tenderfooted Poquita. Where we used to turn back it is now
"Get out of our way, were are coming through!" What a
great feeling! Sneakers might seem expensive at first, but believe me compared
to multiple vet and farrier visits they are not expensive at
all.
Oct
1995- Waiting for my friends to catch up- I made a fist, thrust my arm in the
air and the words "God bless you Kirk Adkins" echoed across the Mc Cloud Valley.
Thanks for creating Sneakers. Thanks for the most fun summer Poquita and I have
ever had.
Much
gratitude and many blessings to you"------------ Patty Martin
Thanks Patty!
Patti Pizzo and Sam
Patti
Pizzo had a rough start to the '98 World Endurance
Championships in Dubai, UAE.
Sam went through an especially frightening tying up episode only days before the
race. A credit to the expertise from all the team members (vets, riders and
crewmembers) Sam recovered. Then, only 4 days before the ride
Sam showed some lameness in his left fore. The Chef d'equippe Rick Stewart and team veterinarians Mike Tomlinson
and Nancy Elliot persuaded Patti that Sneakers offered the best chance for Sam
to overcome his sore heels. The rest as they say is history. Patti and Sam
finished the race right alongside Shirley Delsart our
4th
Barbara
Marsh and La La Land
La
La Land developed a serious fungus infection in the
right front foot and Barbara was referred for treatment. The coffin bone
radiographs showed pedal osteitis and some slight
laminitic changes, which caused him to be consistently lame and not able to
work. Treatment of the fungus infection progressed in a couple of months to a
point at which Sneakers were applied. La La Land went
back to jumping. He remained in Sneakers for 4 years until his passing away from
a mysterious liver disorder in the summer of '98. The two pictures of his front
feet show their condition at the onset of treatment and how they appeared 2
years later.
We
received this letter and photo from an apparently happy Sneaker
user!
To
whom it may concern,
When
the Sneakers arrived in the mail that you sent us to try, we could hardly wait
to get the box open. We had never seen shoes for a horse that were anything like
this, with a big tread, and a hole in the middle! We passe them around, banged them on the ground, stood on them,
surprised at their quietness, trying to get a feel for what they were all about.
Our farrier, Don, was quite excited, as he had recommended that his favorite
client experience the comfort of Sneakers' shock absorbing material so that Beau
would be more comfortable carrying his precious students.
You
see, Beau is a lesson horse for disabled students of all ages and abilities. He
participates in the
Beau
suffers with navicular, and some days are rough for
this horse with the big heart. Nothing about Beau is small, and this can mean
that the pain he experiences is enough to make his lessons too hard to
participate in sometimes. He never complains, and his students don't need to
know of his discomfort, but we were concerned, and Don strongly suggested that
we give Sneakers a chance to work for him.
Beau
understands that something is different now, he doesn't
favor his front legs like he did, and actually can enjoy an occasional trial
ride. The difference is truly remarkable and his students appreciate his
smoother gaits. Beau doesn't have the discomfort anymore that he used to as his
carries them carefully and happily during their lessons. They only know they
love this big Appaloosa that has worked his way into their hearts, helping them
to be more independent. The horse that forgives an
inexperienced rider's tug on the reins, or a too sharp kick. A caretaker
that stands quietly at the mounting ramp for a frightened child to get up the
courage to sit on him, then moves slowly and gently
with him, offering a quiet strength and understanding too sweet for words. What
Beau offers is more than a lesson, and nothing short of pure love for his
special riders. His Sneakers will allow him to continue this work, and be
comfortable while doing it. After all we need to take care of this
caretaker.
Thank
you for sending us these Sneakers. We can't imagine Beau working without them,
and we don't want him to ever again!
Yours
truly,
Michelle
P. Hardy-Cook, Vice President
Patchwork
Therapeutic
Thanks
Michelle!
Champions of '96
Tired but happy after the closing ceremonies of the '96 world Endurance championships Danielle and Valerie Kanavy stop for a photo opportunity for me with "Cash" and "Fire". '96 was an extraordinary year for the Kanavys and we were happy to play a part.
Peggy Narducci and Dino
I
own Dino a 16.2 hand Paint Horse that I ride in Parades all over
The
Sneakers not only help my horse - I have a much smoother ride down the city
streets.
I
recommend to all equestrian paraders - use the new
Sneakers. Both you and your horse will be much
happier!
Sincerely,
Peggy
Narducci
White
Line Disease
This common name is used to describe a fungus infection that digests the middle of the hoof wall. This makes treatment difficult because the wall cannot hold a shoe and the coffin bone is often rotated. Resecting the infected wall is the most effective treatment, which prevents shoes being nailed on in the regular manner. However, Sneakers can be glued in place directly to the sole if necessary to protect the foot while the wall grows out. In this application we applied the shoe reversed and left the clips on to add a little stability. This paint mare belonging to Steve Swain has recovered completely and is now back to work.
