CEPC is a small, hands-on team led by farrier Shane Togami. Every horse gets the same care and attention to detail, whether it’s a routine reset or a complex therapeutic case.
Shane Togami
Farrier & Founder
Shane Togami began his farrier work at the age of 13 under the tutelage of his farrier father. After working with his dad for six years, Shane went on to study under Gene Armstrong at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he graduated from the advanced farrier program.
Shane has maintained his own business for over 20 years, working on a variety of breeds and disciplines ranging from Olympic and Grand Prix dressage and jumping horses to hunters, world-class cutting and reining horses, and top show Arabians. In 2006 the California Equine Podiatry Center (CEPC) was created, with Shane bringing his experience and skill to head up CEPC.
Shane is very involved in therapeutic shoeing. His dedication and passion for helping horses fuel his desire to keep learning from some of the best equine podiatrists and veterinarians around. Shane has worked with Burney Chapman, Ric Redden, Rob Sigafoos, Rob Spence and Kevin White. He also works with Santa Lucia Farms, Alamo Pintado, Reata Equine, Conejo Valley and many other local veterinarians on a variety of lameness issues, including but not limited to laminitis. Shane continues to broaden his knowledge in an effort to fulfill his passion for helping horses excel on their feet.
Although CEPC is based in the Santa Ynez Valley, Shane and the crew travel three counties a week shoeing horses — at times as far south as San Diego and as far north as San Luis Obispo County.
Javier
Crew
Javier has been with Shane since 2003 and has his own clients as well. Over the years he has become an important part of the CEPC team, from pulling and finishing to the demanding work of using adhesive materials to rebuild hooves. Javier often stops off after long days to tack lost shoes back on, and sometimes works weekends — always willing to help out where he can.
Brian Vandegrift
Crew
Brian graduated from the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2008 and then worked in a mixed animal practice in Arkansas. Deciding his passion was with horses, he spent 2010 as an intern with a racetrack practice in Kentucky, which led him to want to specialize in equine podiatry. Brian attended a nine-month course at Kentucky Horseshoeing School in 2011 to learn the basics of farriery.
Prior to vet school, Brian had a career as a brewer, a park ranger and a baker. He grew up in Connecticut and Louisiana, but his roots lie in Arkansas. His main hobby is hiking with his dogs, and he also likes mountain biking and kayaking. We are very excited to have Brian as part of our team here at CEPC.