Invention to help horses' hooves heal with StepnSoak treatment 12/24/2009 2:15 PM
By BEN BAUGH Staff writer
A common-sense approach and an innovative idea may make horse owners' lives a whole lot easier.
It started several months ago when Aiken resident Lydia del Rossi's thoroughbred Lenny stepped on a stump after having his feet trimmed, and suddenly the gelding was three-legged lame. The incident happened at the end of July, she said.
"I went through a couple of veterinarians because every time it seemed to clear up, the next thing I knew he would be limping again," del Rossi said.
It was out of frustration that one night del Rossi made a sketch of what she would like to have to help the horse. She searched images on the Internet to see if there were a product like the one she had sketched.
"I thought surely there has to be a product like this that has to exist," del Rossi said. "The only thing that seemed to work was an IV bag with duct tape around it, but you'd have to have a veterinarian to get the IV bags."
She wanted to make a product that was easy to use, durable and disposable that was designed for the female horse-owner in mind.
Del Rossi was referred to a patent attorney in Greenville and told him she would like to see if there existed a product similar to the one she had designed.
"I told him I wanted to see if this exists beyond what I was able to research, and if it doesn't, then I want to talk about developing it," del Rossi said. "The next thing I know, it doesn't exist. He took my sketches, went ahead and started with the preliminary patent process, and I came up with StepnSoak because that was what I was trying to do. I was trying to get my horse to step in it and soak."
The next part of the process found del Rossi creating a prototype. She went to four prototype companies before selecting a firm in California that makes IV bags.
"The product is designed for pure simplicity. The seams are like that of an IV bag, so they're very strong," del Rossi said. "It's an IV baglike material, but it's not as thick, so it doesn't split as easily. I wanted it to be soft and flexible so it doesn't spook a horse. All you have to do is pour in your solution, whatever it may be, flip it on and wrap the 18-inch ties around the leg and walk away. The horse can be left in a cross tie or a stall."
The idea was to create something that was one step and one motion and that keeps the horse owner out of hoof striking range. Del Rossi used the prototype on Lenny to get him over his hoof abscess issues.
The manufacturing is done in California, and the packaging and shipping is done in Aiken, del Rossi said. She is marketing the product nationally, and StepnSoak will be available in tack shops nationwide this spring.
"This is something that will help horses, help horse people and is cost-effective," del Rossi said. "We've had two online catalogs approach us about adding this to their hoof product line."
The durable, vinyl, one-piece soaking hoof boot bag is 14 inches wide and 21 inches high with two soft, flexible 18-inch ties. The ties can be crisscrossed safely and quickly around the horse's legs.
StepnSoak can be used to treat a number of ailments, including hoof abscesses, white lime disease, fungal and bacterial hoof infections. It can also be used for deep hoof cleaning, treating thrush and preparing hooves for trimming in dry climates and hoof vapors, she said.
StepnSoak can also be used for miniature horses and ponies, del Rossi said. The StepnSoak hoof soaking system comes four to a box and will sell for $23.95.
For more information, call (888) STPNSOK or visit stepnsoak.com.
Contact Ben Baugh at bbaugh@aikenstandard.com.
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