Tallahassee, FL (February 2014) “No question, this is a direction we want to continue to explore,” says Sox For Horses, Inc. president and founder, Raymond Petterson, about the overwhelmingly positive reception Summer Whinnys™ antimicrobial fly barrier equine socks received from veterinarians at the 2013 AAEP Convention in Nashville, TN.
It was the first time Petterson had taken his patent-pending designs to AAEP but it won't be the last, judging by the number of reorders the company has been handling from veterinarians and facilities like Palm Beach Equine Medical Center and other veterinary clinics.
“2014 looks like our orders are growing. We are in the process of taking the steps this year that will give us greater autonomy in our production and agility to respond to more orders.”
Increased interest in the new Summer Whinnys Super Silver™ horse sock as an protective barrier to flies, transmitted infections, and environmental dirt (thanks to a proprietary, antimicrobial silver fiber woven in) prompted the Tallahassee, Florida small business to produce a new instructional video for its website, SoxForHorses.com, on how to put the socks on and off, and why studies continue to support their ability to reduce insects, dirt and debris in the area around anything healing.
Petterson, an unabashed horse lover and owner who regularly donates and supports equine rescue efforts, is also a businessman who 'thinks local.'
“Take stock of what your community can offer you,” he says. Already adamant that Sox For Horses are Made In America, for the video, Petterson looked to collaborating with Florida State University (FSU) Film School graduates Sam Curtis and Jessica Sweltzer. Curtis was available between Nashville music video productions, and an earlier 'infomercial' for Sox For Horses was produced FSU student, Gina Papabeis, who went on to work on the award-winning documentary, The Cove.
The result has been win-win. SoxForHorses.com has a fresh, smart, instructional video that is earning rave reviews: “So many people have emailed us to say how much they've enjoyed and benefited from the video, which is accessible from either a desktop or a smartphone.”
The FSU students gained a project for their portfolios, and will again. In March, Sox For Horses will be at Wellington and the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center shooting footage for the next video, which will reveal some of the new technologies Sox For Horses is working with, and take a closer look at why veterinarians are choosing Summer Whinnys Super Silver™, with a guest appearance by equine veterinarian, EQUUS Magazine contributor and Summer Whinnys advocate, Dr. Steve Soule, at the Palm Beach Equine Medical Center.
“We'd love to work with FSU again,” says Petterson. “Small business needs to take advantage of its local university or school's film departments. Graduate students are also working on underwriting their own productions, so they are usually very willing to negotiate a better rate than you would find with an outside, professional company.”
With an added bonus of creating new horse lovers. “Neither Sam or Jessica had any horse experience when they began working with us,” he says. “They fell in love with the task. Jessica is the woman in the video putting the Sox on and off. She learned right away!”
See the video and learn more Summer Whinnys Super Silver™ and the cold weather Sox line, Whinny Warmers, at www.soxforhorses.com . Or call 850-907-5724 to talk to a real person about your needs. Sox For Horses, Inc. supports horse and animal rescue efforts and manufactures its equine socks only in America.