Our Equine Veterinarians and Podiatrists
Our goal at East Coast Hoof & Wellness Center is to provide precise, knowledgeable, and detailed service for all hoof, lower limb, and lameness related problems. East Coast Hoof & Wellness Center is made up of a team of dedicated farriers and veterinarians specializing in hoof related issues such as navicular, thin soled hooves, long toes, quarter cracks, club feet, low palmar/plantar angles, founder, and laminitis as well as overall lameness related problems. With strict attention to every detail, the members of East Coast Hoof and Wellness Center look at each case on an individual basis and reach out to professionals all over the country to get the desired results. East Coast Hoof & Wellness Center believes in the importance of a team approach, including connecting with trainers, rider, grooms, caretakers, attending veterinarians and farriers, being vital for a horse’s success.
John Rispoli
John Rispoli started as a young man taking care of standardbred racehorses and learning his horsemanship and driving skills from Hall of Famer Anthony Abbiatiello. John then moved on to train and care for thoroughbred racehorses, gathering vital horsemanship to prepare him for his journey to become the farrier he is today. John is the owner of East Coast Farrier Service and after 30 years of dedication and detailed work, John is now able to open East Coast Hoof & Wellness Center. John continues to further his education every year attending seminars and symposiums as well as one on one training to keep his skills at the top level. John has studied under Dr. Ric Redden for several decades and his teachings have become an integral part of John’s career. John uses the mechanical shoeing principles set forth by Dr. Ric Redden to remove the forces at play that hinder a horse’s ability to heal. John concentrates on the details to get the results.
In John’s spare time he enjoys spending time with his wife and family, horseback riding, boating, and fishing. John is also a car and motorcycle enthusiast.
Louis Fahrion
Louis Fahrion started his career in shoeing with John Rispoli. He first began working with horses while attending high school, learning the basics working on a farm, furthering his interest in the equine field. Louis then took the opportunity to work alongside John in his farrier business. Louis has completed a vigorous 3-year apprenticeship in a one-on-one setting alongside John. Throughout that time serving his apprenticeship Louis also aided John with his thoroughbred horses, developing crucial horsemanship skills and learning about the industry. Louis has attended several equine podiatry symposiums and seminars with Dr. Ric Redden. Louis has now been shoeing for over a decade and is a team member of East Coast Farrier Service and East Coast Hoof & Wellness Center. In Louis’s spare time he enjoys boating, cars, motorcycles, metal/wood working and creative projects.
Dr. Crystal Bowman
Dr. Crystal Bowman is a 2010 graduate from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. After veterinary school, she completed a 1-year internship at Peterson and Smith Equine Hospital, followed by a residency in equine internal medicine at the Marion dupont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, Virginia. She stayed on at the EMC for an additional year as an adjunct emergency clinician, before shifting gears to small animal general practice. She is currently the Medical Director of a small animal veterinary clinic, but her heart and soul remain committed to her equine medicine background. She has started working with the East Coast Hoof and Wellness Center to continue to work with these amazing athletes, and to help them perform at their absolute best. Her primary area of interest is sports medicine- focusing not only on lameness, but all the body systems that can affect overall health and soundness.
When not working, Dr. Bowman enjoys spending time riding her horses, running, and painting. She lives with her husband, daughter, and 3 dogs.
Evan Wunder
Evan grew up next to a large farm in northern New Jersey. Evan always felt a connection to horses and when a local farrier asked him to work with him Evan gladly accepted.
Evan had been shoeing for 3 1/2 years before another opportunity to work on the East Coast Hoof and Wellness Team and with John Rispoli presented itself. Looking to further his knowledge, Evan jumped on the opportunity to further his farrier skills as well as gain experience in podiatry. Evan is a full time member of the East Coast Hoof and Wellness Team.
Evan's other interests include 3d printers, computers, and all things technology as well as hiking and working on cars.
Dr. Kathleen Gould, DVM
Dr. Gould grew up on Long Island in Cold springs Harbor. She attended Cornell where she majored in neurology and behavior. Upon graduating with a BA with honors, Dr. Gould spent two years working at Rockefeller University in NYC researching neurology in birds before attending Cornell University vet school in Ithica, New York. after graduating Dr. Gould completed an internship at Fox run Equine Center. After working with multiple veterinary services in both general practice and reproduction Dr. Gould opened her own practice in 2010 where she has been focusing on general medicine as well as podiatry and lameness issues. Dr. Gould has attended several high-level podiatry courses where she worked in conjunction with John Rispoli.
When not attending to her patients, Dr. Gould enjoys spending time with her dogs and horses at her farm.
Robert Dodds, Sr.
Bobby Dodds is a 3rd generation horseman beginning his career in his teenage years alongside of his father. Working with various thoroughbred racehorses, Bobby learned the importance of being hands on and knowing how the kinesiology of the horse works. After a successful career in racehorses, Bobby realized his passion lay in equine massage therapy and set out to gain his certification. In 2009 Bobby received his sports massage therapy certification from Equisage. Bobby has been helping horses feel their best for over a decade and is a team member of East Coast Hoof & Wellness Center.
In Bobby’s spare time he enjoys spending time with his family and golfing.
Dr. Rolf Modesto
Dr. Modesto was born in Sweden but grew up on the island of Florianopolis in southern Brazil. Dr. Modesto received his VMD from the School of Veterinary Medicine of the Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Parana and completed a surgical residency at UNESP-Botucatu in Brazil. With a desire to further his studies in the United States, Dr. Modesto completed internships at Brazos Valley Equine Hospital, University of Minnesota and Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. Dr. Modesto was also a 2-year research fellow, working on drug and medical device development at the Comparative Orthopedic Research Laboratory (CORL) at the University of Pennsylvania-New Bolton Center. Following his residency at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Modesto became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2016. Dr. Modesto practiced surgery and sports medicine in Texas until 2019 with a passion for a career in rodeo and sport horses.
In Dr. Modesto’s spare time he trains Brazilian Jiu-jitsue, snowboards and enjoys spending time with his wife Britt, daughters Brooke and Chloe, great dane Kiera and what seems to be their ever increasing number of horses.
Melissa Rispoli
Melissa Rispoli is a lifelong horsewoman who started riding at the age of 7 and has never stopped. Initially riding in the hunter/jumper ring, Melissa currently trains in dressage. Melissa attended Centenary College and graduated with a B.S. in Business Management and has her ARIA certification. Presently, Melissa is the office and farm manager of East Coast Hoof & Wellness Center.
In Melissa’s spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband and riding her horse.
