A North Salem business that provides footing materials for equestrian arenas has accused a former distributor of illegally selling competitive products.
Footing First claims that Michael Massian and AGM Land Solutions Inc. misappropriated trade secrets, in a complaint filed on March 6 in Westchester Supreme Court.
“Defendants have wrongfully used and benefited from Footing First’s proprietary and confidential information,” the complaint states, and interfered with “customers, vendors and prospective clients.”
Massian and AGM “strongly dispute” the allegations, Suffolk County attorney James F. Vlahadamis stated in an email. They “have acted lawfully at all times and intend to vigorously defend against these claims.”
Footing First is based in Purdys, a hamlet of North Salem in the heart of northern Westchester equestrian country. For 17 years, it has been selling patented blends of sands and other materials that provide stable surfaces and better traction, improve performance, prevent injuries, and “create ideal equestrian riding surfaces.”
Massian and AGM are based in Ridge, a hamlet of Brookhaven, Suffolk County. From 2022 through October 2025, Massian worked as a Footing First distributor, according to the complaint.
At first, he had no knowledge of the horse footing industry, the complaint states. For nearly four years he received training, and he was entrusted with confidential product information, pricing, clients, vendors, business plans and strategies.
Massian stopped working for Footing First, according to the complaint, in October 2025.
Apex Footing Inc., using the same address as Massian and AGM, was formed in June 2025, the complaint states. Then this past January, Footing First president Karen Leeming discovered that Massian was working on a horse footing project with one of her clients on Long Island.
Footing First issued a cease and desist letter to Massian on Jan. 27, citing a confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-circumvent, non-disparagement, non-solicitation and non-competition agreement he signed in January 2022.
For two years after working for Footing First, Massian had consented, he would not solicit customers, divert business, or sell horse footing products within 300 miles of Footing First’s place of business.
Massian had to wait until October 2027 to compete.
Footing First accused Massian and AGM of breach of contract, tortious interference with business relationships, misappropriation of confidential information and trade secrets, and unfair competition.
It is asking the court to stop Massian from selling horse footing products for two years, return all confidential information, and pay unspecified monetary damages.
“We remain confident,” Massian’s attorney, James Vlahadamis stated in an email, “that the facts and applicable law will support our clients’ position.”
