Gunderman Farrier Service

12/19/2025

“Confidence comes not from always being right, but from not fearing to be wrong”
~Peter T McIntyre~

11/11/2025

Adapting to growth is part of a farriers job, trimming, shoe placement, balance, and mechanics are considered when shoeing a horse. This case took some non conventional thought.

This filly foundered about two years ago, although we only started working on it just one month ago. Demineralization of the tip of P3 accelerated heel growth, and deep flexor tension were the most apparent issues to attend to first. On the initial shoeing the foot was derotated, and a freedom shoe with 2* of wedge added for caudal support.

The horse progressed in soundness and comfort immediately, leading us to think we hit a home run! Fast forward four weeks and we’re right back where we started. Too much heel, pain in the anterior sole from the tip of P3 pushing against the circumflex artery/vein/nerve. In seeing the radiographs, it was clear that we needed adaptive shoe mechanics to self adjust through a shoeing cycle. A shoe that will allow for a slight wedge at the beginning of the cycle when the heel height is trimmed appropriately, and a reverse wedge to attempt to keep a consistent palmer angle as the foot grows heel and the capsule migrates forward.

A full rocker was build into a GluShu with the pivot placed directly below the center of rotation of the coffin joint. Supported with DIM and a leather pad for protection.

Initial response was favorable, but time will tell if our adaptive shoe does the trick.

11/04/2025

Mondays are crazy!!🤪

10/22/2025

The responsibility of the toe of the horse on the hind end is a very hot topic amongst farriers. “Break over” especially gets some people passionate about their opinions! Unfortunately I don’t believe there is a silver bullet on this subject. Appropriate toe, appropriate balance heel to toe is the goal but that can look different from horse to horse and discipline to discipline. This c**t was barefoot in a fairly abrasive environment, he had a slight pelvic tilt and sore stifles which leads to excessive toe dragging creating a bullnose dorsal wall. Equalizing tension on the foot especially in the toe region allowed the tissue the relax and reorient the capsule around P3. 🤙

10/21/2025

Hoof abscesses are a nuisance! But they are really a nuisance when they chronically repeat! This poor fella came into tge vet clinci yesterday after battling on and off abscess bouts for six months. With the assistance of radiographs we performed a resection of the wall around the abscess tract, removing as many “hiding” places as we could to ensure the pesky bacteria wouldn’t fester anymore! Being careful to not disturb the granulation tissue and the development of the stratum internum that is regenerating under the bacterial infection. The area was treated with a sugar-dine poltus.

10/18/2025

10/15/2025

Herd work ✔️

10/15/2025

10/07/2025

218.5 for SJR HiLight Mist (by SJR Diamond Mist) and Matt Koch in the Open Rein Work Prelims at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity!

Check out her full sibling SJR Mists Marie - Hip #2109 in the Western Bloodstock NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Sale! https://www.westernbloodstock.com/consignor-nrc/?HorseID=109

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📸 Carolyn Simancik Photography

09/23/2025

Navicular issues have a lot of variables. Controlling the flexor tendon and impar ligament strain is often the focus but sometimes controlling pressure on the affected region has huge benefit as well. Yesterday we “loaded” the stable areas of the foot and unloaded the painful part to give the opportunity for it to rest. Farriery has adjusted my mindset that taking away can be just as beneficial as adding.

09/11/2025

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