Borium Concerns Are Heating Up In Amish Country

With governmental agencies feeling the pain of reduced gas tax dollars, politicians in southern Indiana are blaming the use of Borium, Drill-Tek and other traction materials used on the shoes worn by horses pulling Amish buggies for tearing up the roads. Since Amish buggy owners pay no gas tax, there is even talk of charging a $50 license fee for each Amish buggy on the road while limiting the use of these traction devices. 

Adopted in 1988, an ordinance in LaGrange Co., Ind., bans the use of spots of these materials as traction devices on hard-surfaced roads. The materials are allowed only when applied as a 1-inch-or-longer bar with smooth edges that are not more than 3/16 inch tall. Toe area applications must cover the full width of the shoe from nail hole to nail hole. In the heel area, the ordinance says that the application of Borium or Drill-Tek must run from the rear nail hole to the full width of the shoe. Interestingly enough, there’s speculation that the steel-rimmed tires on Amish buggies may lead to more actual road damage than Borium spots placed on horseshoes.

Many Ways To Treat Navicular Disease

Equine veterinarian Vernon Dryden says dealing with navicular disease frequently involves dealing with either an upright or low-angle foot. Once the lesion area is determined and a diagnosis made, a shoe can be tailored to the specific needs of the horse, says the vet at the Rood &amp…