When a farrier needed some quick advice on applying Borium to shoes, he turned to the American Farriers Journal message board and searched the online AFJ Article Index for information and answers from other shoers from around the world. Here’s an in-depth look at some of the advice he got.

Question: “I’ve been shoeing for about 3 years and have a large customer base of about 375 horses. In the past, I’ve rarely ever had to apply Borium to shoes, but with Christmas parades coming up and the winter weather making the streets slippery and hazardous, I’ve had a few customers ask me to use it.

I purchased some Borium, but I can’t get it to melt on to the shoe and form a permanent bond. It keeps popping off! Can anyone give me a little information on applying Borium to shoes and getting it to stay on?”

—L.L. Brock

Chris Gregory, from January/February, 2002, issue of American Farriers Journal: I use Borium at the toe as a traction device. Begin by heating the toe area and placing borax as a flux on the spot where you want the Borium to be (Figure 1). Be careful with the amount of flux that you use. Once the brass portion of the Borium melts, it will run wherever there has been flux (Figure 2).

Heat until the brass is molten, carefully remove the shoe from the forge and press on the Borium with your hammer (Figure 3 and 4)…