It is important to look at who is providing the information, and what qualifications they have to share this information. International Horseshoeing Hall Of Fame member Henry Heymering of Frederick, Md., looks into the background of the author. 

“The information may not be reliable … if the source is someone without experience, credentials, is selling something, declares absolutes, etc.,” says Heymering. 

It is important for horseshoers to familiarize themselves with reliable sources and to learn the names of leaders in farriery research. However, as a farrier starting out, it may be difficult to know who is an authority on a topic and who is simply spouting off. 

Hall Of Fame horseshoer, Jim Keith of Tucumcari, N.M., urges beginners to look at any biographical information provided with the article such as the credentials of the author and associations the author is affiliated with. Through familiarizing yourself with trustworthy writers and researchers, you can begin to sort through articles to find quality information. 

If you can’t verify the source or are unsure of where information came from, be cautious. Examine the information and compare it to any knowledge you already have and look for other research that backs it up. While veteran farriers are bound to have a broader knowledge base, beginners should still be able to use what they’ve already learned to identify information that is blatantly incorrect.