Frederick, Md., farrier Doug Anderson believes that respect is an often overlooked, yet critical, part of the farrier-client relationship. For him, respect is based on a healthy interaction of communication, but not when the client dictates what should be done to the horse. Anderson finds that if a client tries to dictate how a horse should be shod, often times the client has paid less for hoof care in the past and has hired a farrier who likely lacks appropriate education to address the needs.

Many mobile payment devices attach to your smartphone and allow you to accept debit and credit card payments. There are many designs, but you may find one that attaches directly to your smartphone through the headphone port as the most practical for your business.

If your rounding hammer's weight and handle feel good, your technique may require some adjustment to improve your efficiency. But how do you tell if you need to tweak your hammering motion?

There is one way that the farrier profession is similar to that of professional athletes. Athletes are compensated richly because they are good at what they do, but also because the required physical endurance means they can usually only perform professionally for a relatively short period of life. Their bodies break down prematurely due to the hazards of their business. The same goes for farriers.

Eli Beiler shoes several top Standardbred racing horses on the East Coast. In any kind of high-end, competitive discipline you need name recognition. He says the Standardbred market is no different.

"The young horses, especially European horses, are started at 3, 4 or 5 years old, after they've developed. The heavier-boned horses require more time to mature, so a lot of these horses are started without any shoes."

The danger to hearing is invisible and often does not become apparent for years. Nerve damage caused by noise is called nerve deafness.

During a 2002 clinic in Minnesota, Bob Marshall shared a method he says will work on most symmetrical hooves.

Farriers, not just doctors or attorneys, need to worry about "malpractice."

Following an emergency foot or limb surgery in which the farrier was not present for the diagnosis of the issue or treatment, what and how will you directly communicate information to the farrier to ensure the hoof care follows your goals for long-term recovery?