The signal-to-noise ratio of the Internet requires filtering by the equine enthusiast. The accessibility of information has empowered horse owners, which has advantages and disadvantages for the farrier.

With nearly 1,200 horse farms in Ocala's home county of Marion, the equine industry is big business. But ample opportunity doesn't guarantee success.

Criticism creates a very definite reaction when it's offered.The best farriers evaluate their own work, and more often than not, find flaws in each job. The judging starts to get tricky, though, when others offer their 2 cents.

If a horse you work with ends up in a vet clinic, what's your reaction?

You have to take the good with the bad when it comes to technological advances making our lives easier. I recently spoke with a two farriers independently who each bemoaned a string of poor client interactions. That's not a new subject, but what struck me was how technology has changed the client-farrier interaction.