Interview with Farrier and Equine Veterinarian Dr. Stephen O'Grady

In this episode, we talk with farrier and equine veterinarian, Dr. Stephen O'Grady of Keswick, Virginia. He was a professional farrier for ten years prior to obtaining his degree in veterinary medicine. He learned the farrier trade through a formal three year apprenticeship under "Hall of Fame" farrier, Joseph M. Pierce, of West Chester, Pennsylvania. He then returned to school, attended Haverford College and went on to graduate from the University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science in South Africa with a DVM Degree in 1981. After graduating from veterinary school, Dr. O'Grady did an equine internship in Cape Town, South Africa. From here he went on to join Dr. Dan Flynn at the prestigious Georgetown Equine Hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia where he stayed for 10 years before opening his own practice devoted to competition horses and farriery.

In 2003, he opened Northern Virginia Equine in Marshall, Virginia and in 2014, he moved to Keswick, Virginia and opened Virginia Therapeutic farriery – both are referral practices devoted to foot disease and equine therapeutic farriery. Here he combines his skills as a veterinarian and a farrier to better understand and treat problems of the foot. He has published 33 peer-reviewed papers in the veterinary literature, numerous papers in the farrier literature, written 18 book chapters and edited two editions of Veterinary Clinics of North America on equine podiatry and therapeutic farriery - all resulting from his extensive work in equine podiatry. He is currently in the process of editing a textbook on Farriery. In 2003, he was inducted into the International Equine Veterinarians Hall of Fame and in 2009; he received the AAEP President's Award for his work in farrier education.

In this episode, Dr. O'Grady shares how he got started, how farriers and veterinarians can work better together, stories from his career, and lessons you can use to succeed today in your farrier practice.