Stephen E. O’Grady, DVM, MRCVS
Dr. O’Grady’s road to becoming a veterinarian started with attending night school for a year to get a high school diploma, then two years at the local community college before being accepted to study at the prestigious Haverford College and finally receiving his veterinary degree from the University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science in South Africa in 1981. Following graduation, he served a one-year internship at the Blue Ridge Veterinary Centre in Caps Town. He returned to the US the following year and joined Dr. Dan Flynn’s Georgetown Equine Hospital in Charlottesville, VA as an associate where he practiced for the following eight years. Dr. O’Grady then opened his own practice and continued to practice in Keswick, VA until he moved to Northern Virginia in 2003 and started Northern Virginia Equine which at the time was one of the few practices devoted to the equine foot. In 2015, semi-retired, he moved back to Keswick, VA and opened Virginia Therapeutic Farriery where he sees referrals from veterinarians and farriers and maintains a highly active consulting service. Recently joining the Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Wellington, FL as a farriery consultant during the Winter Equestrian Festival. He has published over 35 manuscripts in both the national and international peer-reviewed veterinary literature, numerous articles in the farrier journals, written 17 book chapters and edited two editions of the Veterinary Clinics of North America – Equine Practice: one on equine podiatry and the other on therapeutic farriery – all resulting from his extensive work in equine podiatry. Over the years, he has treated horses and or lectured in twenty-eight countries around the world.
Dr. O’Grady has had a very extensive history with the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) having chaired the farrier liaison committee, served on the prepurchase exam committee, and served two consecutive terms on the educational programs committee. He was a member of two white papers, organized four in-depth podiatry sessions and three veterinarian/farrier sessions for the annual convention. He headed the AAEP vet farrier student short course for ten years and personally presented a course at every veterinary school. Including 2023, Dr. O’Grady has presented twenty-three papers on the scientific program at the AAEP annual convention.
In 2010, he teamed up with Dr. Jay Merriam and started ‘Podiatry Days’ where difficult foot cases were sent to an equine clinic accompanied by the attending farrier and then treated by a veterinary podiatrist and the clinic staff. This set a prescient for equine practices across the country to include podiatry and or a farrier to the services they provided. At the same time, prior to the Equitarian Initiative, he joined Dr. Merriam in travelling to impoverished countries to provide quality veterinary care to areas where the locals derived their living from the use of horses, mules, and donkeys. He made fifteen trips to various countries providing these services which he felt was a way of giving back to the veterinary profession. As the Equitarian Initiative developed, he taught the podiatry section in four of the annual workshops that taught veterinarians how to organize a trip and how to treat animals in underdeveloped countries.
A few accolades Dr. O’Grady has received were being inducted into of the International Equine Veterinarians Hall of Fame and in 2010 received the prestigious AAEP President’s Award for his work in farrier education. In 2019, he received the academic distinction award from the Equinova Research Group in Brazil as well as being awarded the coveted gold medal from The South African Veterinary Association. In 2020, he received the AAEP’s Distinguished Educator Award.
Mentee Comments:
Dr. O’Grady is one of the most generous and useful contributors to AAEP and the Horse World. I am unaware of any individual in our association that lectures and demonstrates more to students, farriers, and equine practitioners. His audience is world-wide and the benefit to those in attendance as well as the horses is remarkable. This honor is so well deserved!
– William Moyer, DVM, ACVSMR
Steve O’Grady, aside from being a wonderful friend, is also in my mind “A Global Hero”! He has spread the word about working equid welfare all over the world, referencing it in all his talks. I have seen him giving Farrier instruction in jungle villages and on the side of mountainous volcanoes. He has always put the welfare of working animals ahead of all his patients. He is at ease with these Farmers and animal owners in the most remote parts of our world as he is with the owners of some of the top jumpers and show horses. And he treats them all with the same degree of respect and competence. There is no one who deserves to be on our wall more than he.
– Jay Merriam DVM, MS
Dr. O’Grady’s impact on both the field of equine podiatry and the lives of those fortunate enough to be mentored by him is nothing short of profound. He has not only elevated the standards of care for horses but has also left an indelible mark on the veterinarians, farriers, students, and horse owners privileged to learn under his guidance. As my own mentor, my father’s unwavering support and wealth of knowledge have been instrumental in shaping my career, igniting a passion for excellence in my own practice of veterinary medicine. He has instilled in me a deep sense of compassion for both animals and those dependent on them for their livelihood, nurturing an environment where collaboration and continuous learning thrive.
Beyond the confines of the barn, my father’s mentoring extends generously, sharing insights, experiences, and evidence-based approaches with fellow colleagues. He unveiled to me corners of the world that some can only dream of, and it was through these experiences that I discovered the importance of embracing diversity, found the joy in crafting creative solutions for challenging cases, and realized veterinary medicine is as much an art form as it is a science. This award is a testament to his selfless commitment to the growth and success of others, leaving an enduring legacy that surpasses accolades – it is a legacy of empowered individuals making a positive impact in the world of veterinary medicine.
As I reflect on my journey, I am grateful for a mentor who not only shaped my professional life but also contributed immensely to the person I am today. My father’s passion, dedication, and generosity have created a ripple effect, influencing the future of the veterinary profession, and fostering a community of highly skilled individuals. Congratulations on this well-deserved award and thank you for being not only an extraordinary mentor to me but also a guiding light for countless others on their journey. Dr. O’Grady is a name I am proud to carry forward.
– Jendaya R. O’Grady, DVM
It is a pleasure to see Dr. Steve O’Grady receive this well-deserved recognition from his colleagues. It was my honor in 2009 to present Steve with our AAEP President’s Award for his excellent and selfless mentorship of his colleagues on equine podiatry. He has done so for years and continues this gift to our profession to this day. Congratulations and thank you Steve!
– Harry W. Werner VMD
My Uncle Steve is the type of person you want to be like. As my mom’s big brother, he has achieved legendary status through her stories of him and how much she adores him.
And it’s not only because he’s a lot of fun to be around, but also for how much he has made my mom feel treasured, cared for and special. We should all have a big brother that we love and admire so much… And who loves us in return.
He calls her “my girl” and “cute stuff”. (I have taken to calling her cute stuff as well… Like I said, you want to be like him, with his easy way and good humor).
When any of her animals cause her concern, Dr. O’Grady is her first call. His reassuring advice never fails to make her relax and feel better.
I don’t know Dr. O’Grady as well as I know Uncle Steve, but as far as I’m concerned, there should be a Wall of Fame for brothers. He’d be on THAT too.
– Abigail J. Gillis