Three veterinarians are joining an exclusive company of hoof-care professionals with their election to the International Equine Veterinarian Hall of Fame.
The 2027 class includes Dr. Steve Adair, Dr. Maarten Oosterlinck and Dr. Frank Reilly. The trio will be inducted at the 2027 International Hoof-Care Summit in Covington, Ky.
Dr. Steve Adair
Dr. Steve Adair has spent more than 3 decades of teaching veterinary surgery from basic to involved surgical procedures. He has guided students to employment post-graduation and assisted in recommendations to referring veterinarians. He continues to speak for students and their concerns.
After earning his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Adair spent 2 years in private equine practice and completed a surgery residency at the University of Tennessee. He is a professor in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville and is director of the Equine Performance Medicine and Rehabilitation Center.
A health consultant for the Anheuser-Busch Budweiser Clydesdales, Adair is board-certified as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and is a charter diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. He is also certified in Animal Chiropractic by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association and is a Certified Equine Rehabilitation Practitioner. Adair’s primary research areas include microcirculatory blood flow and its relationship with developing laminitis, equine musculoskeletal conditions, regenerative medicine and equine rehabilitation.
Dr. Maarten Oosterlinck
Passionate about equine podiatry, Dr. Maarten Oosterlinck has extensively studied biomechanics related to the hoof. He gained extensive clinical experience in equine orthopedics and surgery as a member of his alma mater, Ghent University's faculty of veterinary medicine.
Combining clinical work with research, Oosterlinck earned his PhD on the use of pressure plate analysis for the objective evaluation of equine locomotion in 2011. He is the author or co-author of numerous peer-reviewed papers and book chapters on a variety of equine orthopedic and surgical subjects, such as visual and quantitative evaluation of lameness, hoof biomechanics, diagnostic analgesia, equine canker and others.
He is the president of the European College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation and the scientific editor of Equine Veterinary Journal.
Dr. Frank Reilly
Dr. Frank Reilly’s dedication to equine health and welfare makes a significant impact in the field.
His expertise extends to various equine health topics, and he actively contributes to the field through lectures and research. He lectures at multiple events throughout the U.S., including the International Hoof-Care Summit, on equine Cushing’s disease, insulin problems, summer eczema, vitamin E deficiencies, COPD/asthma and canker.
After nearly 40 years of service, Reilly retired as a senior doctor at Equine Medical & Surgical Associates in West Chester, Pa. He has worked on six world-record racehorses.
He has served on the International Association of Professional Farriers Board of Directors and as its president, as well as on the Board and as treasurer for Ryerss Farm, America’s First Horse Retirement and Rescue. He’s also a long-time member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Equine Practitioners, Pennsylvania Veterinary Association and the National Alliance of Equine Practitioners.
The International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame was established in 1992 to honor farriers around the world who have made significant contributions to the profession and who have left a permanent, positive impression on their peers and clients. Its permanent home is at the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville, Ky.
Farriers are nominated to the hall by their peers, trainers, veterinarians, horse owners, friends and family members. The names of nominees are submitted to current hall members, who serve as the board of electors.
Nominations for the 2028 class will be accepted from the public until April 15, 2027. To enter, please complete the International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame nomination form or send a 1- to 3-page summary explaining why your nominee should be inducted to: Awards, American Farriers Journal, P.O. Box 624, Brookfield, WI 53008-0624. Fax: 262-782-1252. If you have any questions, please email info@americanfarriers.com.
The International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be Thursday, Jan. 28, 2027, during the International Hoof-Care Summit at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Ky. The International Hoof-Care Summit is the largest equine hoof-care conference in the world with 60 educational sessions over 70 hours. The Summit also offers 9 uninterrupted hours of the world’s largest hoof-care trade show. Visit IHCS2027.com for registration and hotel information.
