NEWS AND NOTES

The Show Jumping Hall of Fame opens its doors to three new inductees, including legendary farrier Seamus Brady.

The late U.S. Equestrian Team farrier from Bridgewater, N.J., was considered by many of the world’s best equestrians to be the “guru of horseshoeing.” Brady, who trained at the Irish Army Equitation School in Dublin, immigrated to the United States more than 50 years ago from his native County Cavin, Ireland.

After moving to the U.S., Brady worked for U.S. Equestrian Team director and Hall of Fame member Arthur McCashin at Four Furlongs Farm in Pluckemin, N.J. Brady later was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served as a chauffeur to generals and also learned intricate details of welding and metalworking — skills that later would help to jump-start his successful career in the horseshoeing world.

After his service, Brady returned to Four Furlongs Farm, where it’s said that McCashin gave him his first set of tools to start shoeing horses on his own. From there, Brady went on to rise to the top of the horseshoeing world, working for many of the biggest and best barns in the country. Among Brady’s clientele were Ronnie Mutch of Nimrod Farm and the Leone family’s Ri-Arm Farm. Brady also was farrier for 34 years at Hunterdon Farm, which was owned and operated by Show Jumping Hall of Fame president and inductee George Morris.

“He was a real old-fashioned Irish horseman,” Morris recalls. “He was a horseman first. He was innovative and very imaginative. I would often listen to him after conferring with him and the veterinarians, and sometimes use his advice and opinions over those of the veterinarians.

“He was the guru teacher and subsequent generations owe him,” Morris continues. “He was one of the greatest that I ever worked with. I can’t say enough about him.”

In addition to working for many of the nation’s top show barns, Brady also was the USET farrier for all three disciplines, including at a number of Olympic events. Brady, who passed away in 2009, was inducted into the International Horseshoeing Hall Of Fame in 2002.

The Election Committee, comprising some of the nation’s top riders, trainers and officials, selects inductees based on their talents, efforts, accomplishments and what they have brought to the sport. Brady; Daniel Marks, VMD; and course designer Steve Stephens join the 78 previously enshrined inductees since the 1987 inception of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame.