HUNDREDS of people are responsible for making the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show the world-class show it is today. Many are front of house, but there are also a considerable number of key team members who competitors may not meet during the week.

Behind the scenes are the farrier trio of David Kelly, Dan Kelly and Sam Brennan. With over 1,600 horses and ponies competing over the five days, it is inevitable that several will go lame or pull a shoe. Their presence is essential.

“I first started covering the horse show with John Boyne in 2017,” commented David Kelly. “We worked together for a few years and then, in 2021, he told me he was stepping away, so I have been there with my team ever since. In recent years, there’s been myself, Dan Kelly (who is no relation) and my good friend Sam Brennan.

“Our week in Dublin will start on Tuesday. Some horses may need a shoe reset after travelling. We may also see a horse that’s lame and help the owner/rider with getting it sound in time, especially for the international trot-up. We have a separate area in the international stabling, and another one in the nationals. The pocket is also manned for the week.”

Shoeing horses is no mean feat, and it’s a tough job even on the best of days. Not only is it physically challenging - you need a seriously strong back - but then there’s the dangers involved working with horses daily. “I’ve had a few injuries over the years, and there are days I’d crawl into my home on my knees because my back would be so bad, but apart from that, there’s never a day I don’t enjoy what I do.”

David Kelly is one of the best in the business. He cut his teeth with another consummate professional, Sam Brennan.

David Kelly on the tools at a farrier competition in Clifden\ Rynes Walker

Dan, meanwhile, was only 11 when he first observed David working on his family’s horses. From then on, he was hooked. He started his apprenticeship when he turned 16. Now 21, he’s fully qualified and David’s right-hand man. “It was a tough decision to make as I was so young, but I was very lucky to have trained with him,” Dan said. “He has been very good to me.”

David was also still in national school in Knocklyon, Co Dublin when he took an interest in equines. “My mother Maura grew up in Ballymacarbry, near Clonmel. Her family, the Melodys, ran a trekking centre (and pub) for many years. I spent my summers there and all I wanted to do was ride ponies.”

He never sat his Leaving Certificate - he felt he didn’t need it. “I spent that summer working with my uncle Pat (Melody). He would often replace a shoe, but I would then pull one off so I could do it myself. My interest stemmed from there really.

“That autumn, I wrote to farriers in Dublin and Kildare in the hope someone would take me on as an apprentice. I got no replies, so I then wrote to every farrier in Ireland. Sam Brennan responded, saying he was looking for someone.”

A native of Askeaton, Co Limerick, Sam had qualified a few years earlier. “I started with Sam on September 26th, 2000. My parents thought I wouldn’t last six weeks, but I stayed there five years.”

David credits Sam with not only training him to a high standard, but helping him maintain it too. “He’s the most naturally talented farrier I know. We are still good friends and work together once a week. That helps me to stay at the top of my game.”

For those wishing to get into farrier work, he has some wise words of advice. “If you haven’t learnt the basics of trimming a foot before you nail on a shoe, you are at nothing. It is so important that you serve your time with a good farrier.

“Also, one of the biggest mistakes some make when they qualify is that they go out on their own too quickly. You always need people to bounce off. Otherwise, your standards will slip.”

While working with Sam Brennan, David met his future wife, Elaine, who joined him when he was offered a job as farrier at Coolmore Australia. “That was a brilliant experience, and it really opened my eyes. They were so far ahead of us in Ireland.”

He was there two years when a routine visit to the doctor upturned any plans to stay ‘down under’. “I was told I needed surgery. I had no insurance, so we packed up and headed home.”

Thankfully, David made a quick recovery, and he was soon able to return to work. “I was just getting back into it, and John Boyne gave me two days a week. I also did a bit with John McLoughlin. Then I heard about a job as head farrier in Saudi Arabia for Sultan bin Mohammed Al Kabeer’s racing yard. By now, Elaine had qualified as a teacher, so she was also able to secure a job out there. She has always supported me in whatever decision I make.”

Dan Kelly hot shoeing a horse in Co Wicklow. He will be on duty at the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show next week \ Siobhan English

Packed diary

After five years in Saudi, the couple returned to Tallaght, Co Dublin where they have since been based. For David, he was almost starting from scratch in terms of a client base, but he was confident of building up a good book of clients. “It was 2016 and the sport was booming. I had a good skillset too.”

Nowadays, his diary is packed and every day is booked up well in advance. “Monday I could be in Galway, or Kilkenny. I am in Tipperary every Wednesday with Sam. He also works in partnership at home in Limerick with his brother Ruairí.

“Dan and I work together some days, but he does a lot of our clients now on his own. I am so lucky to have him - he is such a perfectionist. We do very few thoroughbreds, it is mostly competition horses.”

While most competition horses are shod, David sees plenty of leisure riding horses left barefoot, which he said has its advantages. “If you have never shod them, it is easier to maintain them barefoot, but in the wet weather we do suggest using hoof boots.”

David and Dan have also been busy with foals. “We like to see them at four weeks once they’ve had a chance to naturally correct themselves. If they still have an issue at that point, we can intervene. We have seen a lot going upright this year (and having contracted tendons) because of the hard ground. We are advising those owners to keep them stabled for a week or so.”

A few years ago, David was approached by Hugh Dillon to do some remedial work at Troytown. “I have been there every Friday since and, when it was taken over by Rachel Read (and renamed Ballyvarney), we agreed that I would continue with the service.”

David will often be referred a case. “Farriers should not be afraid to refer for remedial work if they are not sure. The client can always go back to their own farrier after that.”

As secretary of the Irish Master Farrier Association, David said they provide immense support, although he said there is a real shortage of farriers in Ireland. “Several start out each year, but very few stay at it. There’s the physical part and then there’s the outlay. If you want to do the job right, you will have huge costs.”

Pathway

Farriery Ireland runs an apprenticeship course at the Irish School of Farriery on the RACE campus in Kildare, where instruction and assessment is done on three off-the-job modules of the SOLAS Advanced Craft Certificate (Farriery) apprenticeship. Trainees can work towards an AQQI Level 6 qualification.

Dan Kelly qualified through CAFRE in Enniskillen. “I did the upskilling course. It suited as I worked with David for the first two years and then did two days a month in college for another two years. I achieved the International Diploma of the Worshipful Company of Farriers in March. I will graduate later this year.”

Dan, who is father to baby boy Kohl (18 months) with his partner Sarah, will also be on duty at the show all week. “I am looking forward to meeting some of our regular clients. It’s nice to see how they get on,” he said.

For those interested in watching top farriers at work, an International Farrier Competition will be held in conjunction with the Moynalty Steam Threshing in Co Meath next weekend. “Normally, Dan and I would be competing there but sadly it’s clashing with the Dublin Horse Show. For us they are a hobby, but I believe every farrier should be doing them,” David concluded.