Ballyshannon Equestrian Center

05/28/2026

Coggins...what it really means if your horse tests positive...

Most equine owners know that a negative Coggins test is a document required to be able to transport their animal across state lines, enter them in a competitive event, or board at someone's barn. But what does the phrase "negative Coggins test" actually mean?

A "Coggins" is a blood test that can only be performed by USDA-approved laboratories and checks for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) antibodies in the blood. Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) is a potentially fatal blood-borne infectious viral disease that produces a persistent infection among equids nearly worldwide. Transmission through blood transfusions or contaminated needles/syringes, surgical instruments or dental equipment is most common. The virus can also be transmitted through vectors via fly bite.

The clinical signs of disease can vary dramatically from an acute infection to an inapparent form, but what is important to know is that it produces a persistent infection. Once an animal tests positive for EIA it becomes a lifelong source of disease transmission, so the owner can only choose between quarantine for life or humane euthanasia to ensure that large outbreaks of the disease don’t occur. There is no vaccine or treatment for EIA.

Take-home message: While a Coggins test is a necessary travel document, don’t forget that it's also first and foremost a way to identify and remove EIA carriers to keep the disease under control.

To learn more about EIA, visit our website at: https://aaep.org/resource/equine-infectious-anemia/ or visit the Equine Disease Communication Center's website: https://www.equinediseasecc.org/equine-infectious-anemia

05/19/2026

Nice morning for a nap in the pasture...

05/19/2026

Extension shares information about maintaining your pastures and fertilizer pellets should not be visible before letting horses back on the pasture.

It's officially grazing season! As you get ready to turn your horses out, remember that a little management now leads to a lot of forage later. According to our friends at the UMN Extension, here are the 5 keys to a productive pasture:

Don't start grazing cool-season grasses until they are at least 6–10 inches tall to protect the roots.

Move horses to a new pasture (or a dry lot) once the grass is grazed down to 3–4 inches.

Mowing to 4 inches helps control weeds and keeps grass in a more vegetative stage. Dragging helps break up manure and kill parasites.

Every pasture needs time for regrowth before the next grazing.

If you fertilize, keep horses off until the pellets are no longer visible.

Check out the full guide for more pasture management tips: https://extension.umn.edu/horse-pastures-and-facilities/managing-established-horse-pastures

05/19/2026

ExtensionHorses shares "What grasses do to the South"...

May is all about that spring grass! But do you know what’s actually happening in your pasture as the seasons shift?

Tune in to "The story of what grasses do in the South" to better understand forage growth and how to manage your grazing as we transition from spring into summer. Your horse’s tummy will thank you!

🎧 Listen here: https://horses.extension.org/growing-in-winter-the-story-of-what-grasses-do-in-the-south/

05/07/2026

AAEP shares information about puncture wounds in a horse's hoof...

Have you ever dealt with a puncture wound to the hoof??

Puncture wounds in the foot qualify as medical emergencies, due to the number of vital structures just beneath the sole that can be physically damaged and/or contaminated with bacteria when they are penetrated by a sharp object.

If your horse steps on a nail or other sharp object and it remains embedded in the hoof, resist the temptation to pull the nail out and consult with your veterinarian first. Leaving the nail in place will allow the vet to take x-rays of the foot before removal, which helps to identify exactly what structures have been penetrated, and to plan the most appropriate strategy for dealing with the situation.

If your veterinarian advises, carefully remove the nail to prevent the horse from stepping on it and driving it deeper into the hoof cavity. As you remove it, be sure to mark the exact point and depth of entry with tape and/or a marker so the veterinarian can assess the extent of damage. Apply antiseptic to the wound and wrap to prevent additional contamination while you wait for your appointment.

Penetrating hoof wounds can be extremely serious and shouldn’t be underestimated. The prognosis for successful recovery depends on quick action to identify the path of the nail, treatment of potential infection and mechanical damage to the foot, and proper aftercare.

As always, consult your horse doctor for more information and advice!

05/02/2026

Secretariat's legacy lives on...Golden Tempo...

Secretariat's legacy lives on in the Kentucky Derby 🐴

04/24/2026

AAEP shares a nice graphic on EIA...

04/04/2026

Happy Easter...enjoy!

03/29/2026

AAEP shares a mythbuster...

Remember when your parents used to tell you to wait 30 minutes after eating before going for a swim? Unlike us, horses can actually benefit from eating forage before they exercise, as it may help reduce the risk of gastric ulcers.

While a variety of factors can contribute to the development of stomach ulcers (medications, diet, stress, etc.), one train of thought is that these areas of irritation result as a consequence of the acid of the stomach splashing against unprotected parts of the stomach lining. When a horse eats forage, the hay can help absorb some of that acid and thus reduce the risk of ulcer formation.

It is important to note that a forage meal (one comprised of long stem hay) provides the most benefit, while eating large volumes of concentrate feeds (such as oats, corn, or other cereal grains) can actually increase the amount of acid within the stomach.

As always, please be sure to consult with your veterinarian regarding further diagnostics and treatments if you have concerns that your horse may have gastric ulcers.

Thank you to the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee for providing this information.