Exclusively Equine - Texas Edition

10/15/2026

10/06/2026

Katie and Shark has moved into the Kentucky Horse Park and ready to ride on Wednesday and Thursday in The Retired Racehorse Project. Good luck. We are all rooting for you.

10/03/2026

Look AAEP agrees with my most recent post!

10/03/2026

This summer’s extreme heat and drought were hard on our pastures—and even harder on our horses. Three problems dominated our call list: founder, malnutrition, and equine allergies. Today, we’re focusing on why so many horses, ponies, and donkeys were foundering even when the pastures looked dead and “had no grass.”
Horses, ponies, and donkeys with PPID and/or insulin dysregulation are at significantly higher risk of laminitis when non structural carbohydrates (NSC) and sugars rise in pasture plants. Even when the pasture appears brown, sparse, or dormant, stressed forage can carry dangerously high sugar levels.
Grass spikes in sugar during three key situations:
1. Rapid spring growth – when grass is producing energy faster than it can use it.
2. Drought stress – when grass is crispy, dry, and struggling; plants store sugar because they cannot grow.
3. After dormancy followed by rain – when grass “wakes up” suddenly and floods itself with sugars to restart growth.
This means that “no grass” does not equal “no sugar.” Drought stressed pastures can be some of the highest risk environments for horses with PPID or insulin dysregulation, and this summer’s conditions created the perfect storm for laminitis across our region.
Laminitis/founder can show up in several keyways.

Common signs of founder include increased digital pulses, rocking back to relieve pressure, pumping or shifting legs, lying down more than usual, reluctance to move forward, and walking on the heel instead of the toe. Any of these behaviors indicate significant hoof pain.

If you notice these signs, call your veterinarian immediately.
Your vet will perform a full physical exam and evaluate your horse’s diet, pasture access, and overall husbandry. A baseline CBC/chemistry panel, endocrine testing, and radiographs help determine the degree of inflammation and any rotation or sinking of the coffin bone.

Once your veterinary team has a complete picture, they can establish an appropriate treatment plan and management protocol.

Horses with PPID and/or insulin dysregulation require lifelong management.
A coordinated team—owner, veterinarian, and farrier working together—is essential for keeping these horses comfortable and preventing future laminitic episodes.

09/06/2026

Shamrock says obviously the camera adds 10 pounds. He weighs 521 pounds.

09/05/2026

" This scale lies. I demand a second opinion... preferably one that flatters me."

We are excited to now have a scale that holds up to 3000lbs.

How much do you think Shamrock weighs?

09/04/2026

EEAP is proud to have a pair heading out this year. Wishing Katie Grady and the amazing Shark all the best!

08/31/2026

We all have that kid who insists on doing life with the instructions upside-down. Celebrate the chaos. Embrace the individuality.

08/29/2026

Please keep a close eye on older horses, those with PPID or metabolic syndrome, and all ponies.
The combination of high temperatures and extremely dry, crispy pasture has led to a noticeable increase in founder cases this week. Crispy grass is carrying very high NSC levels, making it unsafe for any horse prone to laminitis.

I strongly recommend pulling all laminitic‑risk horses and ponies off pasture at this time.
If you notice any signs of soreness, reluctance to move, heat in the feet, or changes in stance, please contact EEAP for guidance and support.

08/25/2026

Core vaccines are the universal horse shot: required for show ponies, pasture potatoes, and that one gelding who hasn't seen another horse since 2019 but still needs his vaccines.