What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Mackay Equine Vets

Home
Australia
Balnagowan, QLD
Mackay Equine Vets

Mackay's Equine Professionals

Dedicated equine vets who know what horses and their owners need. Book Online Now! https://pawsapp.com.au/ba?cid=6090

Delivering professional care at the highest of standards, without all the fluff in between.

16/06/2026

We’ve been thinking a lot lately about the people in our amazing community.

Behind every horse is a person who loves them, worries about them, and does their best for them, even when life feels heavy. Sometimes circumstances change, unexpected things happen, and what used to feel manageable suddenly isn’t.

That’s why we created "Bit By Bit".

It’s a small community initiative from Mackay Equine Vets to quietly support horse owners who might be doing it tough in this current phase of life. Every quarter, we select a nominated horse and owner combination to receive a complimentary equine dental procedure and full health check (excluding travel fees).

If you know someone who could genuinely benefit from a bit of support, you can nominate them privately here: https://mackayequinevets.com.au/bit-by-bit-giveaway

We may not be able to change the world, but we hope that, bit by bit, we can make things a little easier for someone when they need it most.

12/06/2026

✨ Meet the Boss | Dr Ashleigh Fisher ✨

There are some people who quietly hold everything together behind the scenes, and for us, that’s Ash ! She is the heart of everything we do 💙

Since starting Mackay Equine Vets, Ash has built something pretty special for the local horse community. What began as a big leap into business ownership has grown into a dedicated equine service that so many clients now rely on.

On top of running the clinic, Ash successfully completed her ANZCVS membership exams in equine dentistry in 2022, an incredible achievement that reflects just how much hard work and dedication she puts into her craft (and she’s already got her sights set on what’s next!).

Ash gives 110% to this business every single day, and it truly shows. From the care she provides to her patients, to the support she gives the team, she sets the standard for everything we do.

Outside of work, Ash is kept busy with her husband Nathan, their son Riley, and a full house of animals, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

The Mackay horse community is incredibly lucky Ash found her way here, and we’re even luckier to have her as our boss 🙌

10/06/2026

Dr Ash and Dr Carly spent last weekend on the Sunshine Coast at a 4-day lameness workshop run by .

We spent time with Dr Sue Dyson (international lameness expert) and more amazing specialists including Dr Alex Young and Dr Sarah Jalim, and soaked up all we could in a jam-packed 4 days!

Watch this space as we continue to grow our lameness and sports medicine practice and do our best to help owners have a harmonious relationship with their horse, including recognising the subtle signs of pain in a horse and listening to what they are trying to tell us.

Massive thank you to Olivia, Kristie, Ebonie, Darcy and all of the team behind the workshop - so much work to get it together but couldn't have been better if you tried!

08/06/2026

Did you know we use AI to analyse your horse’s manure? 💩

We have a state-of-the-art, AI-powered parasite testing system right here in clinic!

Using our Parasight System, we can quickly and accurately analysis your horse’s manure for parasite eggs, helping us determine whether deworming is actually necessary, or whether you might be over-deworming your horses, causing potential resistance to deworming medications!

Parasites can impact your horse’s:
✨ Gut health
✨ Coat condition
✨ Weight & overall performance

Regular testing allows for targeted deworming, helping to avoid unnecessary treatments and reduce the development of parasite resistance, an increasing concern in equine health!

It’s super easy!
Simply collect a fresh manure sample, place it in a zip-lock bag, label it with your horse’s name, and drop it into the clinic. If you can't get it in straight away, pop it in the fridge and get it to us ASAP. We’ll take care of the rest.

The Healthy Herd Program:
Faecal egg counts are also included as part of our Healthy Herd Program, making it even easier to stay on top of your horse’s parasite management.

Staying proactive with worming makes a real difference to your horse’s long-term health and prevents further problems (and more vet visits) in the future!

04/06/2026

✨ Meet the Team | Allysha ✨

We’re officially introducing Allysha as the newest member of the Mackay Equine Vets team!

Allysha is a born and bred Mackay local who started her career as a veterinary nurse in 2016, beginning in small animal practice before moving into mixed practice to expand her experience with larger animals.

Her love for animals started young, even leading her to volunteer at wildlife parks and Australia Zoo, but veterinary nursing has always been where her passion truly lies.

Horses have always been a big part of Allysha’s life, thanks to her dad. From riding together growing up to contract mustering and trail riding, her connection to horses has only grown stronger over the years.

After taking some time away to raise her two energetic boys, Waylon and Teddy, Allysha is excited to be back doing what she loves as part of our mobile equine team 🐎💙

When she’s not at work, you’ll find her riding, painting, or enjoying the country lifestyle with her family and animals.

We’re so lucky to have Allysha in the team! 🙌

02/06/2026

✨ A little reminder that we stock a range of our favourite equine products right here in clinic! ✨

Living in Far North QLD, we know firsthand the challenges our horses face year-round 🐴☀️🌧️ From hoof issues, to laminitis risk, to the dreaded QLD itch, we stock products that we genuinely use, trust and highly recommend ourselves.

Some of our favourite ranges include:

⭐ Hoof Co Products
With our climate, hoof problems can be a constant struggle, and we absolutely love the Hoof Co range for helping maintain healthy, strong feet. Blue Balls is a game-changer!

⭐ Poseiden Equine Products
Including Metabolize — a product we highly recommend for horses at risk of laminitis, and one that we have found extremely useful.

⭐ Wild Horse Rugs, Fly Masks & Leg Protectors
QLD itch is SO prevalent in our area, and the Wild Horse rugs are a product we honestly can’t recommend enough for helping keep horses comfortable and protected. A lot of the team at Mackay Equine Vets use these products for their own horses!

⭐ Total Gold Supplements
The GOLD STAR of supplements 🌟 Perfect for horses needing that extra boost, especially those struggling with joints, hoof quality and overall support.

Everything we stock is personally used, recommended and approved by us, we simply wouldn’t sell products we don’t believe in ourselves 🤍

Come down and have a look at what we’ve got in store 👀

📍 Clinic opening hours:
Monday–Wednesday: 9am–4pm
Thursday & Friday Mornings!

We do recommend shooting us a quick text before popping in, just in case we’re out attending emergencies, on farm calls, or briefly away from reception 🚑🐎

We’d love to help you find the right products for your horse!

28/05/2026

✨ Meet the Team | Dr Carly Pontifex ✨

We’re excited to officially welcome Carly as the newest vet to the Mackay Equine Vets team 🐴

Originally from South Australia, Carly has been horse-crazy since the age of four. Her lifelong passion for horses has seen her involved in a wide range of equestrian pursuits, including dressage, eventing, mustering and stock work, and even a brief stint driving harness racers.

After many years of study at the University of Adelaide, Carly graduated in December 2025 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. During her final year, she completed a short placement with us and quickly fell in love with the region, the community and the team, and we were just as happy to have her join us!

Outside of work, you’ll find Carly spending time with her horses and dogs, or out exploring the local area with her husband.

Please join us in giving Carly a warm Mackay welcome 👋💙

25/05/2026

HENDRA HEROES – JUNE PROMOTION 💉

We’ve teamed up with Zoetis again to help protect more horses against Hendra Virus this June!

If you’ve been thinking about starting your horse on the Hendra vaccination course, now is the perfect opportunity.

✅ Vaccinate your horse for the FIRST TIME during June
✅ Receive the 3–6 week booster vaccination FREE!*
*Travel charges excluded.

Hendra Virus is a serious and potentially fatal disease for both horses and humans, and vaccination remains the most effective protection available.

📅 Book online here: https://pawsapp.com.au/Book?ClinicId=6090&IsIframe=false&Style=6090.css

Or give the clinic a call to discuss the benefits of Hendra vaccinating your horse 🐴

19/05/2026

EQUINE VET GOLDEN RULE: "Eyes are Emergencies!" (even afterhours which is when we usually notice them!)

Unfortunately, eyes can deteriorate incredibly quickly in horses - an eye that was only a little bit sore in the morning can end up being a disaster by the afternoon.

Recently, we treated a 6-month-old Quarter Horse filly who was noticed to have a very mildly sore/discharging eye in the morning. By that afternoon (less than 6 hours later), she had already developed a melting corneal ulcer, and by 48 hours the ulcer had destroyed 75% of the surface of the eye.

Melting ulcers are caused by severe infection and inflammation in the surface of the eye, producing enzymes that break down and 'melt' the collagen in the cornea, leading to vision-threatening damage.

Despite aggressive treatment, the melting process could not be slowed in this filly. The ulcer rapidly deepened into a large corneal defect, leaving the eye at high risk of perforation. Ultimately, this filly was euthanased (due to a number of other mitigating factors discussed extensively with the owners) to prevent long term suffering.

This is exactly why we stress that eyes are emergencies.
A mildly squinty eye in the morning can become a vision-threatening emergency within hours.

Signs that should NEVER be ignored include:
• Squinting or holding the eye closed
• Excessive tearing
• Swelling around the eye
• Cloudiness or a blue appearance
• Sensitivity to light
• Any redness or discharge

And most importantly:
Don’t just put some cream in and “wait and see.” For some people this works, but you don't want to be the unlucky owner where it progresses rapidly!

Not all eye creams are safe for all eye conditions. Some medications can actually make ulcers dramatically worse, especially if the cornea is already damaged. Delaying proper assessment can mean the difference between saving an eye and losing one.

If your horse develops a sore eye, the safest option is always to have it examined as soon as possible, or at the very least, contact us for advice! 0458 806 183

(Posted with our generous client's blessing - unfortunately not the outcome we wanted, but hoping that we can turn this into an educational opportunity for other horse owners).

12/05/2026

✨ Meet the Team | Brooke ✨

We’re thrilled to officially introduce Brooke as the Practice Manager at Mackay Equine Vets!

Many of you will already know Brooke as the friendly voice on the phone and the one keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes. She’s been with the clinic since August last year and stepped into the Practice Manager role at the beginning of this year, and she’s loving it!

A proud local living in the valley, Brooke brings a genuine passion for animals along with hands-on experience from her own hobby farm. With four horses of her own and a love for breeding miniature sheep and goats, she knows exactly what goes into caring for animals day in and day out.

From coordinating bookings and supporting the team, to helping clients and keeping the behind the scenes organised, Brooke plays a huge role in making sure both our patients and their owners are well looked after.

Brooke loves working alongside Ash and the team and feels very lucky and grateful to be part of such a great crew 💙

We’re so lucky to have you, Brooke! 🙌

Address

238 Doyles Road
Balnagowan, QLD
4740

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61458806183

Website

http://www.mackayequinevets.com.au/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Mackay Equine Vets posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your business to be the top-listed Pet Store/pet Service in Balnagowan?