A-State Opens $1 Million Equine Teaching Barn for Vet Students

A $1 million gift from thoroughbred owner and breeder Dash Goff has built the newest hands-on equine training facility at Arkansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. The Dash Goff Equine Center – Nodouble Barn will be dedicated and officially opened in a ceremony at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 3615 Hereford Dr. in Jonesboro.

The facility gives DVM students a dedicated space to build core equine clinical skills — the kind that translate directly to exam-table competence in horses after graduation.

What does the new barn give students?

The building is equipped with:

• Eight equine stocks
• Three stalls
• An equipment storage room

That inventory supports hands-on equine restraint, examination and procedural skills training, according to Dr. Heidi Banse, dean of the CVM.

"The Dash Goff Equine Center – Nodouble Barn is equipped with eight equine stocks, three stalls, and an equipment storage room that will support hands-on equine restraint, examination and procedural skills training of our veterinary students," Banse said.

Students will use the center for hands-on laboratories in hoof care and ultrasound. The location — just off Aggie Road, near the University Farm and Agricultural Teaching and Research Center — makes it easily accessible to DVM students.

Why the facility matters to the curriculum

For A-State, the barn is more than square footage. Banse tied it directly to the college's teaching model.

"This facility is key to delivering our competency-based veterinary curriculum, ensuring we can train our veterinary students to be prepared to effectively serve the needs of horses, trainers and owners upon graduation," Banse said.

The dean framed the gift as an investment in the state's veterinary workforce.

"We are grateful to Dash Goff for his strong commitment to our College of Veterinary Medicine, our Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) students, and the future of the veterinary profession in Arkansas," she said.

Who is Dash Goff — and why 'Nodouble'?

Goff is a prominent thoroughbred horse owner and breeder. His father, Gene Goff, bred and owned Nodouble, the racehorse behind the barn's name.

Nodouble won the Arkansas Derby in 1968. Known as the "Arkansas Traveler," the horse went on to set track racing records nationally.

Inside the barn, a plaque honors Dr. Doyne Hamm, a renowned equine veterinarian who served as the Goff family veterinarian for many years — a nod to the clinical lineage the facility is built to extend.

What comes next

The barn is the newest addition to the CVM, and Banse signaled broader industry partnerships ahead.

"We look forward to working with Dash, Oaklawn and other stakeholders in the equine industry to support our DVM students towards becoming competent and confident veterinarians that can ensure quality care for companion and performance horses across our great state, throughout the Mid-South and beyond," Banse said.

With the October 8 dedication, A-State's veterinary students gain a purpose-built venue where restraint, hoof care, ultrasound and examination skills can be practiced before they meet their first clients.