About Casie Bazay, BS, NBCAAM

Casie Bazay has worked as a freelance writer specializing in horses for the past decade and is a young adult author as well. She is nationally certified in equine acupressure and has a great interest in holistic horse health and barefoot hoof care. Once a competitive barrel racer, Casie now enjoys giving back to the horses who have given her so much. She and her husband operate a hay farm in northeastern Oklahoma, and Casie's lifelong passion for horses serves as inspiration for her writing and keeps her constantly searching for new and better ways to care for her own two mares.

Enteroliths in Horses: Causes, Symptoms & Prevention

By |2023-05-25T14:42:13-04:00May 25th, 2023|Conditions, Gut Health|

Enteroliths are calcifications or mineral masses that can form in the horse's intestines, sometimes resulting in impaction colic. These intestinal stones form when the horse consumes an indigestible object, which is not passed by the digestive system. Mineral deposits then accumulate around the foreign object. While some enteroliths are naturally passed in the manure with time, others grow larger and can obstruct the transit of feed through the gut. Enteroliths are most common in horses located in dry, arid regions, but can occur in any horse worldwide. A lack of pasture access and diets containing certain feeds can also increase the risk of enterolith formation.

Air Quality in Horse Barns: Respiratory Health, Dust & Ventilation

By |2023-04-21T17:06:51-04:00April 17th, 2023|Care & Management|

Respiratory Issues Signs of Equine Asthma Air Quality in Barns Ventilation in Barns Respiratory problems are a common occurrence in horses, sometimes they occur in acute (short-term) bouts or can [...]

8 Common Equine Eye Conditions & Vision Problems [List]

By |2023-02-24T14:11:55-05:00February 24th, 2023|Conditions|

It’s not uncommon for horses to experience eye problems. Several conditions and diseases can affect vision and eye health in horses, including uveitis, cataracts, and conjunctivitis. Horses experiencing eye issues may have symptoms such as swelling, tearing, drainage, discoloration, cloudiness, or sensitivity to light. Some conditions may not affect the eye, but instead, the eyelid or area around the eye. If your horse is affected by vision problems, this may result in poor performance, reluctance to move, nervous behavior, stumbling or clumsiness and an increased risk of injuries.

Sarcoids in Horses: Types, Causes, Prevention & Treatment

By |2023-01-26T14:42:04-05:00January 26th, 2023|Conditions|

Of the many skin conditions horses can develop, sarcoids are the most common. The term "sarcoid" was first used in 1936 in South Africa as a way to distinguish this skin lesion from other tumors. Sarcoids are benign (nonmetastatic) skin cancer believed to be caused by papillomavirus infection. They affect up to 11.5% of all horses. Sarcoids usually appear as rough, raised, hairless patches or nodules on the skin that are not painful or itchy. Some sarcoids are protruding, moveable masses with overlying skin still intact. The tumors are cosmetically unappealing and, depending on their location, can interfere with the function of the horse. But in most cases, the prognosis for affected horses is very good and some sarcoids resolve without any intervention. Effective treatments are available, including surgical removal, immunotherapy, cryotherapy, and laser surgery. However, sarcoids have a high rate of recurrence in horses.

16 Common Skin Diseases in Horses: Identification & Treatment

By |2023-01-13T15:04:31-05:00January 13th, 2023|Conditions|

Horses are prone to a number of different skin conditions and diseases. Some are minor and resolve on their own, while others can be much more serious. Skin conditions may affect localized areas on the horse, such as the legs or abdomen, or they can be widespread, affecting multiple areas. Symptoms may include itchiness, swelling, hair loss, skin flaking, and more. Learning to recognize various equine skin diseases is important to take the appropriate actions needed to resolve the problem or to manage the horse to keep them more comfortable.

Pain Management in Horses: Signs, Treatments & Therapies

By |2023-01-03T16:10:15-05:00January 3rd, 2023|Conditions|

Pain is something that all horses deal with at some point in their lives. Horses can experience pain for many different reasons, including injury, illness, or a result of surgery. For example, castration is the most common surgical procedure performed on horses and is associated with significant post-operative pain. Acute colic is another common painful experience for horses. Pain is also commonly associated with degenerative joint disease, laminitis, gastric ulcers, and hoof issues. Unlike humans, horses don't always show it when they are experiencing pain, or they may only display subtle signs of discomfort. This is because, as prey animals, they have evolved to hide signs of pain and weakness in the presence of predators.

Paddock Paradise for Horses: A Guide to Track Systems

By |2022-12-07T12:34:04-05:00December 7th, 2022|Care & Management|

Are you considering setting up a track system such as the Paddock Paradise for your horse? Jaime Jackson designed the Paddock Paradise concept based on the lifestyle of the wild and free-roaming American Mustangs living in the U.S. Great Basin. A Paddock Paradise system gives domestic horses an environment resembling their natural habitat

Stocking Up in Horses: Stagnation Edema Causes, Symptoms, & Treatments

By |2022-11-07T10:58:56-05:00November 7th, 2022|Conditions|

Stagnation edema, also known as stocking up, is a common cause of leg swelling in stabled horses. It occurs due to impaired circulation from periods of reduced activity. This short-lasting form of edema typically affects both hind limbs and causes swelling from the coronary band up to the hock. Occasionally, it occurs in the forelegs as well. Stocking up is also called distal limb edema because it affects to lower portion of the limbs. Another term for stocking up is pitting edema. This is because when pressure is applied to the area, a pit or indentation will remain temporarily. Stocking up results from the pooling of lymph, a clear fluid that circulates in the lymphatic vessels. Sometimes this circulation is compromised allowing fluid to accumulate. This typically occurs if blood flow and lymphatic drainage are impaired.

20+ Common Dental Issues in Horses – [Signs of Problems & Treatment]

By |2022-11-01T22:25:00-04:00November 1st, 2022|Care & Management|

Horses can experience a number of different dental issues over their lifetime, impacting their ability to chew and digest their feed. Unaddressed dental issues can affect your horse's health, condition, behaviour and performance. This is why it’s important to have your horse's teeth checked by an experienced veterinarian or equine dentist on a regular basis. Dental problems are the third most common medical problem seen in large animal practices in the U.S.

Equine Pneumonia: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

By |2022-10-24T10:54:26-04:00October 3rd, 2022|Conditions|

Equine pneumonia is a common respiratory illness that can be life-threatening in young horses. It can affect different parts of the horse’s lungs and may cause varied symptoms. Pneumonia refers to an infection in the lungs in which tissues become inflamed, and the air sacs fill with fluid or pus. Horses affected by pneumonia can experience cough, fever, weakness and difficulty breathing. Pneumonia can affect horses of all ages, but it is most prevalent in 2 and 3-year-old horses. It is also the most common cause of illness and death in foals between 1-6 months of age.

Sinusitis in Horses: Symptoms, Diagnosis, & Treatment

By |2022-10-24T12:42:43-04:00August 24th, 2022|Conditions|

Equine sinusitis is the most common disease affecting the paranasal sinuses in horses. Sinusitis is an inflammatory condition that often involves excessive nasal discharge. Horses with sinus diseases can also experience swelling in the face or reduced appetite. The causes of sinusitis vary but can include dental disease or bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract. Treatment for this condition often presents a challenge to veterinarians because of the large size of the horse's sinus structures, their complex anatomy, difficulties accessing the area, and the advanced state of the disease before a diagnosis is made.

Strangles Disease in Horses: Symptoms, Treatment & How to Prevent

By |2022-10-24T20:43:06-04:00August 4th, 2022|Conditions|

Strangles, also known as equine distemper, is a highly contagious disease caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi. Young horses are most susceptible to developing strangles disease. This condition most commonly occurs in horses under the age of two. The name "strangles" comes from the common sign of dysphagia or trouble swallowing that some horses experience, caused by enlarged lymph nodes.

Top 10 Signs of Dehydration in Horses [+ How to Prevent & Treat]

By |2022-08-04T11:12:36-04:00August 4th, 2022|Care & Management|

Dehydration is a serious problem in competing and working horses, especially during hot weather. Horses competing in endurance racing or engaging in sustained or strenuous activities are at the highest risk of dehydration. Dehydration occurs when a horse loses excessive fluids from sweat, urine, feces, and respiration. If this fluid loss is not offset by water consumption, dehydration can occur.

Roaring (Laryngeal Hemiplegia) in Horses: Causes, Treatment & Prognosis

By |2022-10-24T20:47:05-04:00August 2nd, 2022|Horse Health|

Roaring is a condition that causes some horses to make a whistling or roaring sound during exercise. It can affect a horse’s performance during high-intensity exercises, such as racing. This condition is also referred to as recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) or laryngeal hemiplegia. It is estimated that 2-8% of Thoroughbreds and up to 35% of draft breeds are affected by RLN. The larynx is part of the trachea (windpipe) and includes the vocal cords. RLN involves the partial collapse of cartilage in the larynx caused by progressive weakening of nerves.

Uveitis in Horses – Causes, Signs, Diagnosis & Treatment

By |2022-10-24T10:54:56-04:00June 7th, 2022|Conditions|

Uveitis in horses is a condition in which the uvea layer of the eye becomes inflamed. It is the most common cause of blindness in horses. It is estimated that as many as 25% of horses worldwide are affected by some form of uveitis.

Managing Sweet Itch in Horses: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

By |2022-04-27T12:15:04-04:00April 27th, 2022|Conditions|

Sweet Itch is a common skin condition in horses that is caused by an allergic reaction to insect bites. It is also known by the names Queensland itch, summer dermatitis, insect-bite hypersensitivity, summer eczema, recurrent seasonal pruritus, and equine Culicoides sensitivity.