One thing people are surprised to learn about me is that I'm allergic to horses. I actually have all sorts of (rather severe) allergies from grass, hay, dogs, and cats to dust, mites and molds. From a young age I didn't want my allergies to get in the way of me spending time with horses. I loved them too much to give them up. We had a neighbor friend who was a veterinarian, who was allergic to animals (Can you believe that?!) and he would get shots every week to control his symptoms...this served as great inspiration for me, even though I don't think this doctor ever knew it. :)While having a conversation with someone recently, they mentioned to me that their niece loved coming out to her farm but was unable to partake in horse-related activities because of her allergies....even though she loved horses! This made me sad, because I know from personal experience how frustrating and isolating that can be. I shared with this woman what I do to control my allergies and I later heard that they worked well enough for this young girl to be able to partake in horsey activities during her last visit!
Understandably everyone's allergies are different. Some people just get a runny nose and itchy eyes....while others get full blown asthma attacks plus all the typical symptoms. Last year I had my allergies checked, and on a scale from 1-4 my doctor said I was a 5! (oi!) My symptoms include hives on my forearms and hands, itchy, swollen eyes, runny nose, exhaustion, and trouble breathing. As a kid I never had problems breathing but have since developed this symptom as an adult.
One nice thing about horse allergies in comparison to dog or cat allergies, let's say, is that horses live outside (well away from your living quarters at least) and as long as you take some precautions to avoid taking their dust and hair in the house with you, you can control your allergies more so than animals that live with you.---
1. Whenever possible wear gloves when working with horses or working in the barn, whether they be leather riding gloves, work gloves or rubber gloves. Always wash your hands before putting on your gloves, so the inside of your gloves stay clean. (Dish washing gloves work well for bathing your horse or even grooming because they are typically longer then latex or rubber gloves.) Think you look like a dork?...If you want to continue working with horses you may have to do a few things that look a little strange to others. Don't worry, you and your barn friends will soon not even think of it as strange.
2. Avoid touching your face. This took me years to really master because you get busy and forget, but after a few episodes of your eyes swelling shut you will probably remember. :)
3. If your allergies are severe--to horses or to dust/hay, etc--wear a disposable face mask to groom your horse and/or to muck your stalls. Also, groom your horse and clean your barn as often as possible to reduce the collection of dirt and dust.
4. Vacuum your horse rather than brush. This might sound strange to some...and I know some of you are like "My horse won't let me do that!," but working up to the sound of the vacuum....vacuuming the barn let's say and then working up to touching your horse with the hose, as well as conditioning your horse with a positive reinforcement (pets or treats) incorporated with the sound of the vacuum, will allow your horse to see the vacuum as a good thing--much like you do with clippers. Be careful though, don't use a shop vac that has tons of suction, which could be painful. Use a vacuum made specifically for horses. Click here to see a few models.
5. Whenever possible wear long sleeves to reduce your horse/skin contact. This is a hard one to do in the summer, for sure.
6. Wash your hands and forearms as often as possible. Keep liquid soap in a pump-able container near a clean sink. I do not recommend using bar soap as it may house allergens. Also keep a clean towel--or a few towels--near the sink and wash it/them often. (Don't use paper towels they create too much waste. Come on, allergies don't mean you can't stay environmentally conscious! ;)
7. Take a non-drowsy antihistamine prior to working with horses. I have used the gamut of allergy medicines....from Benedryl and Singular to Zyrtec and Claratin. Zyrtec didn't do anything for me, and Singular gave me crazy dreams...and Benedryl made me so tired I couldn't function! I have had the best luck with Claratin and Claratin-D (D stands for decongestant). Claratin has to build up in your system to become the most effective so I take 1 everyday and take 2 on the days I will be working with horses. (Taking two in 24 hours isn't generally recommended, but my doctor told me this was safe for me to do.)
8. Ask your doctor if your could benefit from an inhaler. When I am having trouble breathing, I use an Albuterol inhaler, which is a generic for Salbutamol. Read about this drug. I also have found this handy when I am at people's houses who have animals and I have to be there for several hours.
9. When coming in from the barn, take off as many layers as you can and take off the rest in your laundry room, if possible. Wash your clothes, especially your jeans and shirt as soon as possible.
10. Store your riding clothes and equipment away from your living space, like a basement, laundry room, garage or of course a tack room.
11. Clip your horse in the summer. Why not in the winter you ask?...because the horse regulates his temperature through his coat and grows more hair to keep warm in the winter. Even if you blanket your horse in the winter, I do not recommend clipping your horse throughout the winter. However, in the summer months a good, full body clip can help to keep your horse cool and discourage overheating in the hot summer sun. Clipping of course reduces the amount of your horse's hair that can cause allergic reactions....however, this will not eliminate your reactions because it does not reduce dander--another cause for allergy attacks. Always use clippers especially intended for horses. (*Dander is material shed from the body of various animals, similar to dandruff or pet pollen. It may contain scales of dried skin and hair, or feathers. It is a frequent cause of allergies in humans.)
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Finally, allergies can be a very serious medical condition. They are not fake or something to brush aside. If you know someone who suffers from allergies do not discredit or downplay their symptoms or discomfort. Allergic reactions can feel as though you have the worst cold of your life, can mimic flu-like symptoms, can make breathing painful and they can make you so exhausted you can't think straight. And sadly, people who don't suffer from allergies often have a hard time understanding how serious and frustrating they can be.
Hopefully some of my suggestions will help you or someone you know keep horses in their life and yours!
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(By the way, horses can have allergies too....more on that soon!)
*Always consult a physician before trying or using any medications. I am not a physician. These are simply suggestions and are not to be taken as medical advice.
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