Just What Is Hay?

[VydorScope]

We have been avioding taking our son to circuses, farms, etc, any place where there is "hay". Is that wrong? I am not really clear on what "hay" is and if it would be an issue from a gluten standpoint?

[kbtoyssni]

So I just asked my coworkers, one of whom apparently used to live on a farm in the summers. Hay is dried alfalfa and clover. Some hays could also contain prairie grasses. So I think you'd be ok taking your son to the circus. Although I'm not sure what dried horse food pellets are made of. I do remember someone on here being concerned with horses and wearing a mask when riding and brushing the horse. Maybe you could search for that thread.

[RiceGuy]

Here's a link to some descriptions of different kinds of hay: Open Original Shared Link

[Daxin]

Vincent,

Yes, take it from a farm boy, hay is the dried up, baled up leavings from alfalfa and other grasses used in livestock feed and bedding. There should not be any gluten in it.

Straw on the other hand is, at least when I grew up, what we called the grain stalkes that were left over and baled up. Normally used for bedding.

Hope that helps.

[num1habsfan]

Vincent,

Yes, take it from a farm boy, hay is the dried up, baled up leavings from alfalfa and other grasses used in livestock feed and bedding. There should not be any gluten in it.

Straw on the other hand is, at least when I grew up, what we called the grain stalkes that were left over and baled up. Normally used for bedding.

Hope that helps.

Yes, you are correct Ryan. Hay is just grass usually, which is often what's made into bails, and straw is the grain thats on the fields. I know you've probably seen both these pics but i can show you the difference:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v481/num...yofIMG_4053.webp << Straw, from what i think is a wheat field?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v481/num...an/IMG_3791.webp <<hay bales..you can tell hay is just loose and usually darker. It's also safe to be around..on the farm we don't actually farm anymore, just have some very old bits of alfalfa left and a lot of wild grasses and sprouted schrubs. Dad usually gets a guy to cut it and make bales. And sometimes the grass is knee high and I get no reaction (I am a VERY sensative Celiac)

Hope I help you too.

~ Lisa ~

[VydorScope]

Well what would be at places with horses/etc ? Circuses, Pumpkin patches, etC/

[blueeyedmanda]

I bet it would be at those places because they use it in stables and bedding.

[Guhlia]

Well what would be at places with horses/etc ? Circuses, Pumpkin patches, etC/

Even if the hay/straw were safe, don't horses eat and roll in oats??? I don't think this would matter for circuses and what not, but I'd be wary of pony rides and the like.

[Lisa]

Vincent:

I would stay away from petting zoos. Many times the children will be allowed to feed the animals with various grains and then pet the animals. BIG second hand gluten there.

[shayesmom]

We have been avioding taking our son to circuses, farms, etc, any place where there is "hay". Is that wrong? I am not really clear on what "hay" is and if it would be an issue from a gluten standpoint?

I do take my dd to petting farms and zoos. The straw is often wheat straw and if we're not careful, she does react. This happened twice before we figured out what was going on. Since then, we've managed to go to the petting farm and zoos safely by taking a few preventative measures.

We usually have dd wear a jacket or sweatshirt so that when we're done feeding the animals, we can just remove it and not worry about straw or oats being on her clothing. We ALWAYS bring along wipes and make sure she washes her hands and arms thoroughly after feeding the animals. And in general, we have been going to farms which are in rural areas so there is grass or clover near the pens. Dd picks the grass for the ponies and feeds that to them instead of the straw. It's much easier that way...not to mention that the animals like fresh grass and clover much more than hay.

Push comes to shove....bring an extra pair of shoes and a change of clothes. That way, if your son walks through straw, he won't be tracking it back into your house. And in all honesty, barns can be a bit dirty...so it's probably best to have separate "outdoor" shoes.

I hope that you find a way to work these experiences in without having to sacrifice his health and well-being. It really can be a tough thing to develop a sense of normalcy considering the extreme nature of our kids' reactions at times. I hope it works out for you.

[num1habsfan]

When you say farms...did you mean just a friends farm or some huge one with tons of animals? that could make a difference too in how much you should worry about contamination. I dunno what its like in the US, the farms and whatever they have at fairs for petting animals..I grew up in a major farming community..this whole damn province's biggest business is farming . So i've never done anything more than just go to a friends or relatives place who has some sort of cattle or sheep or horses...

~ Lisa ~

[VydorScope]

Think more along the lines of events like Pumpkin Rides, or petting smelly farm animals, those kinds of things. This is coming up agian cause the circus is in town... still not sure I am clear on if that is safe or not. I am just dense today!

[Kibbie]

I've taken my daughter to farms, circuses, and even let her feed the animals at the petting zoo She's 2 now and knows that she can't eat anything with Gluten in it so I tell her that it has gluten in it and we need to wash her hands after

Its a royal pain from my point of view because I have to be a watch dog to make sure she doesn't put it in her mouth and to make sure we wash down her arms, hands an fingers right after but from worth it to see her have fun.

We have had no reactions when doing this either!

I'm a firm believer that kids should be put in situations where gluten is around them so they learn how to avoid it and what to do if they come in contact with it. Our house is gluten free so my daughter has to learn somewhere I know others are not comfortable with this position but to each is own As the parent you need to do what you are comfortable with and leave it at that :)

[num1habsfan]

Think more along the lines of events like Pumpkin Rides, or petting smelly farm animals, those kinds of things. This is coming up agian cause the circus is in town... still not sure I am clear on if that is safe or not. I am just dense today!

WHAT are pumpkin rides?? Sorry but I honestly never heard of that!

~ Lisa ~

[VydorScope]

Pumpkin Rides... best done after the first freeze. Its where you get a huge pumpkin, climb on top out and ride it down an icy hill! Great fun, esply when you crash at the bottom and the pumpkin goes to gooey pieces all over!

[VydorScope]

Pumpkin Rides... best done after the first freeze. Its where you get a huge pumpkin, climb on top out and ride it down an icy hill! Great fun, esply when you crash at the bottom and the pumpkin goes to gooey pieces all over!

While I was joking... that sure does sound like fun! LOL! I was thinking "Hay rides" around Halloween....

[Cam's Mom]

I think it was I who raised the issue of horses previously. My daugter loves them and would be devestated without them. And, while she is perfectly willing to live her life without gluten and not complain about it, living without horses seems to not be an option for her. So this is what we do:

she does not feed the horses, she wears gloves when grooming and riding, she does not muck stalls (which she seems to not mind!). She always changes her clothes and washes her hands after being around the horses. We also limit the exposure to a couple of hours at a time, no long days at farm camp for her. So far we've had no problems.

I see no problem at all with going to a circus in fact I think it is probably a really good idea to go and have some FUN!! I hope you go and enjoy.

Barb