Horseback Riding And Gluten

[Guest BERNESES]

Hi Everyone- I'm seriously thinking about leasing a horse and I'm a little concerned because barns are FULL of gluten- I can't think of any animal that eats more wheat, rye, barley and oats. I don't have DH BUT I'm just worried about the whole touching something and then putting my fingers near my mouth and boom! I'm micro-sensitive.

i was looking online today and there are lots of gloves you can buy for around the barn which I will probably do, but I'm wondering if anyone else out there rides and is really sensitive and how they handle it. I won't be feeding the horse, just grooming and riding. Thanks, Beverly

[snaffleblue]

Hi Everyone- I'm seriously thinking about leasing a horse and I'm a little concerned because barns are FULL of gluten- I can't think of any animal that eats more wheat, rye, barley and oats. I don't have DH BUT I'm just worried about the whole touching something and then putting my fingers near my mouth and boom! I'm micro-sensitive.

i was looking online today and there are lots of gloves you can buy for around the barn which I will probably do, but I'm wondering if anyone else out there rides and is really sensitive and how they handle it. I won't be feeding the horse, just grooming and riding. Thanks, Beverly

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi Beverly,

This is actually my first post on the forum, but I have been reading it since April when I was diagnosed with celiac disease. It's so great!

Your post made me decide it was time come forward. I am a very dedicated rider and own two horses as well as ride several others for other people. My own horses live at home, so I do handle their feed ect. I have spent much time meditating on this very issue - how to avoid contamination and still enjoy my horses Here's what I do. I feed oats with a scoop so I don't actually have to touch it and I don't kiss my horses noses very often, even though I'd like to! And, I wash my hands thoroughly when finished with this. I've had pretty good luck with just being careful so far. At some point I might consider feeding them corn since they are both very easy keepers and require very little grain anyway, so I might as well use one that I can tolerate.

That said I will go to the more challenging area of horse care for the celiac, and that's products. During the winter, it's not such a problem, but in summer I really want to be able to use a fly spray. I have used Burt's Bees insect repellant for humans because its gluten-free, and it seems to work ok. Also, I bathe them with Johnson's regular baby shampoo, and I put A&D ointment on cuts and scrapes (all human products I have found on our safe lists). I also bought new grooming brushes because I was sure the old ones had possible gluten in them from past products I had used. I bed their stalls with shavings because the alternative is straw and that's from wheat. As for tack cleaning, I use Murphy's Oil soap and it works well - also gluten-free.

I hope that helps a little! If you get your horse, I would love to hear of any other tactics you use to stay gluten-free and any product you find!

Good luck!

Michelle

[Lisa]

NEVER LET THE JOY OF HORSES OR BEING AROUND THEM STOP YOU FROM YOUR INTEREST.........................

We have had many horses and the pleasure and joy of just being around them is worth the world.

At that time I was A-symptomatic (i.e didn't know what I have now as I am sure you are well aware of.)

If you lease a horse, you may be totally responsible for the care. Many barns will feed and hay, or course with added fee.

If you are NOT totally sensitive to "air-born" wheat products, you may do well around horses.

Are these horses bedded down with Hay (and what kind) or shavings (cedar is good for them - oak, walnut and hard oaks are not so good) Cedar is the best - for the horses.

Feeding: You will deal with Oat Hay, Alfalpha Hay, Burmuda Hay, and most likely Wheat Hay (we dont have that here). They DO get dustly and you will inhale alot of the dust -- especially if it not fresh.

All of this depends on your level of sensitivity to glutens. Inhaling is one thing, but putting your hands in your mouth may be another. There has been a discussion on this board about inhaleing flours -----so cant confirm for you.

But, being around the joy of horses, would not hold me back.

If you are leasing...explain your issues and I am sure that they will work with you.

After you feed and finish out "mucking" out the stall, the last thing you want to do is put your fingers in your mouth.

Lisa B.

[Lisa]

Michelle:

Very glad that you have jumped in. Please feel free to ask any questions or join a response at any time. We are all together in the same boat......sometimes we can help and sometimes we just are hear to, just be here.

My girls were in combined- training. Dressage, Statium and Cross Country and involved in Pony Club and I have never been so proud.

Keep on with those horses, I am envious, so let me know how they are doing as well as you...........

This is always an open door.

Lisa B.

[Lisa]

Hi Everyone- I'm seriously thinking about leasing a horse and I'm a little concerned because barns are FULL of gluten- I can't think of any animal that eats more wheat, rye, barley and oats. I don't have DH BUT I'm just worried about the whole touching something and then putting my fingers near my mouth and boom! I'm micro-sensitive.

i was looking online today and there are lots of gloves you can buy for around the barn which I will probably do, but I'm wondering if anyone else out there rides and is really sensitive and how they handle it. I won't be feeding the horse, just grooming and riding. Thanks, Beverly

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Go for it, you will never regret it. Don't let celiac disease limit your life.

Lisa B

[snaffleblue]

Michelle:

Very glad that you have jumped in.  Please feel free to ask any questions or join a response at any time.  We are all together in the same boat......sometimes we can help and sometimes we just  are hear to, just be here.

My girls were in combined- training.  Dressage, Statium and Cross Country and involved in Pony Club and I  have never been so proud.

Keep on with those horses, I am envious, so let me know how they are doing as well as you...........

This is always an open door.

Lisa B.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for your warm welcome. I am a dressage rider now, but did pony club and eventing when growing up. Thanks for your tips on staying gluten-free and enjoying horses - I agree, they are absolutely worth it!

Michelle

[Guest BERNESES]

Oh you guys are the best!!!!!!! That's exactly what I needed to hear. I wasn't going to let it stop me- no way, no how. I love riding too much and it makes me so darn happy. So, I don't have to muck out the stalls or feed as the horses are an hour away and they lease them to help support an Arabian rescue program. So I get to ride 2-3 times per week and I am only responsible for grooming, tacking up etc.

So... here's my plan. I'm stoppoing at the tack store to buy some of those gloves- they're like $3 a pair and they're washable. I'll try to avoid the hand to mouth thing, wash my hands, and use Purrell. I am VERY sensitive when it comes to getting it in my mouth but I don't think I'm air-borne sensitive (i guess I'll find out!

I will explain my condition to them today when I go down and try to avoid kissing their noses and letting them lick me (so hard-there's one fillly I just want to snuggle with). I'll keep you posted on how it goes! And it's great to meet other horse lovers on-line here. Actually, check out their web-sit- the one I'm leasing is Tommy's Legacy (but we call her Queen) and the one I'm madly in love with is JE Rhapsody in Bey (she is so funny!).

Open Original Shared Link

You guys rock! I'll post pics. Ride on! Beverly

[Guest BERNESES]

I went down again today and wore gloves to groom the one I'm leasing. One thing I noticed was that i inhaled a lot of dust while grooming her (I did it in her stall) because she had been outside and was quite the dusty girl! Maybe I sjould groom her out of her stall???

They use, as far as I can tell, some kind of wood shavings for bedding. Hay is just for the eating!

i was really careful of avoiding my mouth and washing my hands afterI took the gloves off before getting in the car but.... what is the deal with inhaling gluten? Where has this discussion been? Thanks for all your support fellow horse people!

[Lisa]

I don't know where the post was listed....try the search with" inhaling flours", maybe symptoms or coping with forum.

I assume that the horses have been out in the field and rolling in the dirt. Dirt is dirt, but........they also poop in the field. Horses don't like to roll in a dirt/poop area and will go elsewhere. But, you need to keep this in mind when you have many horses at pasture for a long time. There is poop in the dirt.

As you groom, you are stirring up dust that they have rolled in (as they LOVE to do).

In other words, horses eat wheat, oats....horses poop, horses roll in fields that they poop in, therefore, horses have residue of digested wheat and oats on the dirt/dust that you groom off.......... Horse poop, let unattended, will grow wheat and oats, or whatever is feed and digested.

Therefore we have a problem Berneses.......

Try to get one of those masks that dentists use, craftsman use, or woodworkers.

Wet it with water. So as you groom, the damp filer will do just that.......filter alot of the dust/dirt/body scales. This may be no sure fix, but may be helpful.

If not, you may have to get someone to help you groom before tacking up. But, as we has said.........don't let celiac disease keep you from doing what you love to do. You control IT. IT does not control you.

as usual, my disclaimer is that I cannot spell............

Lisa B.

This pics are awsome.........wish I could take one home.

[Guest BERNESES]

Lisa- That's so funny- that's exactly what I was thinking (about the mask!. I'll just refer to myself as Dr. Bev when I groom

Also check this out, there's a dude ranch that has a Celiac week! That is awesome! I wanna go!

Open Original Shared Link

[skoki-mom]

Well I am jealous because I love horses but I am hideously allergic to them!!! Try the N-95 mask by 3M. You can buy it at home stores and it fits great. We all had to get fitted for them at work in case there is a SARS outbreak or super flu or something, and we actually had these sensors and stuff in them to see what we were inhaling. My mask fit so well I wasn't inhaling ANY particles, so I am thinking of getting some to rake my lawn, lol. Anyhow, these masks filter much better than some of others you can get.

[Lisa]

Dr. Bev will do very well.......

Try it and see how it works. Don't know how sensitive you are, but this may be a start.

I joined the Celiac-Sprue Association and with their newsletter, I did see a ranch out west that will guarrentee a gluten-free menu with riding and other activities. Sounds really cool to me.

Wishing you well in your riding and wish I could ride with you.......English, I do hope. Any riding is good and keep loving those tall four legged creatures.

Keep me updated cause I want to know your progress and where you are in your training/riding. Taking any fences yet? That's the best. When I was in my early teens, I would jumps 4' bareback with not fear. Since then, reality came into issue.

Keep me update.

Lisa B.

[Guest BERNESES]

Thanks Everyone! I'm so excited and I'll keep you posted. Beverly

[snaffleblue]

I went down again today and wore gloves to groom the one I'm leasing. One thing I noticed was that i inhaled a lot of dust while grooming her (I did it in her stall) because she had been outside and was quite the dusty girl! Maybe I sjould groom her out of her stall???

They use, as far as I can tell, some kind of wood shavings for bedding. Hay is just for the eating!

i was really careful of avoiding my mouth and washing my hands afterI took the gloves off before getting in the car but.... what is the deal with inhaling gluten?  Where has this discussion been? Thanks for all your support fellow horse people!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi Beverly,

I'm so glad to hear your progress - awesome! The airborne thing is definitely an issue and wearing a mask during grooming is not a bad idea. I've been considering it myself! Grooming outside the stall is probably safer. I'm going to look up the inhaling thing too...

I look forward to hearing anything more you discover!

Michelle

[Guest BERNESES]

I was definitely symptomatic today so I'm going tp pick up those N95 masks by 3M. That's great advice! You guys are awesome! Beverly

[Guest BERNESES]

Well- I went again yesterday with leather gloves (dust can't seep through) and a mask. I also groomed her outside. I seem to be OK (but man I'm sore() but I going to wait a few dyas before I go back.

It was pretty funny- I felt like a haz mat team out there BUT had a loively ride on a beautiful fall day in New England. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for all your encouragement, Beverly "Dr. Bev"

[Lisa]

Dr. Bev:

Wishing I was with you... take some logs for me on the trails. (makes me feel young again...I am young, just older that you.)

Lisa B.