Allergy to Horses – Explanation and Treatments

People can be allergic to horses, which can result in one or more of the following symptoms: – Itchy or watery eyes – Runny or itchy nose – Itchy skin, hives or rashes – Coughing or Sneezing – Breathing problems – Asthma attack

The severity of these symptoms can range from a minor runny nose to a serious asthma attack. In the case of asthma sufferers, care should be taken when first coming into contact with horses, as there have been a few cases of fatal asthma attacks. This is doubly true for asthmatic children, who in the excitement of being with horses may not notice the early symptoms, so they should be monitored by an adult when first encountering horses to ensure that they do not have a serious adverse reaction.

The most common cause of horse allergies is horse dander (bits of hair and skin which flake off, like dandruff). Other common causes include horse mites, urine and even horse salvia.

It is possible to have an allergic reaction without being near a horse, through indirect contact. For example, if one has a friend or family member who rides, horse dander may have rubbed off onto their clothes or hair or horse tack which they bring home. There are a number of cases where one family member rides horses, resulting in another family member having allergic reactions or asthma due to contact with clothing or equipment which the rider brings home. Similarly, going into a barn or other enclosed area where horses have been can result in a reaction event if no horses are present at the time.

Fortunately, there are a variety of treatments for horse allergies. These range from treating the symptoms using medications, to desensitizing treatment, to simple avoidance.

If you wish to ride but are allergic to horses, you may wish to try the ‘curly horse’ breeds as many people who suffer from horse allergies find that they are not allergic to these breeds.

Finally, you could try medical testing or trial-and-error to determine which aspect of the horse you are allergic to and then simply take care to avoid this aspect. For example, if allergic to urine, rather than go into the stable to get your horse, have it brought out to you. As another example, if allergic to horse mites, have your horse and its box treated against mites, which should greatl

Doug Stewart is the author of Allergy to Horses and other Horse Care articles.