Abstract
Enthusiasts of curly horses report hypoallergenic property of American Bashkir Curly Horses that allows horse allergic riders to have horse contact. Methods:We studied 23 horse allergic riders who ceased riding because of their allergy symptoms such as bronchial asthma and / or allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and examined them by lung function and allergologic tests: Skin prick testing, spirometry or body plethysmography.Regardless of the allergy test result an escalation contact program was started in which first the horses were ridden only and later also groomed. Meanwhile, lung function was measured during and after the horse contact.Results: The Curly Horses skin tests ( prick tests) showed usually weaker reactions than the standard horse prick test. Comparability has been tested in a pilot study (Allergojournal 4/2013).
19 of the 20 horse allergic riders did not respond significantly while having horses contact (riding) with Curly Horses at 212 measurements. 18 of the 20 riders did not react significantly when brushing the horses at 79 measurements. Two of the horse allergic riders had a relevant decrease in PEF values of about 20 % (after riding or while grooming, this could be corrected by a single dose of salbutamol.
Conclusion:Curly Horses are suitable for horse allergic riders wishing to pursue their sport if certain safety precautions be observed.
- © 2014 ERS
