29 minute read
Department Updates
from DISCOVER USPC - The Official Magazine of The United States Pony Clubs - Issue #164 (Spring 2022)
by USPonyClubs
ACTIVITIES
2022 USPC Championships West and East
The Activities Department is pleased to share that our 2022 USPC Championships West will be heading to Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, CA, July 1-8. The 2022 USPC Championships East will be returning to the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Mill Spring, NC, July 27-31.
Coming soon to the USPC Championships web page will be the Guidebooks to Championships detailing the event eligibility, registration, and facility details. USPC will again offer invitational competitions for USPC’s newest disciplines, Gymkhana and Western Trail, at both locations. All equestrians (current Pony Club members and non-members alike) can attend and compete in this unique opportunity.
The Competition Resources page of the website offers year-round guidance for members seeking Championships information like eligibility criteria, exceptions, mount substitutions, coaching forms, and general information about the competition. USPC Championships West closes at noon ET on Monday, June 13, and USPC Championships East closes at noon ET on Tuesday, July 5.
DEVELOPMENT
The Reader Horse Management Education Fund
Thanks to a generous donation from the Van Camp family, we are pleased to announce the establishment of The Reader Horse Management Education Fund. The Reader Fund will allow Pony Club to support Provisional Chief Horse Management Judges with their requirements to obtain Chief status. For more information visit the Horse Management page on the USPC website.
Thank You to Our 2021 Annual Fund Donors
The full list of the 2021 Annual Fund Donors is now online at ponyclub.org/giving Please contact development@ponyclub.org for any errors or omissions. This list will be incorporated into the 2021 Honor Roll of Donors and Annual Report.
2022 USPC Convention Sponsor Success
Thanks to the many sponsors who supported the 2022 USPC Convention and the hard work of the Old Dominion Region volunteers, Pony Club exceeded the budgeted Convention sponsorship goal. You can find the complete list of sponsors on page 21. Through the revenue share partnership, the Old Dominion Region
Pony Club officially kicked off the 2022 USPC Annual Fund in January. As we continue the theme of Pony Club Inspiration, hear why some of our donors are inspired to give:
“Some of my happiest memories come from Pony Club, and I learned so much. I joined at 15 years old and was only able to obtain my C-1, but I am thankful for all my years in Pony Club” “The best years my children ever had. Teamwork, laughter, fun, responsibility, hard work and friendship” “Our family joined Pony Club in the 70s. One of the best things we ever did” “I was a parent, and as we all do, drove the trailer, helped at rallies and watched how wonderful Pony Club was. I learned a lot along with my children” “The incredible years my daughter spent being a Pony Club member. The knowledge, experience, and friendships will last her a lifetime. Also the involvement it gave me as a mom.”
2020 was the first year USPC offered the revenue share partnership to the Northwest Region for the convention held in Seattle. Through this partnership, USPC gives back a percentage for any sponsors who are secured through the region. We hope that this will be a model for future revenue share partnerships in other areas.
At the January meeting, the Board of Governors voted to combine the Frances Pitts Memorial Fund for International Games, the Strassburger Fund for International Tetrathlon and the Inter-Pacific Fund for Inter-Pacific Exchange into one fund called the International Exchange and Special Opportunities Fund. This will allow greater growth of funds to support all exchanges and special opportunities.
INSTRUCTION
Teach This Summer with the Visiting Instruction Program
The Visiting Instruction Program provides a unique opportunity for clubs, centers, and regions to obtain a well-qualified A, H-A, H, or B certified member to instruct in a summer, weekend, or vacation camp or clinic. Visiting instructors have the chance to practice and improve their teaching skills, with the added fun of traveling and making new connections.
Pony Club still needs Visiting Instructors for this summer! Members 18 and over with a B, H, H-A, or A certification are encouraged to apply. If there is additional need, special consideration will be given to placing H-B and C-3 members who demonstrate a high level of maturity and are experienced in teaching. If interested, please apply online and read more about the program on the USPC website: ponyclub.org/members/ leadership/visiting
A new 2022 Horse Management Handbook and Competition Rules is now available to download on the website or purchase from shopponyclub.org. The new edition includes the Required Equipment Scoresheet Amplification (details to expand on what is in the Horse Management Handbook) at the end, as well as new scoresheets. The 2022 Horse Management Newsletter is posted on the website with important highlights to note for Horse Management education and competition.
Pony Club to Offer United States Eventing Association Instructor Certification Programs
Pony Club is proud to be sponsoring two upcoming United States Eventing Association (USEA) Instructor Certification Program Workshops in the Midwest for USPC instructors and upper-level members this summer with faculty instructor Karen O’Connor. Workshops include Dressage and Jumping Levels I, II, & III workshops June 14-16 and July 11-13, 2022 at Jigsaw Farms in Woodstock, Illinois.
USPC is hosting this workshop to give Pony Club instructors and upper-level Pony Club members an opportunity to acquire a knowledge base, both theoretical and practical, to build upon for a lifetime of teaching. Registration closed April 15; auditors are welcome but must register by June 1. To learn more, visit the Opportunities, Grants, & Awards page on the Pony Club website under the Eleanor Brennan Memorial Fund.
Revised Recommended Reading Lists for All Certification Levels
Please check out the updates to the recommended reading lists as you begin to study and prepare for any certification level this year.
Read more and help support Pony Club! Many enrichment titles can be found through USPC’s affiliate partner Trafalgar Square Books, and when you shop from the link on USPC’s partner page (ponyclub.org/ giving/affiliatepartners) Pony Club receives a 15% commission on your order.
National Testing Feedback Project
The National Testing Feedback Project allows current C-2 and above members to submit a video or document of a mounted or Horse Management skill, and receive feedback from one or two national examiners. Members can continue building their national level skills and preparing for national certifications by receiving timely feedback from National Examiners. General guidelines and additional FAQs are available on the national level candidate materials page of the website.
MEMBER SERVICES & REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION
The USPC Member Services Department is working with Compliance to educate and assist with adult member requirements for background checks and SafeSport™ trained course completion as per USPC Policy #0900. Members may review their status from their profile while club, center and region leaders can view member status from their online rosters. Any adult member listed as “pending” is not compliant with their age-determined requirements and will not be considered in good standing until all necessary items are complete.
New features recently implemented on the club, center and region online records offer more options for volunteer management. Leaders will now be able to monitor the eligibility of volunteers who are subject to compliance with USPC Policy #0900, including instructors, clinicians and local examiners.
Following input from leaders who attended the 2022 Convention leadership education meetings, Vice President of Regional Administration, Lorelei Coplen, has begun a series of educational “mini-topics” relevant to club, center and region administration. The first two covered Nominating Committees and Elections/Voting. If you missed these emails, the information is still available on the respective resource pages of the USPC website.
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FLASH AWARD WINNER
Deer Creek Pony Club
This is the winning submission for the 2021 Flash Award. To learn more about the Flash Award visit the Pony Club website. Submitted by Nicole Rich, Treasurer-Secretary
It’s been said that every three months your life can change. Those words couldn’t have hit closer to home for our thriving club. In October 2018, Deer Creek Pony Club had 18 members, and we held monthly meetings with many active members. By January of 2019 we had six members, four active ones, and at the start of 2020 we were down to four junior members: Ashley B., Clare R., Bethany P. and Lula R. Together they worked through the club’s many disadvantages, including COVID-19.
Plans, a Pod and a Fresh Start
At the beginning of 2020 the kids decided it was time to make a change and came up with a few ideas, but first on their agenda was to revamp the club’s logo, colors, apparel and banners in order to start with a fresh new look. They had an idea, and the officers helped to make a plan. Deer Creek was always a club that strived to be represented at many of the regional rallies and events. This didn’t change; in fact, it was easy for them to have 100% participation with just four kids, so they finally had something in their favor. Once COVID-19 hit our area in March of 2020 and everything shut down, they still wanted to continue safely with our club meetings. We decided to form a pod. Most of the unmounted meetings took place at our kitchen table. With Lula and Clare being sisters we held 50% of the membership. Ashley and Clare had become even closer during the shutdown, as did Beth and Lula, being in the same grade.
Deer Creek Pony Club members in March 2020. The four girls competed at an Everything But The Horse rally, and brought in a little sister to complete the team. Beth, Isley, and Lula are in the front, with Ashley and Clare in the back.
Through all the COVID-19 related mandates, rules and safety measures thrown their way, they came up with a plan every time. They adapted and overcame the challenges. They all voted no to Zoom meetings, so in-person teachings were held within our pod. Clare and Ashely were our upper-level members and they both taught and assisted in teaching the younger girls. Mounted meetings were more of a struggle. It wasn’t easy getting trainers from out of the area for four kids, so we tried different options. The list of ideas the kids had was great: they went to a clinic, a schooling show, a hunter pace camp, and we used many local wonderful trainers in our backyard to fulfill the needs of the kids. At the end of 2020 and despite COVID-19, they finished the year with nine unmounted meetings and seven mounted meetings and every member earned a certification!
Fundraising Feed
In the middle of the year we were luckily enough to be gifted an entire load of horse feed to be sold for profit. The girls, along with two moms and a big brother, helped load up truckloads of 50-pound sacks of feed from a shipping container into the beds of pick-up trucks. They also had the same task of unloading and stacking it on to pallets to be sold. Just when things were going great, the kids realized the feed had actually gone a little bad and they didn’t think they could sell it as horse feed at the price they had hoped for. They put their heads together and decided to market it as pig feed and came up with a comparable price that would not only get the product moving but also bring
By March 2021, Deer Creek Pony Club had grown from four members to 11 and attended their first team event with all new branding thanks to their fundraising efforts.
in money to buy new club banners. Within two weeks, they sold enough feed to purchase club banners and custom C-4 belts for the incoming members they would soon recruit. In the end they raised over $800.
These are just a few examples of the many ideas and accomplishments these four girls achieved together. The tiny club that everyone thought was going to fold, didn’t. On many occasions we were asked to join other clubs but having just received our 25th Club Anniversary Milestone Award, the girls and the officers alike knew we had to continue and soon the membership would increase. And it did. In January of 2021 we started with the same four eager members. In February we hosted a small informational meeting. The members were all asked to invite a few friends from school, or their barns. The members sat in between all the prospective new members and proceeded to teach them about stall cards, feed charts and what Deer Creek Pony Club was all about. They signed four kids up that night, and it didn’t stop there. Since then, we have added seven new members and a neighboring center recently closed and transferred memberships. In total we have about 13 active members at any one time and a total of 25 members on record.
Ashely, Clare, Beth, and Lula formed a unique bond that held this club together. And although there isn’t one single thing they each did to show teamwork, it’s what they accomplished together, how they overcame together, and that they did it in spite of every obstacle. How they managed to keep it alive with four active members for two straight years is an accomplishment in itself. They are very proud of their achievements and club when they wear their newly designed shirts and hold their banners. They are and will continue the legacy of the Deer Creek Pony Club.
Find out how to submit a nomination for the Flash Teamwork Award here; entries are due November 4.
Hail to the Chiefs By Cindy Medina
The sun may not have been shining that cold Thursday morning in January at the 2022 USPC Convention in Norfolk, Virginia, but that didn’t stop some big smiles from shining brightly as six new Chief Horse Management Judges (CHMJs) were sworn in.
While I can’t speak directly for my fellow new CHMJs, for me the road to becoming Chief was a roller coaster ride to say the least, with plenty of ups and downs. But it’s an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world. The biggest challenge was that I entered the Provisional Chief Horse Management program pre-COVID-19. Then BAM! COVID-19 hit, and the world hit the pause button.
All my provisional rallies booked for the 2020 rally season, began to cancel and drop like proverbial flies from my calendar. It was like having to take a gap year, and maybe more. In 2021 I attended nine, yes nine, rallies. Between my region’s rallies, my provisional rallies, and Championships, it made for quite a busy year. Then add the challenges of having to work through and cope in a COVID-19 environment, with the constant checking and abiding by COVID-19 restrictions, state by state.
It was all worth it that chilly gray morning. During the CHMJ and Horse Management Organizer (HMO) meeting, five of the six newly minted Chiefs were able to attend. We were asked to come to the front of the room to receive our CHMJ pins and take our oath. While the Presidential “Hail to the Chief” did not play as we proceeded to the front of the room, it didn’t make it any less special.
Now, I’m closer to 60 than 6, but my inner child could hardly contain itself.
Chief Horse Management Judge (CHMJ)
The CHMJ is a volunteer (often a graduate of Pony Club) who has earned and acquired the skills and experience to oversee the judging of Horse Management during rallies and Championships. Horse Management is judged at all USPC rallies to reinforce and evaluate the Horse Management principles, skills, and knowledge of safe, sound, and practical horse care practices. HM is also tested at each certification level earned in Pony Club. The CHMJ works with local clubs/centers and regions to help educate members on HM skills and knowledge.
We were finally getting our CHMJ pins! Melissa Dabadie (Horse Management Committee co-chair) gave each of us our pin, and a little Chief swag. Sydney Wilson (Horse Management Committee) placed a crown on each of our heads. Catie Itschner (Horse Management Committee provisional chair) held the Horse Management rulebook and had us all gather round as we each placed our right hand on the rulebook and repeated the oath spoken by Sydney. The little ceremony they put on for all of us meant the world to me, as I’m sure it did for my fellow new CHMJs as well.
USPC’s newest CHMJs are: • Annette Ruths - Delmarva Region • Cindy Medina - Midwest Region • Eben Haber - Middle California Region • Heather Baugh - Delmarva Region • Shawna White - Midsouth Region • Stephanie Infante - Central New England.
What Does a Horse Management Judge Do?
Horse Management Judges (HMJs) at USPC rallies are first and foremost educators. At rallies, HMJs are present to offer constructive advice and support and encourage safe practices and teamwork. The role of HMJs at rallies is to: • Promote the safety of competitors and mounts. • Cultivate an educational and productive environment. • Constructively evaluate how well competitors care for their mounts and manage their work in the stables. • Encourage competitors to assume responsibility for the independent care of their mounts. • Use practical sense when making decisions and encourage practical thinking on the part of competitors. • Encourage teamwork.
USPC RESEARCH FAIR
By Liz Moyer in Review
Participants in-person for the 2022 USPC Research Project Fair
Another USPC Research Project Fair is in the books, and Pony Club’s science-minded members once again impressed judges with their exploration of equine topics. Presented by the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and supported by Kentucky Equine Research, the 2022 USPC Research Project Fair offered a virtual division as well as in-person entries at the USPC Convention held January 26-30, 2022, in Norfolk, Virginia. About the Research Project Fair
The USPC Research Project Fair provides members with an opportunity to explore their passion for horses and horsemanship through hypothesis-driven projects or in-depth reviews of the literature.
Projects can help members prepare for certifications, search for answers to their biggest horse-related questions or find ways to better understand their own horse’s behavior. This year, topics ranged from the benefits of composting, absorbency of different bedding types, and coat color genetics, to the important and age-old question—can horses really talk?—as well as many others!
“The ultimate goal of the Research Project Fair is to provide a forum in which members can explore a topic of interest to them and share their findings,” explained Research Project Fair organizer Yvette Seger, Ph.D. “Sometimes this involves a deep dive into existing resources, while others may require an experimental framework. There is truly a place for everyone!”
Seger’s favorite part about the Research Project Fair is listening to the members present their process for exploring their topic of interest—what prompted them to explore this topic? How did they design their study?
Did they have any unexpected findings? And most importantly, what might they want to explore next? “It's a fantastic way for members to use their passion for horses to drive research methodology,” she says. Supporting the Future
The 2022 participants showcased their projects with a visual display and short presentation to the panel of judges, including Adrienne Bushau-Sprinkle, PhD, and Bo Varnado for the virtual fair, and in-person at the 2022 USPC Convention in Norfolk, VA, with judges Kelly Tighe, Kelly Vaughn, PhD, and Shawna White.
The event is made possible each year through the support of generous sponsors like Grayson Jockey Club Research Foundation and Kentucky Equine Research, and numerous volunteers with expertise in biological research, science education, and Pony Club curriculum who volunteer their time as judges.
“Grayson is proud to sponsor the United States Pony Club Research Project Fair. We hope that through this partnership, we are encouraging young scientists to be mindful of horse health and safety at an early age,” said Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation Director of Development Holly White. “It’s wonderful to see the variety of research fair projects, from genetics and wound care to stable bedding options, the equine mouth, and many more.”
She commended the participants’ curiosity and commitment to their horses’ health and well-being, adding, “We hope these young minds will eventually be leaders in the equine field and consider careers in veterinary medicine, equine research, or education.”
Research project fair judge Shawna White, director of digital technology at Kentucky Equine Research, agrees with the importance of nurturing talent. “As the world leaders in equine nutrition, Kentucky Equine Research is proud to sponsor the next generation of equine scientists. The projects this year were incredibly well thought-out and presented,” she said. “Serving as a judge for the second year in a row, I continue to be incredibly impressed by the work that Pony Club members put into these projects, and as a Pony Club alumna, I am ‘Pony Club Proud’ to be a part of such a wonderful program.” The Research Project Fair is open to Pony Club members of all ages and certification levels, and Seger is proud to point out that there is no entry fee to participate. She feels that the activity is a great way for members to participate in a national-level event, especially with the addition of the virtual option.
“Participants in both formats highlight the Research Project Fair as an opportunity to apply skills they are learning in their school science classes as well as studying for future Pony Club certifications,” she says. “Overall, it provides a very supportive educational environment for Pony Club endeavors and beyond.”
The USPC Research Fair competition is held at the beginning of every year during the USPC Convention. Look for upcoming Research Project Fair details on the Pony Club website and start thinking about what equine topics you might like to research! 2022 USPC Research Project Fair Winners:
Individual Experimental Project (9-10 years of age)
First place: “Can Horses Talk?” presented by Annabelle M., Intermountain Region
Individual Experimental Project (11-13 years of age)
First place: “Effectiveness of Wound Care Options” presented by Bella E., Old Dominion Region
Individual Experimental Project (14-17 years of age)
First place: “ASIP and MC1R Research Project” presented by Abigail G., Northeast Region
Abigail G received first place in her division and overall high score
Individual Literature Review (9-10 years of age)
First place: “Muzzle Mysteries: What Does That Lip Scrunching Mean?” presented by Mae B., Midwest Region
Individual Literature Review (11-13 years of age)
First place: “Body Condition Score” presented by Juliana D., Sierra Pacific Region
Individual Literature Review (14-17 years of age)
First place: “Lub-Dup” presented by Michaela F., Midwest Region Second place: “Equine Narcolepsy” presented by Alaina M., Midwest Region
Individual Experimental Project (9-10 years of age)
First place: “Straight From the Horse’s Mouth (and Other Body Parts)” presented by Aubree S., Lake Shore Region Second place: “Saddle and Tack Care” Riley Y., Southern California Region
Individual Experimental Project (11-13 years of age)
First place: “Does Compost Really Work?” presented by Charlotte H., Midwest Region
Charlotte H. presented virtually
Group Experimental Project
First place: “Which Bedding Will Keep Your Pony Dry” presented by Mae L. and Sophia L., Midwest Region
Individual Literature Review (11-13 years of age)
First place: “Scraping the Surface of Horse Genetics” presented by Melody D., Southwest Region
Individual Literature Review (25 years of age and above)
First place: “Heat Conditions and Related Illnesses and Mitigation” presented by Kathy C., Southwest Region
Deborah Cianca-Mayer, President of Bear Valley Springs Carriage Driving Society and Bear Valley Springs Pony Club Sponsor, driving her mare Ellie.
DISCIPLINE SPOTLIGHT: Driving
By Debbie Swarens, JtDC Bear Valley Springs Pony Club
The sport of driving is fairly new to Pony Club. And, while not yet a Championships recognized discipline, driving is gaining popularity. Horses, ponies, miniature horses, mules and donkeys all make great driving prospects. Driving is a fun way for Pony Club members to experience a different mode of horsemanship.
Driving Sports
Driving is one of the oldest equestrian sports and there are a variety of ways to enjoy it, whether you drive for fun or want to compete. Combined driving is an exciting sport with three phases including driven dressage, cross-country marathon, and a cones course. It is a test of equine obedience, speed and athleticism as well as the skill of the driver. The sport was inspired by the riding discipline of three-day eventing—except with a carriage in tow! Carriage pleasure driving classes feature traditional turnout, often using antique carriages or replica styles in competition. Classes may be divided by type of hitch, including singles, pairs, or multi-horse hitches. Judging for different classes may be based on various criteria, including performance, turnout, and the skill of the driver. Recreational driving includes all types of non-competitive driving. However, there are some competitive activities that fall under recreational driving, such as long-distance carriage driving. As the American Driving Society explains, recreational driving can be as simple as enjoying a drive in an arena or around the pasture, getting out and driving on quiet backroads, or even hitting the trails.
Getting Started in Driving
Bear Valley Springs Pony Club is fortunate to be located in a community where many different equestrian disciplines are represented, including driving. Our local BVS Carriage Driving Society’s members are very enthusiastic about the sport and encourage our Pony Club members to participate in their events. From “learn to drive” educational clinics to American Driving Society events, we are mentored by experienced drivers and have a great time learning all about driving! Find more information about driving: American Driving Society (americandrivingsociety.org); United States Equestrian Federation (usef.org)
Alpha-Gal? What’s That?
One Member's First-Hand Experience with a Tick-borne Disease
By Mia Valdez
Tick-transmitted diseases are not new, for both horse and rider alike, but are sharply on the rise due to the spread of tick populations across the US.
Equestrians are, because of the time spent outdoors with our equine partners, at an increased risk of exposure to ticks and therefore contracting tick associated diseases.
More than 75% of reported vector borne diseases in the US are tick-borne. (Source: CDC) One of the fairly new and grossly misunderstood tick transmitted diseases is Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS):
What is Alpha-Gal?
“Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS), or mammalian meat allergy, is a tick-induced allergy to galactose-α-1,3galactose. This sugar, commonly known as alpha-gal, is found in all mammals except for humans and some primates. Products made from mammals can also D10 | DISCOVER USPC Spring 2022 contain Alpha-Gal. These include mammalian meat (like beef, pork, and lamb), milk and dairy products, gelatin, medications, medical products (like heparin and vaccines), personal care products (like lotion and makeup), and many other items. Reactions, which can be life-threatening, may be immediate, as in the case of injected drugs, or delayed from 2 to 10 hours, as is typical after the consumption of mammalian meat.” Source: www.alphagalinformation.org
My Story
My name is Mia Valdez. I am 14 years old, a C+ Pony Club member in the Old Dominion Region, with Mountain Skyline Pony Club. I contracted Alpha-Gal and Lyme disease in 2021.
I had a huge advantage and was diagnosed incredibly fast due to my mother also having Alpha-Gal. Now, you would think that we live in an epicenter of tick
transmitted diseases, but the reality is that we live in Central Virginia and have been bitten by ticks many times without any dire consequences. Alpha-Gal can often go unnoticed.
My mother’s ordeal to get a diagnosis is not unusual. Though she has a medical background and went to the doctor, equipped with the knowledge that she had a tick bite, it took two and a half years and five doctors to finally get a diagnosis. The median time from exposure to diagnosis is seven years.
If you are Alpha-Gal positive you could find out in a rather dramatic way. One symptom may be a severe allergic reaction, triggered by eating meat, leading to anaphylaxis. However, many people with AGS do not experience this severe reaction. Instead, like my mother they become slowly sensitive to all sorts of foods, have systemic inflammation, joint inflammation, sudden lactose intolerance, gut issues and the list goes on and on. Well, she was correct; I had a positive result for AlphaGal and was spared the complicated diagnostic journey so many people with Alpha-Gal or other tick-related disease encounter. Because my mother has become quickly educated through her own tick-related illness she knew to immediately get me tested for all tick transmitted coinfections. I learned that I also had been exposed to Lyme. This is where the real problem with diagnostics for tick-transmitted disease lies.
What I Learned & My Advice Based on This Experience
1. When bitten by a tick, get tested for ALL tick transmitted diseases— Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Babesia, Bartonella, Lyme—just to name a few.
2. Timing of testing can greatly impact test results. Negative does not always mean negative.
3. If you have a typical bullseye rash surrounding a tick bite (indicative of Lyme), start antibiotic treatment immediately. Not having a typical rash does not rule out Lyme disease!
4. You have to advocate for yourself and educate yourself about symptoms, testing, and treatments.
5. If you have odd symptoms such as GI distress and acquire sudden food sensitivities or allergic reactions late at night, these are all hallmark signs of Alpha-Gal.
These symptoms are often mistaken for other problems and are delayed after meat consumption which makes it very hard to pinpoint and connect to mammal exposure.
In my case, I greatly benefitted from my mother’s experience. I contracted a tick bite and reacted with a simple rash after consuming cheese shortly thereafter. I had never had a rash before in my life. My mother quickly had me tested at the University of Virginia, where she sees an AGS specialist. Even I told her that I thought she was overreacting and “seeing AGS everywhere”. 6. If you are suspicious that you have contracted AlphaGal, be wary of medications that may be prescribed to you in an emergency room setting. Many medications have mammal components and could be harmful if you have acquired this tick-borne disease.
7. Dr. Pratt at UVA in Charlottesville, VA and Dr. Commins at UNC are the leading experts in the US on Alpha-Gal
8. www.alphagalinformation.org is a great educational resource.
Mia is not slowed down by Alpha-Gal, she continues fox hunting with her emergency meds in her sandwich box.
She recently traveled with her horse to compete in Ocala, planning ahead for safe food options. As a proud Pony Club member, Mia displays her foxhunting pin at every outing with Keswick Hunt Club, where she is a junior member. Whipping in on junior days is a favorite for both Kismet and Mia.
If you have a tick bite, remove the tick as soon as possible. There are options to test the tick, and the results are often much more reliable then testing yourself for the diseases. You can keep the tick in a sealed ziplock bag to preserve for testing. There are even at home test kits available now.
Always obtain a copy of the test results from your doctor. This will be the only way to know what lab tests have been run.
Alpha-Gal is a very individualized disease that still, very little is known about. Some people are very reactive despite very low antibodies, even reacting to the fumes of meat being cooked. Other people are able to consume low fat milk without major issues.
You will need to carry an epipen if you have been diagnosed with Alpha-Gal because an anaphylactic response could happen at any time.
Avoiding mammal and mammal derived products is the only known treatment. Some people do react to their pets. Our dogs are only consuming non-mammal feed to keep reactions to a minimum.
I currently do not experience any reactions to my horses. My mother, however, cannot be in a large barn when manure is being disturbed without it causing respiratory distress.
Be vigilant and use long sleeves when outdoors, treat yourself with a safe tick repellent and treat your animals with the appropriate tick products to keep everyone safe.
If you have been bitten by a tick, make sure to let your parents know! Watch for any symptoms that could indicate a tick-transmitted disease.
Sources:
www.CDC.gov www.alphagalinformation.org
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