You would not want to touch any bodily fluids without a latex glove on.
Hey Coreene,
Here is one for you… Oaktree in San Dimas! Please tell me you remember that place, I am starting to question my age!
Quantum Physics meet Dressage…Superposition Position
Thank you all for your support. I will find the courage one day to tell everyone. Until then, the ones who know now are all I need. You guys are just the best! I’d like to share my email if anyone wants to email me, I can be reached at stayin_alive_2000@yahoo.com.
Faith
I’m thirsty anyway, so bring on the rain…JoDee Messina
WildFilly,
Haven’t read the entire thread, but I agree with the others whose ONLY concern regarding your positive HIV status would be in case of an accident and being able to provide the paramedics with info which could help save your life.
I would have no problem riding with you just because you are HIV positive…and I am sorry the “stigma” is still attached for some people…especially in the horse world…I’d venture to say there are many others who keep silent.
…and welcome to the board!
My horse bucked off your honor student!
Founder: LOFL (lawn ornaments for life) clique
Welcome Wild Filly!
Lots of great info & support posted on this thread. I also would go with telling one specific person that you’d be riding with. I wouldn’t make a public announcement…just a specific person on trail should know & then a trainer–incase anything happened in the arena. Bravo to you for being brave & best wishes for many, many, many more healthy years to come.
“Fate is what happens when you don’t take charge.”
Hmm, this is an excellent topic!
I don’t think it’s any different than someone who has say, diabetes. Could you wear a med alert type of thing? Otherwise, no, it is no ones business but yours.
It’s no different than walking down the street and helping someone in need. I worked in a hospital for a brief time and there the standard is universal precautions. I’d treat a stanger in the same way. Do what I reasonably could to protect myslef since I wouldn’t know if the stranger had something infectious or not.
Welcome to the boards! 
There is nothing so grand as to fly on the back of a horse!Wild Filly,
I wish you the best of luck, and if there is anything that you need to talk about you can email me at bayladymoesh@hotmail.com I am not an expert by any means nor a counselor or scientist, but really find your conern for your friends at the barn admirable and so selfless.
And I think I can speak for everyone in saying Thank you for the compliments to the people on the BB.
No they don’t really need to know. What people do need to know is proper first aid procedures and precautions. Your companions can safely perform CPR on you, and they should know that they shouldn’t be touching anyone’s blood. However if you are really concerned, then you can elect to tell one (or all) of your companions whom you feel would be the most discreet and understanding.
And always carry a cell phone on your body when you trail ride. Never attach it to the horse.
“All Hail President Kang!”
…“Don’t look at me…I voted for Kodos…”
Welcome to the boards. I am sure you will find that there will be no prejudice against you here. I voted for the “Tell one person…” choice, but I cannot imagine how difficult that may be for you in some situations, particularly since you are obviously very capable and not in need of any coddling except for those specific situations. I would recommend telling your coach (or someone else who is always at the barn) and at least one person whom you ride with regularly. If they are unable to accompany you on the ride, you will have to inform someone else. I’m sure you probably fear that it will turn into some sort of soap opera at your barn (this would bother me) and unfortunately I don’t have any advice for that except that perhaps you shouldn’t ride with loudmouths - then again, that goes for all of us. To echo Elgund2, I wouldn’t have a problem joining you on a ride. You seem like a lovely person. Best of luck
Proud Member Of The Canadian Clique
Wild Filly…wow, I am so impressed by your courage, compassion, and heart-felt consideration. There should be more people like you in this world…people who genuinely care for others’. I would be proud to ride with you anytime. I will say this much regarding whether or not to tell anyone…
This BB is largely composed of people you don’t know (I’m not sure if you know any of us personally outside the bb or not). We don’t really know you…yet, here you have 6 pages worth of perfect strangers telling you we would love to ride with you, be your friend, etc. Now, I would expect my friends to treat me 100000 times or more better than perfect strangers…after all, friends know the real you, and since they are your friends, you can assume they like that real you, too. If we as strangers have opened our arms to you, surely there are friends in the “real world” who will feel and react the same.
I can’t imagine how hard it would be to tell someone that you are HIV positive. The first thing that comes to mind though, were you my friend, is what Christopher Reeve’s wife told him after his accident: “You’re still you and I still love you.” I hope your friends who already know and love you can say that to you…you strike me as a genuninely nice person who deserves only the best.
Take care…and know that no matter what, you now have 7,000 new horsey buddies to come talk with!
*“The English country gentleman galloping after a fox - The unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable.” - Oscar Wilde
Welcome to the BB, Wild Filly!
What a valuable and thought provoking thread. I think you should tell one person, preferably your barn manager if you think that person will be okay with the information. While it would be nice to think that everyone will take the proper precautions in case of an accident, in reality I think most people won’t. Having at least one person forewarned seems like a good precaution to me.
A dozen years ago my best friend was diagnosed HIV+. We showed dogs together (think lots of sharp scissors lying around, etc.) Everyone just bought latex gloves, stuffed a couple of pairs in their grooming boxes and got on with things. Hopefully you will get a similar response.
Do you know how difficult it is to tell someone? Whether it’s an old or new friend, it is one of the most difficult things I have to face. Because at that moment that you tell someone that you are infected with HIV, you find out if they are truly your friend or not.
It’s a scary moment, some people can’t handle it.
Wild Filly, you do now realize that you can travel to just about every corner of this country and be able to find a riding buddy to hang out with, don’t you? 
Susan
Wow, Wild Filly. I can’t imagine how hard it would be to tell people you are HIV postive.
I don’t think you should have to tell anyone other than your partner and I think your immediate family deserves to know. I am sure it was incredibly difficult to tell your parents. I am glad you are surrounded by a strong support group.
To answer your question about who you should be required to tell.
First of all, as you know, there are those who will react negatively. Although, that is their problem, you don’t need the aggravation. I wouldn’t tell.
I do think a bracelet or medical card would be an excellent idea. Or if you mention your first aid kit to whoever you ride with you can put a note in there as well.
I checked your profile and we are the same age. I wish you strength and courage…and lots of happy trails.
Et vera incessu patuit dea. (Aenid I, 405)
And her stride revealed she was a true goddess.
~I LOVE my mare.~
---------------
Whew! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 5 page thread created overnight!
I voted “no” – but then I suppose I wouldn’t act any differently in situation with an injury whether I knew the person was HIV+ or not, and maybe that isn’t the case with everyone… But I also feel that privacy is important, and I don’t want to say that horsey people are gossipy people, just, um, very communicative. Okay, they talk. What I mean is, I don’t know that you could just tell ONE person without your whole barn finding out, and it’s really none of their business.
That said, if you’re in Colorado, look me up, I could always go for a trail ride! Oh, and welcome to the BB!!
where are we going, and why am I in this hand basket?
I also voted for the “tell one person” choice, although in the horse world, it seems like telling one person is usually telling the world. You will find out who your friends are, and hopefully your friends are well-educated and compassionate. I’m sure riding is very therapeutic for you; you don’t need any stress or issues to screw it up. We are almost the same age, and I can only imagine how difficult it must be for you. Welcome to the boards, and you are welcome to ride with me anytime! Congrats on addressing a subject that I don’t think has been discussed on the boards yet, but is definitely worthy of discussion.
I think you are awesome for discussing it and getting awareness out there. THANK YOU!! My trainer unfortuntely passed a few years back. I also have a very god friend who his HIV pos and hasn’t been able to discuss it with anyone due to the stigma that can come with it. I think that is a shame. SHe is a wonderful and brave and healthy woman. Anyway, thank you, and My prayers are heading your way.
Lisa
Save a life, be an organ donor
Welcome! This is a difficult subject, but I admire you for facing it head on and not trying to hide “until something happens”. Personally, I would tell the trainer and stable manager in case of an accident at the stables. Riding out, I would make sure one person in the group knew, but other than that it’s really no one’s business.
Kick on and stay well. Jingles for you!
I simply can’t believe anyone would grab y’all’s Medic Alert bracelets to read them. How rude and uncouth! 
I like the idea of wearing the eventer armband thing. We probably all should do that, just in case.
And, welcome, Wild Filly.
I think I was the first to vote! 
Seamus said what I wanted to say. One should treat everyone as if they could have HIV. There are tons of people who don’t even know they have it. Wild Filly, whether you tell people or not is up to you. I would never hold it against anyone if they didn’t tell me.
I have lost a few friends an many acquaintances to HIV. I pray for your good health; some do survive.
