Sorry for the early assumption, it’s just that my heart was racing and I thought I wasn’t welcome. The response has been warm and friendly.
Thank you,
Faith
Welcome to the BB, Wild Filly! 
I don’t have any new suggestions- the bracelet and gloves are both great ideas.
I think you are incredibly brave- and the fact that you’re worried about your riding buddies says you’re a really compassionate person, too.
Hi Faith,
First, (((((((hugs))))))) to you for your utter braveness (is that a word?). I admire your courage and strength. Congratulations on the 14 years!
And thank you for bringing up this topic. I am always one of the first ones to run and help someone who is injured, and nevermind if they bleed or vomit or otherwise on me. My ex-husband had a really bad car accident, with a horrible traumatic brain injury…and as he lay on the pavement broken and bleeding like crazy, only ONE person out of the dozens who had gathered was brave enough to help, even though I was screaming at the time that he did NOT have HIV or any other diseases.
I voted for the “tell everyone” option, but as I think about it, that’s not how I feel. I can’t imagine how difficult it is to tell of your disease…however, if I was riding with you, I would like to know, or at least have someone in the group who knew.
I admire you greatly…and if you’re in the Los Angeles area, I would love to ride with you.
((((((big hugs))))))
>^.,.^<
~~Linda
“My treasures do not clink or glitter; they gleam in the sun and neigh in the night”
Count me among those saying welcome to the BB and I’d ride with you anytime!
I voted for tell one person. For your sake as well as theirs. If you’re tired or under the weather one day, it would help for your trainer to know why and not push you that day.
Personally, I’d want to know. Not because I’d be worried for myself, but because I really care about all my buddies at the barn (we’re a rather small, close group) and I’d want to be there for you if you were having a tough time!
So far, everyone has been very supportive. I have told my better half (and that better half is negative by the way), my family and four friends.
I just wish I could say something, when i dont show up for something because I’m sick they don’t understand. When i can’t keep up with everyone, they think I’m wimpy.
If I tell people, they coddle me and always bring it up, i hate that.
at least they care, i am lucky.
This is a very interesting thread. It is true we never know what people are going through, even our closest friends.
I have always been so supportive of AIDS charities and causes, The Whitman Walkler Clinic here in Washington is a vital service that I urge all in the area to donate time to, since they are constantly in need of volunteers. There are countless AIDS and HIV resources throughout the country, of course resources and availability do vary depending on location with of course the rural areas sometimes having to struggle with adequete resources. In addition to volunteer work now, in college I worked with a group that would spend time, mainly holding and visiting AIDS border babies. It was an amazing experience.
Since AIDS has devastated the Equestrian community due to the large percentage of Gay men in the sport, the formulation of the “Equestrian AIDS foundation” and events like the Middleburg National horse show which benefits the foundation as well as “Food and Friends” project, are just a few examples of the excellent work being done.
This is a horrendous and cruel disease that must be erradicated, unfortunately certain populations are seeing an increase in HIV contraction and attitudes are changing due to prolonged life with HIV medications and the “younger” generations are almost unaare of the horror and the sheer hopelessness that this disease caused when it first emerged.
I think it is admirable and shows a lot of courage that you would tell the people you ride with. It really shows bravery. Unfortunately I cannot also say that those you tell and confide in will show similar bravery and compassion. There are still so many misconceptions, and maybe rightly so after all people have the right to fear what is incurable and possibly fatal, but being cautious and self preservation is not the same as bigoted and ignorant. Sadly if people can turn away from a family with an ill child, they will turn away from a disease surrounded in so much misinformation.
I am so sorry that you have this on your shoulder and wish there was something I could say to make you feel more confident in being the caring person you obviously are with this issue. If you really feel you should tell people that you ride with for their safety, that is admirable, but unfortunately you will also have to deal with the responses and reactions that may catch you off guard.
There is simply no cure for AIDS and it is truly a plague that WE must stop.
Personally, I’d want to know so I could have gloves or whatever with me personally. If you were on the ground bleeding, it’d be quicker to get the stuff I needed out of my saddle bags, especially if your horse decided to head back to the barn without you. The medical id braclet is a good idea, too, but if you’re my friend and out of it on the ground, I probably wouldn’t think to check for it.
Other than that, I would have no problems riding with you. I wish you continued good health.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Blossom:
And as we all know from Aiden’s story, liver transplants are kinda hard to come by and don’t sound like much fun anyway. 
Everyone should always use caution. [QUOTE]
I don’t know why this sent me rolling, but it did!! LOL. Yep, liver transplants suck, they are no fun.
Wild filly, When I first saw this thread, I reacted so strongly to it, because I know what it is like to have a medical problem and not know who to trust. Everyone is reffering to Aiden, that is my 9 month old baby. Although his condition is not contagious, I was totally able to understand you fear. When Aiden was diagnosed with a terminal illness, I lost so many friends. I kept thinking to myself, It isn’t contagious!! But it is. FEAR is contagious. IGNORANCE is contagious. But so is education.
So when Aiden became ill, I came to this board, simply stated that I will not be able to post anymore because of Aiden’s illness and look what happens. I have developed a life long bond with this BB. SO yes you were right to state that everyone here is awesome. They are. They are supportive and loving. SOmetimes when you feel like you are not seen for who you are and just as a HIV+ woman just log online and come visit us. We see you. I know i do.
Like I said on my first reply to you, THANK YOU for educating us, and opening our mind to this topic. A gift from you to us. Aiden is jingling for you.
Lisa
Save a life, be an organ donor
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Wild Filly:
I assume by the deafening silence that this subject is not welcome here. I am not trying to make any trouble, I just wanted a simple answer. I want to know, to what degree do I let people know for their own safety. I couldn’t live with knowing I accidentally infected someone because I didn’t tell them.
That’s ok, I hear your answer loud and clear.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
hey ho (or is that hey whoa) wild filly! Give some of us a sporting chance to log on! knowing a slough of folks HIV +, as always it comes down to personal accountabilty, eh? That inner voice, the guide? Were I HIV +, you bet I would have a bracelet. At the end of the day, yes ignorant folks might shun you (their loss), but at night I would always rest easy knowing I did what I felt in my heart was the right thing<and it is only <my> heart I’m talking about here, OK?) If I can anser for my behaviour at day’s end…it’s a good day.
Wild Filly, as soon as you mention a physical “thingie” some folks are going to shun you. That’s life. It can be surviving bone tumours<me>. It can be needing an organ donor<'nuff said>, it can be chemo; pick your ailment, there are always going to be ignorant, fearful people out there and not just within the horse industry. I think your concern shows you are responsible and caring. And you like horses and gabbing!! Wonderful! Welcome!
warm hug, June
I’m in the same situation as Lord Helpus so I totally can relate to how hard it is to tell people. I think it’s harder when you’re younger - I mean honestly, the number of potential boyfriends who broke the land speed record running BACKWARDS to get out the door when they found out… 
I second the idea of a MedicAlert bracelet - but in view of the fact that my mileage is the same as LH’s on that one (total strangers picking it up to see what it said), I would also suggest that you don’t have to wear it visibly all the time… Just in potentially problematic situations.
The hardest part for me was always whether or not to tell casual acquaintances, or at WHAT POINT to tell a casual acquaintance who is fast becoming a friend. Being an older person and now having lived with the situation for a while, I’ve developed better “radar” for finding the appropriate moment - but it takes some practice.
You kick on, girl, we’re all with you!
“It’s a thin line between a smart TB and a smart-@$$ TB.”
Sorry, I didn’t word that properly. I was referring to an earlier post that suggests telling someone I have a different disease. Also, when you tell someone your sick, if you are not clear and give general answers like oh, I have a chronic illness and don’t touch my bodily fluids it tends to scare people and confuse them more and then they ask more questions your not comfortable answering. I imagine there will come a day when I can be more open about this, it’s just not today and not tomorow. That will be much, much later.
