Overcoming A Night-Mare! How Lewis Hamilton Beat His Allergy To Horses
Ahead of the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula One World Champion, revealed a surprising personal victory: overcoming a childhood allergy to horses. The Ferrari driver, known for his prowess with horsepower on the track, shared that he's now eager to explore the equestrian world.
Speaking to reporters at the Circuit of the Americas, the 40-year-old Briton recounted a poignant memory from his youth. He described a connection with a horse in a nearby field, a beautiful Shire horse that was always alone. "It would come over to me, and I'd spend time with it". However, these idyllic moments were often followed by allergic reactions that left him struggling to breathe. "But then I'd start walking home and notice my allergies start kicking off, and I'd struggle to breathe," Hamilton explained. This led him to "stay away from them since that day".
Hamilton recently underwent a desensitization program and took medication to combat his allergy. This opened the door for him to participate in a cover shoot with a horse for Time magazine, celebrating his move to Ferrari. It was during this shoot for Time magazine and his lifestyle brand Plus 44, that Hamilton decided to take the reins, literally. "Yesterday, I did the shoot with a horse for Plus 44 (his lifestyle brand) and I was like 'Can I ride it?' I got on, and it was just … It was an amazing experience," Hamilton stated. The experience was both exhilarating and a little frightening. "Then the horse started moving, started to gallop, and ... I didn't know what to do. So I panicked a little bit, but it was beautiful".
Hamilton's newfound passion arrives after the recent passing of his beloved bulldog, Roscoe. With his allergy under control, Hamilton is enthusiastic about incorporating horses into his life. "I'm really excited about this next kind of phase of my life, where I'm going to be around horses more and really get into riding. That's my next thing," he declared.
Beyond his personal interests, Hamilton is currently focused on the United States Grand Prix and navigating his first season with Ferrari. Despite a challenging season, where he is sixth in the standings, Hamilton remains committed to the team's future. He addressed rumors linking Christian Horner to Ferrari as "distracting" and affirmed his support for the team's current leadership. "The team have made it clear where they stand in terms of re-signing Fred [Vasseur]. Fred, I, and the whole team are working really hard on the future. These things aren't helpful," Hamilton said.
Hamilton's journey to overcome his allergy and embrace equestrianism highlights his continuous pursuit of new experiences. Just as he has conquered challenges on the racetrack, he is now ready to embark on a new adventure in the world of horses.
