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Women's History Month Saddlebred Strong Stories: Finding Strength in Spirit

Fear is a powerful emotion and keeps many from the activities they enjoy or the people (or horses) they love. Fear, however, holds no further power over Summer, who is entering a happy chapter in her riding career with Bi Mi Unforgettable Spirit, a chestnut American Saddlebred whom she received as Christmas gift in 2019 and calls Spirit. Like many brave young women, she developed her outstanding courage from experiencing a trying time of an intrusion upon her confidence and carefree enjoyment of horses.

She is an experienced young rider, having started riding Saddlebreds at Cape Cod Equestrian Center in 2017. From the beginning, she spent as much time at the barn as she could and dreamed of having her own horse. In all that time spent immersed in the joy of horses, not only did her passion grow but also her riding ability. In 2018 she made the Academy team and began showing horses for the first time. Summer experienced growing confidence and great joy in riding while being part of the team. Her parents were abundantly happy seeing her pursue the activity she loved in a new way. Unfortunately, as the season drew to a close in September, she faced a traumatic challenge two days before the last Academy show.

On her way home from soccer practice with her dad, Summer was part of a motorcycle accident. She was thrown from the bike along a busy stretch of road. Amazingly, she did not sustain physical injuries beyond scrapes and bruises. A dedicated member to her team, she still attempted to show at the final show of the season.

Months passed, and Summer started demonstrating significant fear and lack of confidence while riding. She began experiencing flashbacks to being thrown from the motorcycle as she was in the accident. This made riding a fearful activity instead of the empowering one it had been for her in the past. Summer and her parents were devastated to find that she was no longer able to enjoy riding and the barn the way she had in the past, so they decided a break from riding was needed.

Summer began attending counseling to address the psychological trauma that came from the accident. As her emotional injuries healed, her love for horses began to overcome any fear that had developed. She started asking to go to the barn to visit the horses and spend time with them. In the summer of 2019, she started riding again. Through her bravery and love of horses, she found her confidence. Her parents, being very proud of her, knew when the opportunity came up to get Spirit that Summer was ready and well-deserving of the partnership and joy he would bring into her story. Summer's accomplishments so far as a horsewoman remind us all that fear and trauma are no match for the passion and confidence that American Saddlebreds can inspire in a young life.

March is Women's History Month, and this year the ASHA will be sharing a selection of "Saddlebred Strong Stories" that celebrate the fantastic stories of strength, enrichment, and support that the American Saddlebred horse and community bring to our "Horse Girls" lives every day. If you know or are a "Horse Girl" that has a great Saddlebred Strong Story about how an American Saddlebred has helped start a new personal journey, fulfill a lifelong goal of being a "horse girl," or helped develop someone as a person, please send to [email protected], Jessica Cushing ASHA Marketing, and Communication Manager, today for a chance to be featured during Women's History Month.