By Madison Young
I am a 27-year-old para-equestrian living in Temecula, California. I was first diagnosed at age 13 with Chiari Malformation and Syringomyelia, a rare brain and spinal malformation developed at birth. From ages 13 to 18, I underwent six brain surgeries and two spinal surgeries. The first of the spinal surgeries resulted in paralysis of my left limbs at age 17. My first thought and priority were to get back to riding ASAP.
I started taking lessons with Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship, and they really gave my recovery a huge boost. I don’t think I would be here today without them.
Once my trainer, Kathleen Elliott, and I were ready to start back up with our lessons, she introduced me to her new lesson pony Shorts. Shorts is an adorable and extremely gentle bay Quarter Pony, now retired, and in her mid-30s.
I call Shorts “The Little Engine That Could” because she is a small pony, yet her size never stopped her from being the best she could be. Kathleen and Shorts gave me the confidence to continue riding dressage despite my now “broken body.” During our rides, my left leg had Clonus mimic – a vibrating and slight jerking motion – but it never phased Shorts. I think she knew I was not in control of my leg, and knew to ignore it and keep me safe.
While figuring out my new body, Shorts was very patient and helped me discover new ways to make certain body parts start regaining function. Meanwhile, I discovered that “muscle memory” is very real and a complete eye-opener. For example, even though my left limbs weren’t exactly participating, I still had a great seat and rein position. My hips were able to swing somewhat freely with her walk, and my arms wanted to follow along with her natural head bob. I was obviously unable to give her much, but she never complained; she just adjusted her gait on her own.
I would say my greatest accomplishment with Shorts is finding the confidence to continue doing what I love most in the world: riding dressage and riding in general. I owe a debt of gratitude to Shorts and Kathleen for being so determined to help me get back to being me. The confidence I regained while riding helped me get back out into society, and realize that I didn’t have to be uncomfortable or ashamed of my disability. This was something I struggled with for years and something that is unfortunately still a thought in the back of my mind, but it will never stop me from going after my dreams of becoming a Paralympic Athlete for Team USA.
Kathleen has given me so much advice over the past 12 years; since becoming paralyzed, the advice that means the most to me is “It’s okay to pause, recollect yourself, and continue on,” and “If you’re too worried about your last movement, your next won’t be any good either.” That said, any rider experiencing some similar situation should just know that the human body is exceptional at adapting to new situations given time. Learn to be patient with yourself and trust the process, because it feels amazing to continue accomplishing goals no matter how tedious the task may be. Always “allow mistakes with grace.”
Searching for a new dressage partner can be tricky, but something I had to learn after clicking with Shorts was to keep in mind that my physical strength had changed, so I had to be realistic, and realize that sometimes choosing the “smaller, not so fancy” horse or pony is going to be the smarter and safer choice with my new situation.
Every horse/pony is worthy of being your partner; just assess, “Can my body handle working with this horse/pony now?” If the answer is “no,” don’t feel discouraged to find a more suitable partner for your situation. I admittedly still experience this, but don’t compare your situation to others because, in the end, they don’t live your life, you do.
I have been disabled for ten years now and am still figuring out how to do certain movements on and off a horse. I have regained some function in my left limbs from actively riding, and I owe it to Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship, Kathleen Elliott, and Shorts, “The Little Engine That Could.”
The photo above is the first time I was able to ride Shorts with no assistance, the first of my many accomplishments! What makes a good para-dressage horse? Find out in this reprint from the January/February 2020 issue of USDF Connection magazine.
