Okay so South Point Super Show just passed a few weeks ago.
So many things I wanted to let the world know about...
1. I ran a 15.014 on my friends 22 yr old horse! (that put him in the 2D, out of the money but still the 2D! unreal)
2. My friend Jen AND her mom both ran and had AMAZING runs!
and 3... (which obviously is what my blog is going to be about : ) )
3. Matt helped a girl that inspired not only me or him, but a ton of people!
I had an amazing weekend... I was given memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life, but I wanted to make this blog about this young girl because she is what being a cowgirl is all about.
. . . . .
When we first unloaded our horses and got them settled into their stalls, I noticed we were next to a young girl who was in a wheel chair.
We were all running around trying to get ready for time only's, and the weekend ahead of us, that I didn't think I would see her again.
I wanted to know what her name was so I could watch her run and cheer her on... but I didn't catch it.
I had my run Friday night, I was super happy with my time, but I hit the first barrel so I was given a no time.
I was down and out and being hard on myself inside my head.
So on Saturday afternoon we went to the barn and decided to walk the horses around to stretch their legs out to get them ready for their run that night. I noticed the girl I mentioned earlier was on her horse standing by her stall.
I didn't know if she was waiting for the other young girl she was riding with or someone else.
After 10 mins or so she asked Matt if he could help her.
I was putting the horses away and watched Matt get her wheel chair out of her horse's stall, unbuckle what looked like a seat belt and put her in his arms to bring her down to her chair.
She then started to untack her horse.
I was so touched by her in SO many ways.
I began to wonder "does she KNOW how influential she is?"
I mean, I don't even know this young girl's name and she left me leaving that barn thinking about her...and Matt kept thinking about her too!
We talked about her a few times in our home. I would keep telling Matt "I wish I got her name."
Well...I woke one morning and my friend Jen, who was obviously thinking about her too, found a story through one of her facebook friends about this girl!
. . . .
Click on the link above to read about Amberley Snyder and her true love for rodeo.
You will take so many wonderful messages from this brave cowgirl, but I wanted to let everyone know what this young girl, Amberley Snyder, someone who I never shook hands with, someone who doesn't even know who I am, has done for me.
. . . .
Like I said, the day I watched Matt help her, my thoughts started just racing through my head.
The thoughts didn't become words until Matt; over supper one night asked me, "Do you remember that girl I helped off that horse?"
I knew right then he was having the same thoughts as I was so I just blurted out all my feelings (as I always do).
I was so upset about my run not being the best it could have been to the point I was obsessing over it.
I think God intended for that exact moment to happen with Amberley at that exact time.
To teach me about bravery, dedication and what the love for rodeo really means.
To try and get me to understand that we are all going to have bad runs and sometimes we are going to have bad runs ALOT more often than good runs.
To help me learn that others are fighting other battles then hitting the first barrel.
To get it through my stubborn head...never let your failures define the rest of your journey!
I love in that story when Amerley says, "You feel really free when you're on a horse. I feel very content, and I feel very at peace when I'm on my horses. And, especially now, that is the place where I feel the most free, because my horse is my legs".
Is that not amazing?!
This is a young girl who is completely paralyzed from the waist down and was told she could never walk again is proving all of her doctors wrong.
She is walking, running and barrel racing again thanks to her four legged companion.
If you are still with me, and I hope you are, take this moment to appreciate the amazing things and moments in life.
I want to say THANK YOU AMBERLEY!
You over came the obstacles from your car accident and are still running out your dream.
You have taught the world and personally myself that hitting barrels is not an excuse and "I can't" is not an option.
You are a TRUE Cowgirl!
