About Amanda
All of my favorite childhood memories involve the barn, between going for swims in the pond on the back of my horse in the hot Southern summers, staying up all night polishing tack for the horse show the next morning, learning how to braid on my horse’s mane and tail, and falling asleep in the hay loft.
I grew up with my own horses until my freshman year of high school, where we had to move to Japan. I was devastated having to sell my horse and always felt a little lost without horses in my life.
I would ride at various barns and was fortunate to have them near, but something still always felt missing.
I found her
When I woke up on October 20th, 2015, I wasn’t expecting to find her. Volunteering at Leilani Mae Horse Rescue was something to fill both my time and my desire to be around horses—I felt lucky just to be there. On that morning, I pulled up my Wranglers, threw on my boots, and headed to the rescue.
We heard her conditions were harsh, but when we looked over the barbed wire fence, all I saw was a beautiful copper-colored Paint horse. Someone was coming to get her the following morning. I broke my own rule and immediately became attached to her. I climbed through the fence, held my hand out to her, and she hesitantly allowed me to pet her. I couldn’t understand why she was still here, but there she was.
Skeletons in Athena’s pasture
Another day came and another adoption fell through. I dropped my plans and went to her, realizing for the first time how terrible her living conditions were. The shelter was literally falling apart. There were massive holes in the roof, providing no protection from the elements. Across the pasture was downed barbed wire, vehicle parts, and random boards adorned with rusty nails. The west side of the pasture was strewn with horse skeletons, and one of them belonged to this horse’s pasture mate. No one had bothered to move the body. When this horse got hungry, she had to reach her head through the barbed wire to graze.
I couldn’t leave her here. I didn’t know how anyone could. She needed help—she was scared and aggressive. Her feet were a disaster, and she was lonely and timid. Not a single soul loved her. Three people went to get her and three people left with empty trailers. So, I went to Deb, the founder of the rescue and I told her I wanted her. To my upmost surprise, she said yes. We began to move her out as quickly as possible.
It took four long days to get a halter on her. She ran from us, and charged at the six volunteers who spent their days assisting. No one thought she would ever be tame enough to be ridden. But I hadn’t given up yet, and I wasn’t about to start. When I finally haltered her, I named her Athena, after the Goddess of War. She was a fighter and a survivor. She was strong, regal, and elegant. Even better, Athena was the goddess in Greek Mythology who invented the halter/bridle to tame the horse. The name fit, and the name stuck. But only a couple days after getting her away from that nightmare, we were faced with a new one.
The Dark Winter
( One year later- before and after)
After 24 hours of being at the rescue, Athena hit her leg on the round pen fence. She went from bad to worse. We ended up getting an ultrasound to see if her tendon had ruptured from the impact. While the ultrasound seemed okay, the vet told me she would never be ridden—that she should probably be put down instead of living her life as only a companion horse. My world stopped. She had lived through Hell, abused and neglected in a barbed-wire pasture, and she got hurt in our rescue? It didn’t seem possible.
But none of it mattered to me. As she put her nose on my chest and looked into my eyes, I knew I would do whatever it took to keep her happy and healthy. I would never ride her, if that’s what it meant. And so I made her a promise, and I kept it. But the scary part of our story wasn’t over yet.
Days later, we found out the stitches hadn’t held. Even worse, a flesh-eating bacteria had eaten its way down to the tendon. We immediately called our local veterinarian, who worked hard and gave Athena surgery. She only had a 30% chance to be lightly ridden on trails. We worked hard on her every day for four months, changing bandages in the cold, scrubbing wounds and light therapies. Our vet saved her, and we helped her heal. She made a full recovery—one without limitations—and we survived the dark winter.
A New Beginning
Following her medical setbacks and recoveries, Athena was finally able to come home with me.
We were able to get her in the trailer and led her to her new stall. The next day, I got her feet trimmed. Immediately, upon leading Athena to her new pasture, she began to dance. She was thrilled, trotting and prancing around the field. She occasionally came back to me, and I was able to give her some love, but watching her with true freedom for the first time in her life was all the reassurance I needed.
Athena was finally home.
Training Begins
I was grateful to begin Athena’s training myself under the guidance of a trainer, starting with groundwork. We received lessons, practiced them every day, and would follow up later.
She eventually learned to trust me. I healed more than just her fear and injuries. I helped her gain weight, rid her of her brittle coat, and helped her with ground manners. It took over two months, but she was a new horse, and we were finally ready to saddle her up.
Athena’s hard work and courage was paying off. At the end of May, I finally got to ride her. I slipped my foot into the stirrup, carefully watching Athena’s body. Athena looked back at me, and I knew I could trust her. I pulled myself up without any event. I was finally on my mare.
For months, I was told by multiple people that she wouldn’t live or should be put down. It seemed like everywhere we turned we were told no, that we couldn’t. I battled her temperament, her leg injury, and the odds. We spent every lesson working towards this moment, to find that not only did she have talent, but she had real potential.
As we rode together, Athena blew us away during every ride. She excelled, and we shifted gears, preparing for our very first show together. I gave her the show name Athenian Lady, a nickname for the Greek Goddess Athena which also highlights Athena’s elegance and ladylike manners.
The First Day of the Rest of Our Lives
I couldn’t sleep on the 5th of November 2016. Our first show together was the next day. All of my fears ran through my head with questions I couldn’t answer. Hours later, I rushed to the barn and prepared Athena for our big day, knowing that I needed to remain positive. Athena has a tendency to mirror me, feeling my anxiety, frustration, or excitement. For her, I needed to stay calm, cool, and collected, having no expectations other than a wonderful day with my best friend. I was already so proud of her.
Our first class was Adult Hunt Seat Walk-Trot. They called out our class, and we got on the rail. When it was over, it didn’t matter what happened. I was so proud of her. We lined up and waited for the results.
Something insane happened.
WE WON!
Tears poured down my face. This moment was the best of my life. This was the first show we ever entered, and I couldn’t believe we won! I quickly wiped my eyes and prepared for our next class, the Hunt Seat Go As You Please class. My heart almost leapt from my chest when I heard our name called AGAIN for first place. Then we came in first in a halter class, followed by first in a showmanship class. We won every class we entered that day.
Just one year before, I had rescued a terrified, malnourished, broken horse, and here we were showing everyone what she had always been capable of; what I had always known she was capable of.
The fUTURE WITH aTHENA
Since then, Athena places first in almost every class she enters. She even ended her first show season earning the Reserve High Point in the Hunt Seat Division in one of the largest open shows in North Carolina. She is consistently in the ribbons, keeping up with large names in the show industry.
She is my miracle.
I never thought we’d get to where we are today, but here we are. Athena has opened my eyes, reminding me that beauty can sometimes come from the darkest, most unexpected places. I am awestruck at what she has given me—patience and courage and hope. She gives me light.
My faith in this horse in unwavering—steady and strong—just as Athena is for me. When we met, she was dangerous, sickly-looking, and often panicking. Now, she is calm, sweet, kind, and patient. She is the star of each show we go to and is consistently complimented on her beauty, manners, and happiness. Getting here wasn’t without hard work, but the countless hours have been worth every second.
2018 Pinto Worlds
One of my biggest dreams as a kid was to show at a World Show. We set our sights on the 2018 Pinto World Show in Oklahoma and worked so hard to get there!
Getting to the World Show wasn’t easy. We worked in the rain, in the cold, battled illnesses and injuries but we made it. My only goal was to place top 10 in one class and to figure out the ropes of a world show.
Pinto Worlds was so difficult in so many ways. We had so many obstacles stacked against us already, but the moment we stepped off everything seemed to go wrong. Despite all the adversity and negativity, we ended up pulling a Reserve World Champion in the costume contest, Top 5 in English Showmanship, 7th in Equitation, and 9th in Ranch Pleasure. Achieving these accomplishments on a horse no one thought had a chance was so worth every obstacle, turning the other cheek to every hater, and all the countless hours of hard work. I am SO proud of my little rescue that could!
We are currently working on fundraising and training for the 2019 Pinto World Show and cannot be more excited for this experience with our team!
Take A Chance
I’m often asked about Athena’s past—whether or not she has APHA papers and where she came from. To answer each of these questions, I don’t know. I’ve chosen to look past her past, because even if we can never find out her history, she is still the amazing show horse she is today. Once upon a time, she was just a horse in a pasture, surrounded by the bodies of those she shared it with, reaching her head through barbed wire to graze.
So, take a chance. Give love to a horse who hasn’t been loved in awhile, if ever. Put in the work and dig deep for the patience. Any rescue out there can turn out to be something pretty remarkable. And who knows: they could be the next winner of the World Show. Or even better? They could turn out to be your best friend.
