Paralyzed Barrel Rodeo Girl Amberley Snyder

Utah’s Paralized Rodeo Girl Back In Barrel Racing

Amberley Snyder fell in love with riding horses when she was three years old. Her family needed to transfer from California to Utah after his father's retirement. Her dad gave her a barrel racing horse, as a promise, when she was seven years old.

Amber has two horses, Power and Wrangler. Power was her barrel racer while Wrangler was her calf roping horse.  She has a great sense of communication and personal connection with her horses and even started competing at an early age

This is how it is now, but what am I going to do with it tomorrow

Amber was at the peak of her barrel racing career, the champion in the National Little Britches Rodeo Association. Little did she know that her life was going to change when she got into a car accident and broke her back.

She had a five-hour surgery that the doctors informed her that she will be paralyzed and won't be able to compete again

Determination and positive spirit made Amber popular

Snyder not only got back in the saddle, but she began barrel racing once again. She competed aboard her 12-year-old horse, ATP Power, which was bought nine years ago as a racehorse and was re-trained to run barrels. ATP Power was voted Horse of the Year in Amber's region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.

On America’s Horse Magazine July 2014 Cover, Amber said that after she had the accident, ATP Power stepped up and had been a huge part why she was back competing.

She also mentioned that Power took care of her and protected her when she's riding.  That every time she gets on Power's back and leaves her wheelchair, she feels there was a sense of freedom and complete happiness.

She was well-loved by rodeo fans

Through all the challenges Amberley faced, it didn't stop her from achieving her goals. In May of 2015, she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Education, and now pursuing her Master’s Degree in Counseling.

Amberley’s hard work ethic, determination and positive spirit have made her wildly popular with rodeo fans.

Amberley with her kids

Amberley realized she had a unique opportunity after the accident. She was voted in RFD-TV’s The American as the fan exemption contestant at the World’s Richest One-Day Rodeo and competed with the best of the best in the Rodeo industry. She even received a standing ovation at AT&T Stadium with over 40,000 fans. She reaches out and inspired thousands of people across America.

She sets new goals whenever her thinking is turning negative, and she always feels she's getting out with a purpose.

Thanks for being an inspiration, Amberley. Turning your tragedy into triumph left us teary-eyed!

“No matter how hard the past, you can always begin again.”

- Buddha