July 27, 2015
Have you ever wonder what it would be like to suddenly have your whole life changed upside down? What your life use to be like isn’t the same anymore. To have one life changing event occur and things were never the same.
I was fortunate to get acquainted with a young woman named Sydney Collier these past few months.
Her story is miraculous, I wanted to introduced you to her, and to let you get to know her and share this story. It is truly amazing and courageous. Sydney’s motto is,“ It’s more of Ability than a Disability” she goes on to state, “you can achieve anything if you set your mind to it, and you can overcome any obstacle in your way”.
That she has, this young woman is very impressive. If we all led our lives the way she has, boy things would never be the same. Sydney is 17 years old and is from Ann Arbor Michigan. She spends most of her time traveling with her mother away from her immediate family on the road or training at a facility called Woodstock Stables in Millbrook NY under the direction of her trainer, Wesley Dunham. She is a para- dressage equestrian rider. At a very young age she was diagnosed with a condition I had never heard of called Wyburn-Mason Syndrome. It is a very rare congenital disease and it effects less than .14% of the world’s population.
I interviewed Sydney and she shared her answers with me which I want to share with you all.
Sydney can you tell me a little about your disability for our readers?
I was diagnosed at age 7 with Wyburn-Mason Syndrome after I complained to my Mom about a weird burning sensation in my left foot and failing a vision test in my right eye slightly at my well child doctor visit. My Wyburn -Mason Syndrome is a congenital birth defect where the veins and arteries of the fetal brain aren’t separated by capillaries so it ends up leaving a tumor like area of really high blood flow that has a big risk of bleeding. My vascular tumors are in the center of my brain and behind my right eye along the optic nerve and chiasm. It is incredibly rare syndrome and not often diagnosed until people pass away unexpectedly from a major brain bleed. My local hospital in Ann Arbor, MI found my AVM’s during a diagnostic brain angiogram and said there was nothing they could do for me and to take me home and pray. My mom and Dad didn’t like this answer so they searched the internet for possible doctors who could help me as my symptoms and balance was getting very bad quickly. They found my doctors in California at Stanford Hospital and we began experimental Cyberknife radiation treatments and brain surgeries that still continue to this day. When I was 11 I had a massive stroke during a brain surgery and it left me in a wheelchair unable to use the left side of my body and in a wheelchair. I spent 3 months in a rehabilitation center relearning how to use my new body. I regained much of the use of my arm and wore a short leg brace for a period of time, but a series of new strokes between the ages of 12 and 15 left my left arm useless and now I wear a long brace on my left leg and use a wheelchair for longer distances. My condition has left me totally blind in my right eye and over half blind in my left eye. My syndrome continues to be an ongoing process in my body but that hasn’t stopped me from reaching for my goals.
I then went on to ask her more questions about her disability and how she rides. I was curious myself. She said a lot of people ask her the same questions and she is happy to share with me for our readers.
Sydney is it difficult to ride with your disability?
There are definitely some challenges that I face on a daily basis, but I would say that excelling at any sport is difficult at times, whether or not you have disabilities.
Are you able to walk at all?
I have the ability to walk but I have to be very careful because I fall easily because of my imbalance and coordination issues. Especially at competitions and long trips I use my wheelchair to conserve my strength. For short distances my Service Dog Journey wears a balance harness to help me navigate and not fall. If I do fall he is trained to help me get up or bark for people to assist me if I am hurt.
Sydney can you tell me, how do you handle being in a wheel chair?
Actually I believe that my wheelchair (and my electric scooter that I use at horse shows) are some of my biggest assets, I fall fairly often when I walk for a long time, so a wheelchair gives me some more independence as well as freedom from injuries that would keep me out of the saddle. You would be surprised how many bones I have broken from falling over nothing. Once I even broke my ankle walking up a set of stairs that takes some special talent since most people fall down stairs!
(I heard she had a disability dog and I asked her more about him.)
Sydney can you tell me about your disability dog (companion) and how he helps you manage riding?
My service dogs name is “Journey” and he has made the world so much more accessible to me. He is a fully certified Service Animal and has access to anywhere I need him to go-with the exception of a sterile surgical suite or a wild animal park. His biggest job is to help me walk and balance which he does with a custom harness. Besides that he picks things up that I drop, he can find someone if I fall, turns on and off lights, opens and closes doors! He can even help with the laundry putting items in and out of the dryer etc! My Mom says he is better trained then I am sometimes J
(I was still curious, how did she do this? I just had to ask)
How do you tack your horse and untack?
I groom just like any other rider just with one hand and sometimes my teeth, and to save up my strength sometimes my mom or a groom helps me put my tack up my horse. I am really proud that I figured out how to put on and take off my own saddle with one hand so if I am having a strong day when we aren’t in a hurry I like to do that all by myself! “Wentworth” (her horse) is so great he puts his head into his own halter for me and holds his head down low to help with bridle..
(I wondered if she had to, so I asked)
Do you have to wear any special equipment or riding devices to help you?
I ride one handed so I have short reigns with elastic inserts where my fingers go- I actually only ride with two fingers if you can imagine that! I ride with an Ontyte magnetic stirrup system, as well as rubber bands to help keep my feet in the stirrups. Also I ride with spur straps to the girth that help to stabilize my leg and hold it in place. All these compensatory aids are evaluated and approved by the FEI for both my safety and the horses I ride.
My curiosity was now intrigued
Sydney just how do you manage to get on and off your horse?
To get on my horse I have a very tall 4 step mounting block, his name is Todd (yes he literally has a name plate that says Todd!) It is one of the most helpful things when it comes to mounting, typically it requires two people, one person holding the horse and then my trainor, Wes Dunham; gets me to get up the steps and helps lift my leg over the saddle and then get situated in the saddle. Dismounting involves someone lifting me off the horse and it helps a lot if they are tall!
I was very impressed with her answers. Some of us complain all the time about silly things like grooming our horse. Can you imagine, she does this with one hand or her teeth! I was even amused by her mounting block had a name. She uses humor to get through things that we all take literally for granted.
(I wanted to know more so I asked her)
What made you want to ride horses?
It was actually by chance that one day I asked my mom if I could take lessons after many penny rides on the mechanical horse at the Meijer grocery store down the road. From the moment I first sat on a horse it was like I had found what I was meant to do.
How long have you been riding?
I have been riding since I was 7 so ten years now.
Does riding help you with your disability?
Riding is really the best form of therapy because you don’t realize how much you’re working. You push through really challenging things because you are doing something you love with an incredible partner.
She and her horse Wentworth are a great team.
Sydney I know our readers would like to know
What is a lesson like for you or training schedule?
A lesson varies from day to day, it’s typically an hour of riding and during that we practicing what my trainer selects to work on mastering for that day. Sometimes this is hill work, sometimes its hacking on roads. Sometimes its test work and other days its just fundamentals of dressage to help supple my horse and help him work over and through his back.
I then wondered
Sydney, do you train your own horse?
My trainer Wes Dunham assists me in the training my horse Wentworth. Because of my disability I need someone to help me train my horses and work them through the moments they need to learn as they work with my body. I need a centered balanced rider to help keep their muscles even otherwise they would be lopsided just like my body.
What is an average day like in your life?
The average day in my life is busy and horse filled! Typically I ride about an hour each day, then I ride my exercise horse called an Equicizer for 1-2 hours. After that I normally go to the gym for an hour of work out and now that its summer. I also volunteer in a summer school program for kids with cognitive and behavioral disabilities.
Sounds like to me she works extremely hard at riding.
I then wanted to know her more on personal level so I asked some further questions to help really get a better picture of her.
Do you feel like you have missed out on things?
I do not feel like I have missed out on anything! People always ask me if I would change how things in my life are and I always says no, 100% no. I feel like everything that has happened has made me into the person that I am today. I am very comfortable with my physical disabilities and I think this helps me speak to others and encourage them to reach for their goals regardless what others might see as impossible.
What do you do for fun?
Ride my horse for sure! I also love volunteering with kids with behavioral or cognitive disabilities! Definitely helping other kids my age. I also enjoy giving inspirational speeches. I really love cooking and listening to music.
What is your family life like?
My Family life is a bit non-traditional, my mom and I are currently living in New York while my little brothers dad and grandparents live in Ann Arbor MI where I am originally from. They visit as much as possible but that isn’t as frequently as we all wish it was. ! We don’t get to see each other as much as we would like but they are so incredibly supportive of my goals. I am so lucky to have such an incredible family. All of us agree it was a worthwhile sacrifice in order for me to be able to work with my trainer Wes Dunham at Woodstock Stables in Millbrook NY. It is thanks to his training that I have been able to achieve the incredible things that I have to date, as well as continue to work towards a spot on the US Para Dressage Team headed to Rio.
What have you learned over the years having this disability?
I have learned never to give up on my goals despite the challenges that my disability faces me with.
What advice could you give others who find themselves in a similar situation in life, and how to overcome and conquer their fears?
I would tell anyone going through anything similar to me not to give up on their big goals and aspirations. I would say to never give up no matter how impossible it might feel.
Briefly give me a little background information on yourself that you think I should share with our readers
I started riding as an eventer and over the years I have ridden a lot of different horses. I have learned so much from each one of these horses and I cannot say thank you enough, to these horses for being the light at the end of my tunnel on a long day. They are everything I could have ever hoped for and I will forever be thankful for the healing powers of horses! I also have to thank all my sponsors and supporters who continue to make this journey possible!
In closing I am so happy to be able to share this story about a brave courageous young woman. She is a true inspiration to us all in the equine industry. She has persevered through hard circumstances that life has dealt her. We all could take a lesson or two from this young lady. Her story has touch me in so many ways. We must be thankful for what we have and what we are.
Let me close by reminding you of her words earlier.
“You can achieve anything if you set your mind to it, and you can overcome any obstacle in your way”.
*Please note (The information obtained for this article was based on this person’s individual experience)
* Please note (Photos were submitted with permission of owner Sydney Collier)
For more information on Sydney Collier go to sydsparaquest.com
Until next time
Cassie Ball
ESMT, CCMT, NHVTA Continuing Education
Stubben Master Saddle Fitter
Stubben North America
