Walk. Ride. Rodeo.

19-year-old Amberley Snyder is a nationally ranked rodeo barrel racer who spends most of her time training with her horse Power at her home in Utah. On her way to Denver, Amberley loses control of her truck and is thrown from the vehicle, hitting a fence pole and leaving her paraplegic. The crash marks a turning point that forces her to reframe what she can do and how she will pursue her passion.

Amberley is rushed to the hospital, where doctors confirm she will spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. She then enters a six-week rehabilitation program. Initially despondent, she lashes out at her mother, Tina Snyder, recognizing that many of the old ways of moving and competing may be out of reach. Yet she refuses to give up and begins rebuilding with a focused effort to strengthen her upper body and core, setting small, tangible goals to reclaim control over her daily life.

Back home, Amberley reconnects with the world she loves through new forms of communication. An email from Tate Watkins of the FFA invites her to consider participating in their events, and the relationship grows through a series of video calls over weeks. The professional drive that defined her riding begins to adapt to a new reality, and she discovers practical ways to stay involved, like finding ways to ride again with assistive ideas such as attaching a seat belt to her saddle. Her determination deepens as she also starts college at Utah South, balancing studies with ongoing physical therapy and riding practice.

As months pass, Amberley’s confidence steadily returns. She competes at the Spanish Fork Rodeo and earns a second-place finish, a remarkable achievement less than twelve months after the accident. The road ahead remains demanding, as she continues training for The American Rodeo and wrestles with a medical issue: an infected pressure sore she keeps hidden from her family. One day, she collapses and is rushed to the hospital, where doctors declare her critical. The setback is severe, but it does not end her journey.

Six weeks later, Amberley is on the mend and back in training, buoyed by supportive fan mail and messages from people facing similar challenges. Her resilience shines at The American Rodeo, where she and [Tate Watkins] share a romantic kiss, marking a meaningful moment in their shared journey.

Back at home, [Tina Snyder] expresses how proud she is of all Amberley has overcome in the past eighteen months, telling her daughter, “You may have lost the use of your legs but it’s opened up your heart.” Tina encourages her to ride with fierce spirit, urging her to “ride like the wind” as she heads out.

Today, Amberley remains a professional barrel racer, and she and Power were just 0.6 seconds away from winning The American Rodeo not long after her accident and recovery. Beyond competition, she continues to inspire others as a motivational speaker, traveling the country to share the message of perseverance and possibility.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:59