By Dan Roark
[Authors note: For more information on Tonya’s journey see earlier posts here, and here.]
Tonya’s attendance at the Third Annual New Hope Gala was not only a celebration, but a long anticipated and hoped for step in a years long struggle.
In the summer of 2023, Tonya began coming to New Hope, strapped into the “tank” (which operated much like one – think of the Transformers to a point). She would groom Olivia, getting to know her. Olivia responded in kind. So much so that Tonya had to be sure to turn the tank off after Olivia attempted to operate it in a bout of curiosity.
At the Second Annual Gala last year, Tonya spoke to those in attendance via internet due to illness, sharing her years of struggles just to have her MS diagnosed correctly, and how much Olivia and New Hope were helping her toward her goal of getting back on horseback and re-training her body.
Tonya worked steadily with her physical therapist and, the week before Thanksgiving, Tonya actually rode Olivia for the first time. The link to the Thanksgiving post about Tonya is above. Then, using pictures taken of her first ride, Tonya worked even harder with the therapist on specific exercises geared toward riding a horse and improving her mobility and agility. With each ride – although there were exceptions – Tonya could ride a little longer than the time before. There are also exercises she does during lessons at New Hope that work on her core and her arm strength and agility.
Tonya was doing so well the first of the year that she qualified to be in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games in July in New Orleans. The link to that post can be found above or here. She thoroughly enjoyed the New Orleans experience. She didn’t do as well as she hoped, but she did better than she expected.
Tonya was back to riding at New Hope when the fall season began and the temperatures were tolerable. Her next competition and challenge will be at Chisholm Challenge, January 13-15, at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. North Texas Area Therapeutic Riding Centers will participate on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 14th and 15th.
Keep following the blog for updates on Tonya and more information on Chisholm Challenge as it gets closer. And make plans to come out and watch Tonya and the other participants ride in the various events. Take my word for it, it’s a real treat to see them ride.
Ride on and ride for hope.
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