United States Eventing Association

This is the 47th entry in the USEA’s Member Story Series. Help us reach our goal of over 300 stories – email your story to Leslie.

My name is Simone van Ommeren and I’m 16-years-old. I go to Casa Grande High School, and I event with Danielle Downing. When I was four-years-old I went to the barn and watched my Aunt ride, I knew I wanted to ride too. I would always ask for a horse on my birthday and Christmas, envisioning myself riding around in my backyard (which, shall I add, has no room for anything larger than two dogs). I would look up horses on the internet, trying to convince my parents that I was responsible enough to ride a horse. On June 28, 2000, I finally achieved what I wanted after years of pressing for riding lessons. I took my first lesson on a Shetland pony named Mamba. My parents thought this was just a phase; they definitely were wrong.

As time went on, I moved through horses. I got my first pony, Canada, who I did hunters on. Canada died of colic in 2003, right after we bought my second pony, Dublin. When it was time for me to move up, I decided I wanted to compete in the Jumpers, and eventually do Grand Prix. My old horse trainer wouldn’t let me get a jumper horse, but she decided an equitation mount would be suitable, and she hoped that I would someday be able to compete Nationally in medal finals. I didn’t want to do equitation or hunters anymore; I wanted to feel the speed.

So I moved to Hawkwood Hill Farm, in Petaluma, CA, to train with Lori Fields. I got to ride an amazing black Irish Sport Horse named Ryan, who really taught me about jumping higher fences. It was a dream come true. While I was at Hawkwood, though, I fell in love with an Appaloosa/Quarter pony cross, named Sweet Pea, who is owned by Danielle Downing. I liked riding Ryan, but riding Sweet Pea just felt right. We started leasing her out, and I was able to compete in my first event on her. I eventually went on to win my second event ever, at Shepherd Ranch, and I took her to Galway in October 2009 and competed at Novice. I love riding Sweet Pea to this day, but I’m afraid the judge might think I’m a tad too big for her.

So about a year ago, we shipped an Irish Draught mare out from New Hampshire for me to train and compete for a few years. She was extremely overweight, and hadn’t done anything besides being a broodmare since she was shipped to the US from Ireland. I took on the task, and immediately fell in love with Mijinou, the big white mare who looks like a unicorn. Things were going very well, and in August 2010 I was planning on taking her to her first event at Woodside. But something incredibly bad happened.

On August 10, 2010, Mijinou and I were jumping stadium and a couple cross-country fences. We jumped a small plank, and Mijinou tripped. She landed flat on her face, and somersaulted . . . landing right on top of me. I remember jumping from her back, because I realized what was about to happen. It seems like it was all in slow motion; I tried to roll out of the way, but I just couldn’t. She landed on me, with my left hip in the air. She landed, rebounded, stood up, and just stayed right by me. Dani (Danielle Downing) and Lori (Lori Fields) were both in the arena at the time, and all I said was “Why, why now?” At that moment, I realized all I had worked for, and my excitement of taking Mijinou to her first show, was shattered. I managed to walk to a nearby golf cart, and drive back to the barn. My legs were shaking out of control. The thing I remember most vividly, though, is that while I was sitting in the golf cart, Mijinou wouldn’t leave me. She trotted to stay with me, nuzzling me as if to say “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. I’m really sorry.” It was one of those moments where you realize that you have found a lifetime partner, even if I couldn’t ride again I would still keep Mijinou.

My Mom came and picked me up from the barn, and asked me if I thought we should go to the hospital. I said no, all that I wanted to do was to go home, take a bath, and pray that the bruises wouldn’t prevent me from competing that weekend. My mother was insistent that we go to the emergency room, because her “motherly instinct” sensed that something more serious was going on. I stayed in the hospital for two days; luckily I didn’t break my back, but I broke my pelvis in four places, and tore all the tendons and ligaments surrounding it. I was in a wheelchair for three months, and crutches for one. The kids at school never let up on the broken pelvis jokes, and nobody ever helped me open doors or move across gravel, but the hardest part, by far, was that I couldn’t ride my horse. The task of getting me to and from school, into a wheelchair, up and down stairs, and even showering was hard enough, but going to the barn? That was one of the hardest things for me to do. All in all, I went to the barn three or four times while I was in a wheelchair.

In the beginning of December 2010, I was given clearance to start riding again. It’s been really hard for me to just get back on and start jumping courses, or even canter her, but I’m pushing myself harder and harder everyday so that I can continue doing what I love. I’ve taken her schooling at Twin Rivers and at Woodside, and I’ve competed in a combined test at Woodside, and Mijinou was exceptional. I’m aiming to take her Beginner Novice at the end of May at Woodside. I love my horse, I love riding horses, and I know that no matter what people say or what physically or mentally happens to me, I’m going to do what I love. I know that I am truly blessed to have so many good friends, a loving family, a supportive trainer, and a great horse. Mijinou and I are looking forward to meeting new horses and new people when we start competing!