42 SIDELINES MARCH 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
para-dressage rider with David Macmillan in Saratoga Springs,
Utah at Coyote Creek Stables. When she is in California, she
trains with Brian Hafner with Silver Bay Stables out of Sonoma.
Cambry recently purchased and started training her new para-
dressage mount, Danish Warmblood Markgaards Donnewind.
He previously competed on the para-dressage Danish “B” Team.
Together, the duo is working hard toward attending the upcoming
CPEDI3* events in order to qualify for the U.S. Para-Dressage
Team selection trials for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian
Games™ in Normandy, France.
Not only is Cambry working hard on her goals as a para-
equestrian, but she is also in her second year of graduate school
at the University of Utah in their occupational therapy program.
Cambry will graduate in May 2015 with her Master’s degree in
Occupational Therapy. Her plan is to help others with spinal cord
injuries live full lives, return to what they love and passionately
follow their dreams.
Cambry is also in the American Vaulting Associations judge’s
training program working to be certified in 2016. When she is not
studying, coaching her vaulters or riding, she enjoys attending
the University of Utah gymnastics meets and spending time with
her family.
“I honestly have the funniest family. I think the world of them,”
Cambry said. “My family means a lot to me. We’ve always been
close, but I believe after my accident, we became even closer.
My family members were there for me through that extremely
difficult time in my life and helped make me stronger. I know they
want the best for me and want to see me go after my dreams.
They’re the first ones to tell me I can do anything. To have my
parents, siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins all
support me in my para-dressage endeavors is an incredible
feeling and I’m so blessed to have them.”
Cambry hasn’t just dipped her toe into the sport of para-
dressage, she is serious about her future with the sport. She
is raising money through donations and sponsors through
her website
to offset the multiple costs of
competing internationally.
Cambry’s journey from vaulting to international para-dressage
has been a whirlwind. She believes that vaulting helped her
with her speedy recovery after her initial injury from a physical
standpoint. It also healed her emotionally by being able to return
to the sport as a coach. Today, she attributes a lot of her balance
and harmony with the horse to her previous vaulting training.
“I believe the sport both as a vaulter and as a coach helped
prepare me to become a para-dressage rider,” noted Cambry.
It was also her family, the donation of Miss Fire Opal from
Julie Young and having David Macmillan believe in her as a rider
that has Cambry following her dreams.
“I remember after my accident waking up in the mornings
and thinking that it was just a bad dream and it wasn’t real,”
said Cambry. “I’d ask family and friends in my hospital room
why we were there hoping the reason had changed. That it
wasn’t my new life. Now I ask my friends and family to pinch me,
because I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to have this life and the
opportunities ahead of me. I’m enjoying the journey and excited
for what the future holds.”
About the writer: Lindsay McCall is a lifelong hunter/jumper rider
originally from Ohio. She is a talented photographer and makes it her
career to advocate for the equestrian sport through photojournalism.
Lindsay and her family own many horses in multiple disciplines and she
enjoys spending her free time with her husband, horses and Labrador
Retrievers.
Cambry vaulting prior to her accident.
Photo courtesy of Cambry Kaylor
Cambry and Miss Fire Opal.
Photo courtesy of Cambry Kaylor
