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Tuesday, February 28 2023 / Published in Sidelines Feature, Sidelines Spotlight, Weekly Feature

Andie Sue Roth: Enjoying Every Step of the Journey

By Laura Scaletti

“You can do hard things” is the mantra Andie Sue Roth’s parents, Drew and Barbie Tilden Roth, have instilled upon their daughter since day one. Adopted from Guangzhou, China, at 15 months old, Andie Sue underwent amputation surgery below the knee shortly after arriving in the United States. Born without enough bones in her foot to enable her to hold her weight, Andie Sue’s doctors at Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in Northern California decided amputation would be the best way to allow her to thrive in life.

“Being just under 2 years old, she handled the first surgery really well, sleeping a lot afterwards. We kept this little red trike in the kitchen; she would roll all over the kitchen—thud thud thud—with her casted leg up on the handlebar. Without a foot to keep the cast on, her leg had to be bent at the knee and immobilized to keep the cast from coming off,” Barbie said. “We knew she was feeling better when she would get on that trike to roll around.”

Once the swelling from the amputation went down, Andie Sue was fitted with her first prosthetic at age 2. Since then, she’s been on the move chasing her dreams, including Paralympic aspirations in para dressage.

At a young age, Andie Sue found herself in the barn. As a former eventer, Barbie had two horses that lived across the street from their house, and were great on the trails. “Mom and her best friend, Karen, spent a lot of time up Mount Diablo riding. So as soon as she could, Mom put me in a buddy saddle and off we went,” Andie Sue said. “Little did I know that Tam, the horse I was riding at the time, would eventually be my Pony Club mount in all disciplines, my camp buddy and lower-level event horse.”

Making Strides

Once Andie Sue started riding on a regular basis at age 7, she made another trip to Shriners Children’s Hospital to get fitted for a prosthetic to use in the saddle. “She brought her little saddle in; I carried a metal saddle stand and while wearing her boots she told the prosthetist what she wanted. I didn’t have to say much, she had it handled,” Barbie said. “Her prosthetist at Shriners, Eric Smith, really listened to her. He didn’t pass off her requests for her special need, didn’t discount her ability to understand how she wanted it all to work.”

An Ironman himself, Eric totally understands Andie Sue’s need to be physically active and athletic. “He’s taken such great care of me, making sure that things fit properly and I can pursue my sport,” Andie Sue said. This includes return trips to Shriners Children’s as even the tiniest bit of swelling, weight gain or growth makes her prosthetics fit differently, making them painful and requiring new riding and walking prosthetics to be made.

Eric not only designs Andie Sue’s legs to be comfortable and functional, but he also makes them so they suit her personality. What started as butterflies printed on the socket has transitioned to a black diamond pattern as Andie Sue has matured. “On the last two riding legs I had made, they even put my sponsors on them! I had a green one that said Devoucoux and my current one is Ariat,” Andie Sue said. “It’s been super fun personalizing them!”

With a prosthetic designed for riding, Andie Sue started competing and joined Pony Club when she was 8 years old. “Pony Club has probably been the most instrumental part of my entire journey with horses. It’s the foundation of learning horse management across disciplines that I believe shouldn’t be missed,” Andie Sue said. “There are so many opportunities in Pony Club that give participants a lot of experience. I did tetrathlon, eventing, dressage, games, quiz and anything else that came my way.”

At age 11, Andie Sue began participating in USEA horse trials with her trusty buddy Tam. “I still can’t believe I chose dressage as my primary discipline, because as an eventer, all I thought about was how to get through the dressage quickly so I could jump! But one day, when I was 15, I was having a lesson with an OTTB I had just purchased, Cape Royal, aka Blue, and even though he truly knew nothing about dressage, I felt a power in his lofty trot that I just fell hard for,” Andie Sue said. “Each time I rode, I started to get glimpses of what dressage really was and I couldn’t wait to try new movements as Blue progressed in his training.”

“Blue came to us as a kill-pen rescue after his time on the track culminated,” Barbie said. “He had been given nearly a year off by his rescuer and was ready to get to work with his own person. It was love at first sight for Andie Sue, who had tried many horses before she allowed herself to be chosen by this inexperienced OTTB.”

To be the best horsewoman she could, Andie Sue took advantage of the opportunity to ride more seasoned dressage horses while Blue was learning the ropes. “My main goal was always to bring that knowledge home to Blue and see what I could teach him. He’s not an easy ride—he’s quite challenging, to be honest—but when things go well, they go very well,” Andie Sue said. “I’m excited to have been able to develop him along the way.”

In 2022, it was Andie’s partnership with Blue that enabled her to be named Young Rider of the Year for the Thoroughbred Incentive Program. One of the most exciting parts of the year was when they earned a 73% in their freestyle at Championships.

“I think that every equestrian kid dreams of dancing in the dressage court to a mix of her favorite songs with her best friend. It was a magical time, and Blue’s been a big part of so many pieces of my horse dreams,” Andie Sue said. “Quite a journey for a horse who ended up in a kill pen after his track days. I feel lucky every day that we found each other.”

Path to Para Dressage

In 2020, Andie Sue was introduced to para dressage by Hope Hand. A two-time Paralympian herself, Hope founded the U.S. Para-Equestrian Association and helped recruit athletes to the sport.

Hope became a wonderful friend and mentor to both Andie Sue and Barbie. Unfortunately, Hope passed away from cancer in 2022. “I was grateful to have been able to walk a riderless horse in her honor in the dressage arena at Tryon International Equestrian Center following a competition,” Andie Sue said. “She was the most encouraging and supporting person, and an incredible advocate for para dressage. She encouraged me to ride in several national competitions doing para tests, and connected me with Barbara Bonk Matson, who offered her amazing Grand Prix PRE Stallion Centeno to me for the para dressage competition at Tryon in 2020. After I rode Centeno I was completely hooked.”

From that first experience, Andie Sue connected with Lisa Hellmer, who is now the USEF Para Dressage Development coach. “Andie Sue’s experience in Pony Club really helped get her foot in the door with Lisa, as Lisa is a former Pony Club B graduate,” Barbie said “She knew Andie Sue had spent a lot of her time dedicated to learning horsemanship and not just riding. This was important to Lisa.”

Before connecting with Lisa, it was a struggle trying to find someone to help Andie Sue continue her dressage dreams. “I felt like I called every single dressage trainer in Florida who had even the most remote connection to anyone that I knew,” Barbie said. “Finally, I had a friend ask if I had reached out to Lisa, which I hadn’t. She was so kind, but didn’t make any promises. We are so thankful Pony Club got us in the door with Lisa, it’s been the best connection.”

After meeting Andie Sue, Lisa was open to seeing if her personal horse, Aniko, would be a good match. Andie Sue happily went to Florida to start training with Lisa in January 2021. For the past two years, Andie Sue and Aniko have been competing on the East Coast with much success, including Aniko helping Andie Sue earn her USDF Bronze medal.

With a shared passion and background, Andie Sue and Lisa immediately had a strong bond. “Lisa has become one of my closest friends and mentors. She understands how to get the best work out of me, she pushes me, laughs with—and at—me and we share a million inside jokes,” Andie Sue said. “Having the comfort of knowing that I can make mistakes and learn with Lisa has been a growing experience that is bigger than just being on a horse.”

Deciding to become bicoastal to continue her dreams has been fulfilling as well as challenging. What started out as going from California to Florida for a few weeks then returning home for a few months has turned into more and more time on the East Coast.

“My last trip was supposed to be just four weeks, but then things kept coming up that I wanted to do—just one more show, then a ‘can’t miss’ clinic for freestyle with Collier Wimmer of Three Wishes. I kept calling home and asking for a ticket change,” Andie Sue said. “Finally, my parents were like, ‘OK, you have to come home now!’”

Not only did Andie Sue make her parents happy by coming home, but she was also able to compete at the Pony Club Dressage National Championships and California Dressage Society Championships, earning championship neck ribbons for her own Blue at Training Level and Karen Erickson’s Astoria at Second Level.

When Andie Sue returns to Florida for the winter season, she’s planning on bringing Blue, if finances allow it. “My mom is very supportive and glad I’m having these experiences, but she misses me being a working student at home, too,” she said. “I’m so thankful to have my family supporting my journey.”

Setbacks & Success

During her journey, Andie Sue has had her fair share of setbacks—however, her positive thinking has helped her continue to focus on her end goals amidst difficult times. “Encountering a setback can actually be quite productive. I’ve had a few where I haven’t been able to ride for several months, because of surgeries,” Andie Sue said. “When that happened, I was able to really focus on other types of learning that were also helpful when I got back in the saddle.”

Before COVID hit, Andie Sue had to have a knee reconstruction on her stump leg, which kept her out of the saddle for nearly six months. Combine that with the COVID lockdowns, and Andie Sue found herself with an enormous amount of time on her hands. “I focused a lot on studying, dove into online classes. We knew I was already far ahead in my classes, but when mom was reviewing my transcripts at the end of that year, she found out I had completed all the necessary coursework to graduate two years early,” Andie Sue said. With plenty of time on her hands, Andie Sue began taking a few community college credits to further her education.

In addition to traditional school coursework, Andie Sue also did research on how to make a dressage freestyle and took some veterinary prep coursework for her Pony Club H-B certification. However, when Andie Sue went to get her certification, she hit a major mental block. Although she had spent hours studying and memorizing the required knowledge, her fear of failure almost sabotaged her as a month prior to the exam, she decided to cancel her test appointment.

“I used the methods and direction I learned at a recent Daniel Stewart Clinic our Pony Club Region hosted to boost my confidence and get myself over that hump. Daniel encouraged each of us to think hard about why we’re hesitant to put ourselves out there, and recognize that it’s all based in fear. It made me take a deep look at why I was feeling concerned about the testing, and ask myself what I really had to lose if I didn’t pass,” Andie Sue said. “I often tell kids my motto is, ‘Do all the things.’ I just had to remind myself to follow my own advice. Although it wasn’t easy, I’m so glad I re-signed up for the test and got my H-B certification.”

While Andie Sue has experienced her own setbacks that have tested her grit and grace, she’s thankful she’s always been able to get to the other side of them. “Being a para equestrian, I always hear about setbacks way worse than mine. Yes, my amputations have been painful, but I have para friends who have lasting pain and chronic illnesses,” she said. “I feel blessed that for the most part, I can manage the things that come up in my life and am grateful for my health.”

Andie Sue also doesn’t solely rely on the judges to let her know she’s been successful. “In the moment before the scores come out or the winner is announced, I have a choice to make. I can win by finding the part of my test that I’m proud of, the sections where we are in sync, communicating well and having fun, or I can lose by focusing on what didn’t go well or never trying in the first place,” she said.

Paralympian Dreams

Andie Sue and Aniko recently competed at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala and then in the 3* CPEDI competition at Global Dressage Festival. “The good news is that the scores she got were enough to qualify her as an addition to the USEF Para Dressage Development List and also to earn an invitation to Lamplight in Chicago for Para Nationals,” Barbie said. “She’s super excited about those things!”

Andie Sue intends to keep this winning attitude as she forges a path to earn a spot on the USA Paralympic team. “I’m working all this year toward a spot on the Paris 2024 team,” she said. “However, the U.S. has an incredibly strong group of riders who have been preparing for the next games far longer than I have.”

Regardless of whether Andie Sue makes Team USA in 2024, she’s excited about participating in the selection process. “I’m looking forward to competing, regardless of the outcome. If the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles are more in my reach, going through this process will help prepare me for that.”

As she chases her Paralympian dreams, Andie also has her eyes on a future career in construction management. “I’d love to have the opportunity to build an equestrian community where people can live near their horses,” she said. Andie Sue knows how much proximity to horses can impact a child’s dreams growing up.

While chasing her dreams, one thing is for sure. Andie Sue is enjoying every step of her journey.

For more information, follow @andiesue_para_equestrian

Photos by Melissa Fuller, msfullerphotography.com

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Tagged under: 3* CPEDI, Andie Sue Roth, global dressage festival, Lisa Hellmer, prosthetist

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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

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