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Wednesday, December 23 2020 / Published in Weekly Feature

No Limitations for #TripleAmputeeEventer Jessica Thoma

By Britney Grover

Portraits by D. Harrison

For 28-year-old Jessica Thoma, pursuing her riding passion has always been about working hard to overcome limitations. When she first discovered jumping on YouTube, Jessica couldn’t afford tack or a trailer for lessons — so she started teaching herself, bareback.

When she finally started taking lessons as an adult and needed a more advanced horse, she found one that was deemed dangerous by others, and put in the time, love and effort to bring out his potential.

So even when a rare disease nearly killed Jessica and took her legs and left arm, leaving horses behind didn’t cross Jessica’s mind. In fact, they became a lifeline — no matter how challenging to hold on to.

“Having horses so deeply ingrained into my blood, I wasn’t going to stop,” she said. “Just being around them and making sure they receive the best care possible really keeps me going. Even though a lot of me has changed, my love for them has not.”

Horses Ingrained

It was Jessica’s mother that ingrained horses into her. “From the time I was a baby, she got me horse everything — toys, stuffed animals, blankets, pictures, everything,” Jessica said. When the Thoma family moved to a farm in Crossville, Tennessee, in 1999, both Jessica and her mother were ready to fulfill the lifelong dream of owning horses.

 Jessica grew up riding on a very casual level on the family farm, without the means for luxuries like a trailer and lessons. The area was primarily Western riding, so that’s what she did — until she fell in love with English and jumping through YouTube videos.

“There really wasn’t much information about English riding in my area, so I watched a lot of videos and thought, Man, jumping is really cool!” Jessica said. “When you’re a kid, you’re fearless to try stuff. And you know what? Jumping in a Western saddle is not fun,” she finished, with characteristic deadpan humor. 

After her ill-fated attempt at jumping in a Western saddle, Jessica began teaching herself how to jump bareback on her Spotted Saddle Horse, Sugar. Piece by piece, she acquired English tack, still entirely self- and YouTube-taught.

At 18, Jessica began taking lessons in eventing on Sugar. Sugar, now 25 and celebrating 11 years with Jessica, proved the perfect horse to learn on in Jessica’s youth and early adult years. But as Jessica got more serious about eventing, the time came to add another horse to the family.

Jessica got Albert, a Thoroughbred cross raised at an eventing farm, in 2013. “Albert has taught me a lot. He was actually considered dangerous at the time, but I don’t know … ” Jessica shrugged it off, downplaying the commitment and effort she put into Albert’s development. “I guess after years of building a relationship with him, he’s pretty much a puppy dog now. He’s a good boy for me, for sure.”

By 24, Jessica was working at Tractor Supply Company to pay for her passion and ready to take her riding to the next level with Albert. “I’d gone to a few training shows and a few jumping shows,” she said. “I was working my way up into the eventing world when I was struck down with my illness.”

Near-Deadly Disease

In the fall of 2017, Jessica got a rash. The rash developed into muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and eventually a large skin lesion. Unable to eat or work, Jessica endured a slew of doctors’ appointments as they tried to identify her condition. At one point, they even thought they had diagnosed the correct autoimmune disorder, and sent Jessica home.

Then, Jessica got a dangerously high fever and was rushed back to the hospital. She celebrated her 25th birthday from a hospital bed, intubated and on the verge of death. A rare form of vasculitis attacked her limbs and organs by constricting the blood vessels. By the time they got the disease under control, both her legs and her left arm were black and dead — and she was lucky to keep her damaged right hand.

Every step of the way, Jessica documented and shared her condition via social media. She was spreading awareness of what vasculitis can do, yes; but more importantly, she was inspiring others with her perseverance and positivity. After her limbs were removed in January 2018, Jessica was released from the hospital in April. “The first thing I wanted to do when I got out of the hospital was, obviously, to ride,” she said. 

It had been five months — and three limbs — since Albert and Sugar had seen Jessica. “I didn’t have any hair; I was completely bald. I smelled like hospital and chemicals, so it took them a bit to realize that it was me,” Jessica said. “But once they did, they treated me the same — but also more cautiously.”

Only bad weather made Jessica wait for her first ride on Sugar after leaving the hospital. With how much Jessica’s body had changed, it was reasonable to assume a Western saddle would be a good fit so she could hold onto the horn. Her first ride, however, she rediscovered what she had as a teenager: She craved the close contact of an English saddle.

Initially using an ill-fitting dressage saddle, thigh straps and a rein bar, Jessica began working back towards the show ring right away. Four months after her discharge from the hospital, Jessica rode Sugar against able-bodied riders in a local dressage show — and took home the blue ribbon.

Persevering Positivity 

Since first getting back in the saddle, Jessica’s riding has evolved. Caring friends gave her a well-fitted dressage saddle with a deep seat and large thigh blocks. She feels more balanced by attaching the reins to her left arm rather than using the rein bar. But Jessica’s return to riding has been wrought with setbacks.

In her older age, Sugar was sound long enough to help Jessica get back to riding. Albert needed some retraining, so Jessica leased him to a friend — visiting him as often as possible. After an extensive search, Jessica found and worked with Pickles, a small Arab cross mare. 

At home, Jessica relies on her older brother to help take care of the horses because it isn’t accessible to her in a wheelchair. The lack of an arena makes it difficult to do much productive training — but of course, that didn’t stop her. Neither does having to mount from the bed of a pickup truck, or trying to find an affordable, used wheelchair powerful enough for outdoor and barn use. As hard as it is to accept help, Jessica takes on every challenge riding throws at her — just like she continues to take on the repercussions of vasculitis.

Jessica’s left leg had been left with a jagged bone and scarring that prevented her from wearing prosthetics, and had to have revision surgery. Her right hand, damaged from the disease, stiffened and required surgery to loosen tendons and improve mobility. This year, prosthetic legs have given Jessica some independence — when she can wear them and isn’t “playing with a bout of bursitis,” as she quipped.

Though insurance covered quite a bit of her original medical expenses, Jessica couldn’t afford what was left and had to declare bankruptcy. “It’s kind of one thing after another,” Jessica summarized, “and I just try to stay positive through it all.”

Others have taken notice of her positivity, including at Tractor Supply Co. where she still works one to three days a week. After Jessica’s story aired on the local news in June, executives at Tractor Supply teamed up with Purina, Saddle Up and Tucker’s House to provide Jessica with $5,500 in Purina feed, a lifetime Tractor Supply discount and a large grant to make her barn more accessible — complete with arena and mounting ramp.

#tripleamputeeeventer

Jessica looks forward to having an accessible barn and arena by spring at her home, where she lives with her parents, her two older brothers and her dog, Sansa. In the meantime, she was able to take Albert back in June and keeps him at a nearby facility called Wintercrest.

“I became part of a program called Healing Hooves; they helped me pay Albert’s board,” Jessica said. Now Healing Hooves is in the process of relocating. She will continue to volunteer with them when they have a new facility, but the new owners of Wintercrest have also let Jessica stay board-free. “I get to keep Albert there and ride him and work with him. It’s been really great, and he’s been fantastic.”

Jessica takes lessons when and from whom she can, and attends as many clinics as possible. In October, Jessica entered her second horse show since the amputations. This time she rode Albert, but the result was the same — first place riding against able-bodied riders. 

“I know I have a whole life ahead of me to decide what I want to do, but eventually I would love to get to Paralympic level for dressage,” Jessica said. “I would love to do some jumping — I’m dying to jump a horse!”

True to her Instagram handle #tripleamputeeeventer, Jessica deems herself “still crazy enough” to return to eventing eventually. But her goal, like her Instagram account, is about far more than simply riding and showing horses. “You know, my goal is to just be the best me that I can be,” she said. “Whether that’s helping people get through their days or showing a horse, it varies day by day.”

Horses give Jessica her reason for getting out of bed every day. Even on days when she struggles, she finds peace in grooming or watching horse videos. Through sharing her struggles — and her triumphs — Jessica hopes to give others a reason to keep trying.

Her audience?

“Anybody that thinks they can’t,” she replied. “You don’t have to be disabled. Anybody that thinks they can’t, I just want them to know that anything is possible. When you work hard, there are no limitations.”

Follow Jessica on Instagram, @tripleamputeeeventer

Photos by D. Harrison, unless noted otherwise

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Tagged under: eventing, Jessica thoma, tripleamputeeeventer

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Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Gre Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Great American $300,000 Grand Prix at HITS Ocala!! 🏆🥇

Crowds filled the stands at the HITS Ocala Grand Prix Ring on Sunday afternoon to watch the world’s top athletes compete in the Great American $300,000 Grand Prix. The day concluded with a thrilling five-horse jump-off featuring athletes 
representing four countries. In the end, it was Lisa Goldman-Smolen (USA) and Ivaro N who produced the only double clear effort of the day, claiming one of the biggest wins of her career. Scott Keach (AUS) and Noble De La Chapelle earned the second-place prize with the fastest 4-fault jump-off, while Aaron Vale (USA) and Obi Wan placed third as the day’s pathfinders.

“I'm still on cloud nine, I still can't believe it – I’ve used up all my luck for the year,” smiled Goldman-Smolen after her win. “I've been knocking on the door a long time in these bigger classes. I am so proud of my horse – he gave every ounce of effort.”

Sunday’s Great American $300,000 Grand Prix marked the conclusion of the 2023 HITS Ocala circuit. HITS CCO Joe Norick concluded, “We are so excited about the new HITS, with 2023 as the launch. New footing, many new arenas here, and a lot of our facilities across America are getting a lot of love and new footing. Our partnerships with Worldly Martin and others across America including our footing leader Bart Poles overseeing our operations – it really makes a big difference for us. Today is about Ocala and these three riders sitting next to me who supported us this entire winter. We want to be a proud destination for our exhibitors and our friends. We know we have to provide them a beautiful showplace to work from that's horseman friendly, and that's our go goal. 

Congratulations to all of the riders, horses, owners, and groom who participated in this prestigious class!!! 🎉
📸 @esi_photography 
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It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

 ✨PF'S DIAMO BLUE✨
Diarado-Diamant de Semilly- Chacco Blue
17.0hh, Oldenburg International Hunter Derby/ Jumper Stallion
An outstanding Pedigree- Chacco Blue and Diamant de Semilly
WBFSH/ Rolex top ranking Jumping Sires 2017 thru 2022
Standing at Ryan Pedigo Sport Horses, in California

For more information, you can contact 
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You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

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Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
📸Photo by Sheryl Sutherby

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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
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