My recent trip to Empowerfest in Chandler, AZ
I have a beautiful purplish and blue bruise on my inner right thigh. I call it my war wound. I am proud of that bruise. Why? Because I, for the first time as an amputee, got up on a horse and road it around in the middle of a beautiful and rustic Arizona morning recently at a special event for amputees. We were all encouraged to go beyond our limits and try something new. I picked horseback riding.
“Empowerfest,” put on by Hanger Clinic every year, is a three-day event for those with both limb loss and limb difference. We are challenged to try new activities, adaptive sports and learn new ways to become both healthy and active for the foreseeable future. With the help of a wonderful organization, Amputee Aid, I was able to fund my ‘ride’ there to experience great joy and satisfaction in learning and challenging myself to try things like horseback riding.
Camp No limits, also put on by Hanger Clinic, had their chance to join us at a huge adaptive sports building called Ability 360 just outside of Phoenix AZ. When we pulled up in the tour bus to the facility, we could see how impressive this building looked on the outside. We looked forward to going inside and seeing what all they had in store for us.
Inside was a large gym where a wheelchair basketball game was in progress during our lunch time. Those men and women moved with ease and were just as determined to get the ball into the basket as any two-legged player. I enjoyed meeting a couple of women who were on one of the teams. Their tenacity and grit was inspiring.
Along one wall on the second level of the gym was a rock-climbing wall. Not only did I see both upper and lower amputees scaling it, but I witnessed those who could at least sit in a seat and be hoisted up to the top get the experience of a lifetime. Pickleball anyone? Yes! Seated volleyball? Yes! Tennis? Yes! Other activities included adaptive biking, walking and running clinics, upper limb cooking class, yoga and swimming. I thoroughly melted in the hot tub by the pool. To me, it revived my exhausted jet lag from flying from Indiana to Arizona over 3 time zones.
Every meal was catered and absolutely delicious. I don’t eat this healthy at home. We had a wonderful dinner, a dance floor and even a talent show the last night there. Both young and old and in between shared their gifts and talents with us. You heard cheering, clapping and roaring laughter throughout the auditorium. I am amazed at the talent onstage. Amputees say they may have lost a limb but not their sense of humor.
Sunday, I rode with many others to the horseback riding location. It was picturesque with the desert like background, mountains and a few cactuses here and there. I got my helmet after signing forms and headed outside to the corral. When it was my turn, I climbed up the three steps and with a little help from a couple of cowboys and staff, we swung my right leg over the saddle. I’m upright! They showed me what to do and off I went several times around the fenced in arena. Since I was a little girl, I loved horses, only rode a few times but it had been over 30 years since I got on a horse. I was raised around 4H and farmland with all kinds of farm animals. We didn’t have any, but our neighbors did. Now I want to find an accessible horseback riding place within reason to drive to and try it again.
I witnessed a quad get up on the horse. Her smile was as wide as the desert surrounding us. I saw several bilateral amputees accomplish it. Was it easy? No. Was it fun? Yes! I will definitely go back again next year. I found out next year it will be in San Jose, California! I’ve never been that far west so I’m looking forward to it. I highly suggest you bookmark Hanger Clinic website link and next spring keep checking to see when registration opens. Thank you to everyone who planned this event and made it all happen. I look forward to seeing you all next year!
Words by: Kim Ousley