By Molly Langhorst
CSC College Relations
CHADRON – Professional barrel racer and motivational speaker Amberley Snyder will speak April 10 at 7 p.m. in Chadron State College’s Memorial Hall Auditorium during 2024 Spring Daze. The event is free and open to the public, however seat reservations are required.
As one of the only paralyzed barrel racers in the world, Snyder overcame the challenges she faced and learned to get back on her horse. She is the subject of the 2019 Netflix original movie Walk. Ride. Rodeo., a biopic focusing on her journey leading up to and following a vehicle accident that left her paralyzed from the waist down.
According to Snyder, she fell in love with horses early in life and began barrel racing and competing in other rodeo events at a young age. She subsequently competed in junior and high school rodeos, winning multiple titles and awards.
She qualified for the National High School Rodeo Finals in pole bending in 2009, her senior year of high school, and later won the National Little Britches Rodeo Association All-Around Cowgirl World Championship.
Snyder was elected as Utah FFA State President in 2010 and was looking forward to serving her office term and competing in college rodeo, when her world came crashing down. Snyder was driving through Sinclair, Wyoming, on her way to the Denver Stock Show and Rodeo, when she looked down at her map and crossed the centerline.
Snyder attempted to get back into her lane but overcorrected and rolled her truck. She was ejected and slammed into a fence post, breaking her back.
She underwent five hours of emergency surgery and was told by her doctor that she would never regain use of or feeling in her legs.
Four months later, she was back on her horse, and 18 months after the accident, Snyder returned to competing in rodeo, with a seatbelt on her saddle.
She went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Agriculture Education, and later earned a master’s in School Counseling.
In 2015, she was voted Fan Choice at the world’s richest one day rodeo, The American. Snyder was just 0.6 seconds short of the winning time and received a standing ovation from more than 40,000 fans.
When Walk. Ride. Rodeo. came about, Snyder served as her own co-producer and stunt double. She also co-wrote the song, “Ride,” for the soundtrack and published a book to accompany the film, titled, “Walk Ride Rodeo: A Story About Amberley Snyder.”
Snyder competes in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association as a barrel racer and breakaway roper. She qualified for the PRCA Wilderness Circuit Finals in 2021 and 2022 and has been recognized by the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame and the National Cowboy Heritage Museum and Hall of Fame.
Snyder also travels the nation sharing her story of triumph over tragedy and has become one of the most sought-after social influencers and motivational speakers in western sports. According to her website, she hopes to inspire others that no matter what happens, they have the strength to overcome it.