ROUGH START

DESPITE HER ROUGH START, THE YEAR TURNED OUT WELL.

BY LYNSEY MADISON, JUNIOR JOURNALIST 

Danielle Beals, 14, making the third barrel at the 2007 Ford Youth World.

This year for Danielle Beals, 14, of Colfax, Iowa, started off rough. However, it has really turned out great.

On the way to her first competition of the year on May 5^th her horse, “Gamblers Big Gem” aka Rigby became cast in the family’s trailer while they were traveling on the interstate.

The family thinks that a passing semi-truck spooked the horse, causing Rigby to slip and fall.  When they stopped to figure out why the trailer was moving around so much, they found 15-year-old Rigby flipped over on his back and unconscious. 

Monty, Danielle’s father, took the first step by untying and flipping Rigby onto his side.  At this point he was still unconscious, but within five minutes he was up to his feet. 

In the accident, Rigby injured his left hip and has struggled all season to heal from the accident. The family said that the thing that has helped Rigby on his recovery most is numerous chiropractic adjustments.

What advice would Danielle give for others when trailer related accidents happen? “Stay calm!" Like so many of us have been told, horses pick up on our emotions, and if you stay calm they will relax, too. 

Despite the rough start to the year, Danielle had a great run here at the 2007 Ford AQHYA World Championship Show, placing 16^th in the world. This was Danielle’s first year here in Fort Worth, Texas. Not to mention that it was her first year showing Quarter Horses. Prior to this year, she competed in the National Barrel Horse Association and 4-H competitions.