Stories that Inspire: Andie Sue Roth

By Samantha Smith, Director of Marketing and Communications

Meet Andie Sue Roth, an inspiring USPC Member from the Middle California Region. Andie Sue is an amputee rider with an incredible passion for riding and horsemanship. She is a C-2 certified member in Horse Management, Dressage, Traditional Eventing, and Western. Andie Sue also has an incredible support team - her mother and her trainer - who also happen to be Pony Club members. Here are their stories:

Andie Sue Roth

Andie Sue pictured with Centeno.

Photo courtesy of Lindsay McCall.

Club/Region: In the Irons Pony Club, Middle California Region.

Years in Pony Club: 8 years

Current certification: I have my C-2 certification in Horse Management, Dressage, Traditional Eventing, and Western.

Certifications currently working on: H-B Horse Management and C-3 Dressage.

Disciplines involved in:

Mostly Dressage and Eventing. I have achieved the highest level offered in the Western track so other than trail riding, I am not doing much Western training. I also like Games Rally and Tetrathlon, especially the shooting phase. There are so many fun things to do in Pony Club so I pretty much do anything that comes up!

Tell us about your current mounts:

My family has three horses and two of them are my show horses, the other is a trusty trail horse named Sage. He is a Quarter Horse and we say he is 1/4 horse and 3/4 couch! He’s the same guy every day and loves to go out on trail. Cape Royal “Blue” is my newest OTTB and he is such a sweet puppy dog guy. He raced for many years, so he is learning a new job with dressage and we are going to do our first First Level test next month. I also want to do lower level eventing with him just to keep things fun. My goal is to do at least Third Level with him. I think he has so much talent and he is just the most willing and kind horse ever. Indiana Tamalpais is my Morgan eventer and Pony Club fun horse. He loves to do everything from cattle drives to dressage, trail riding and games. I have done every rally with him and he goes to all the Pony Club camps either with me as the rider or loaned out to other Pony Club members who need a reliable mount. Tam thinks everything is his favorite thing. I just love him!

Andie Sue and Barbie.

Photos courtesy of Lindsay McCall.

Tell us about your goals in Pony Club:

I am working on my H-B for Horse Management and my C-3 in Dressage. I am planning to go to Kentucky for Festival this summer if it’s not canceled. I would love to also do my C-3 in Eventing too but I would need to borrow a horse to go that level.

Tell us about your goals with riding:

I am working right now on moving up a level with all my dressage tests. Blue is coming into First Level (and I am SO proud of him!) I will be doing Second Level next month with my leased horse, Sunny, and I am working on the FEI Grade 5 Para Equestrian Novice Tests A and B to use with borrowed horses for the National shows and Development List designation for Para Dressage. Long term? Paralympics, Paris 2024.

Tell us about your life goals:

I am 16 right now and will be graduating next year which is a year early from high school. I plan to start taking my certificate classes at the local junior college to become a contractor and classes toward a business degree. I really want to build big barns! I love math and I really like to build things, so this is what I have always wanted to do. I have a big goal to compete at the 2024 Paralympics, but I know I will need to continue with my studies, so I have other opportunities as well.

What is your favorite thing about Pony Club?

My favorite thing about Pony Club is that there are so many activities to do and over the years I have tried everything that my region offers. I even got to play polo! My very favorite thing though is that as I went up the levels, I found that what seems like a small network of local clubs is actually a HUGE network of connections that far surpasses what I ever thought. I have met people coast to coast who have a common thread in Pony Club. We even connected with a Pony Club in China when I visited there last year! Unfortunately, the timing didn’t work out to visit in person but it was really amazing to know that there are Pony Clubs all around the world with kids just like me!

What is one thing you would tell younger members first joining Pony Club?

Do all the things. Don’t worry if you don’t know how or if you might think you’ll look dumb. The only way to learn what you like is just to get out there and do all the things.

What is your favorite way to prep for a HM certification?

I take the HM standards for my next certification and start looking them over right after I have completed the one before it. I try to incorporate the standards into my daily routine with my horse as much as I can. I also have been mentored by some of the best. I have found that the trainers I have benefitted the most from have had Pony Club in their background.

If you could try out any other discipline or activity, what would it be and why?

I have tried so many of them but I have never gone foxhunting! That sounds like so much fun!

How do you balance riding, school, and social / extracurricular?

I don’t. It all mushes together and some days are just crazy. I am homeschooled but I take enrichment classes two days a week with other homeschooled kids. Most days I can ride in the morning before the after school rush at the barn. But between full training with Blue at the barn, several days a week on Sunny, the upper level dressage horse I lease, the other two horses at home that need riding and care, my days go by pretty quickly. The best social time is at horse shows with friends or when we end up at the barn together on Saturdays and can go on a trail ride. We like to all go cross country schooling together and those are always fun because everyone is watching each other and laughing at the weird things that happen. We really cheer for each other too.

Favorite Pony Club memory:

C-Camp at Eventful Acres in Oregon House, CA, was the best time ever. I got to go with several of my friends and met so many more. C-Camp is very relaxed and after the day clinics, we did a lot of bareback riding, grazing the horses and eating ice cream. Flashlight tag at night was really fun too. My friend made a really awesome video of our time there and I watch it often and smile. It is an experience that was indescribably amazing and I will never forget it because I have never had so much fun.

What makes you #PonyClubProud?

It makes me #PonyClubProud to know that USPC has changed their certifications to include so many disciplines and has separated out the HM sections from the riding sections. It helps Pony Club be inclusive and diverse so that more people can benefit from the teaching. When my mom was in Pony Club, it was just traditional Eventing. She is a B graduate but was lucky to have a horse that could do everything at that level. Some of her friends could not finish that high of a certification because they didn’t have a horse who could do that level and didn’t have the means to lease or connections to borrow one. When I was little she wasn’t sure if me being an amputee would limit my riding ability so she was super happy to find that USPC allowed HM to be taken separately and that there were so many disciplines offered. It allows people to participate in different ways with success.

What is your favorite hobby or activity outside of riding?

Fishing, hiking, adventuring. I love being outside. Our family business is cattle ranching so we spend a lot of time on the ranch. I will take any spare minute and go to the lake and fish, Of course, I am super competitive so my brothers and I have bets going about who gets the biggest fish all the time. So far… I am winning.

What is your favorite thing about riding?

I am able to hop on my horse and forget about everything else. I can just focus on what is in front of me at the time, either my current goal or what exercises I am working on with my horse. But some days are just about getting on and feeling connected and peaceful. Life seems to stop when I mount up and I can just be in the moment.

What is a specific personal challenge you have faced in the equestrian community?

I have had only one really negative experience because I am an amputee and a coach once refused to work with me because of it. I was young and didn’t really understand but it was pretty upsetting to my mom. Mom trained me for a long time herself then we found Kyana Sazegari and I have been with her ever since. Other than that, I have just had my share of disappointments at shows or days where I feel like my training is not going how I would like but honestly, I am too busy to think much about those things. I have not had a bad day yet that didn’t have something good or something funny come of it so I just look at it as an opportunity to do better next time.

As far as specific challenges that come with being an amputee equestrian? It took a while to figure out the right design for my riding leg. I have three legs; a walking (every day) leg, a swimming (beach) leg and a riding leg. Everyone always asks me if I have one of those blade running legs. I think those are cool but then I would have to RUN! So, no. My riding leg is designed differently than my walking leg because it curves in a little and has some articulation in the ankle area so I can have a “heel down” on that side.

Andie Sue pictured with Rebecca Hart. Hart, who has hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), has competed in around the world, including three Paralympics and four World Equestrian Games. She gave Andie Sue her personal best ribbon for her freestyle at Tryon in October.

Photo courtesy of Lindsay McCall.

Andie Sue pictured with Centeno.

Photo courtesy of Lindsay McCall.

I do a lot of the adjustments myself and I carry an Allen wrench to shows with me in case things need to be tweaked a bit. It is not comfortable to walk in but I do end up wearing it several hours a day because I don’t want to bring my extra leg to switch between rides or classes at a show.

When I am riding, I band my stirrup to the girth and my foot into the stirrup with breakable hair bands. I have an amazing prosthetist, Eric, at Shriners Hospital who has made my legs the last few years. He really listens to me and what I need. I have a box of legs in my garage because as I grow and change, I need new ones. And, I’m pretty hard on my legs so they are pretty thrashed by the time I grow out of them and I have a lot of broken feet in that box!

What is an area where you could see the equestrian community or sport improve?

I think that the local shows are undervalued in our community and I think more people should see them as ways to give their horses experience without costing too much money or going too far away.

Tell one of your favorite memories or stories in general with riding:

It is hard to choose a favorite memory of riding because I love that I am able to ride my horse all the time. I love the connection and feel when I am riding and I can’t remember a time when I haven’t enjoyed it. But, I do have a funny memory to share. My mom, her friend, Karen and I trail ride a lot and when I was younger I had a hard time keeping my stirrups or I just wouldn’t bother to put on a saddle to go off riding. We live close to the base of a mountain and one day, we were riding through the neighborhood and my prosthetic leg kept falling off.

My mom dismounted twice to get it and then finally decided to go into a neighbor’s driveway and put my leg on the front of their horse trailer. She texted them and said, “Hey, this is kinda a crazy text, but I put Andie Sue’s leg on the front of your horse trailer and I will come back to get it later.” The neighbor wrote back that it WAS the craziest text she had ever gotten! When we finished our trail ride, we went to pick up my leg and our neighbor had filled the socket full of mini chocolate chip cookies. We all had quite a laugh about that and we had snacks for the way home!

Andie Sue pictured with Aniko.

Photo Courtesy of Susan J Stickle Photography, SusanJStickle.com

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?

Only that I am grateful to be on the cover of this month’s magazine! The horse I am riding in the photo is Aniko, owned by Lisa Hellmer of LCH Equestrian in Ocala, Fl. I met Lisa when I was looking for a horse to ride at The Global Dressage Festival in Wellington for a National ParaEquestrian competition. She asked my mom to send her my resume to see if she knew of a horse I could use for training and the competition. When she saw my resume included so much with Pony Club, she was so excited! She is a graduate B and though I had lots of things listed like show wins, grants and articles, she was most excited about my Pony Club accomplishments. What that showed her was that I was willing to train hard, do the work and knew how to take care of Aniko the way he should be cared for. Aniko is her own personal horse who she has poured her heart into. I was so excited to come to her barn and meet him. He was every bit as wonderful as she described him to be, so for him to be on the cover of the Pony Club magazine with me is a great honor.

Barbie Roth

When did you begin Pony Club?

I was about 7 and had my little Shetland pony named Tony. I was just in the process of buying my first show pony who was the cutest (and fattest) little Connemara mare. I was actively involved until I aged out. Now I am back involved as a parent of two Pony Club Members, the District Commissioner of our local Pony Club, In the Irons, and I am the Vice Regional Supervisor of Membership for Middle California Region.

What certification level?

B Traditional Eventing.

What do you currently do?

I am a mom and have homeschooled all my kids. My older kids are in their 20's and are off on their own. I am still homeschooling Andie Sue and her younger sister, Kaysie Li. I teach 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8 grade students at our local enrichment group and until COVID changed a lot of things, I was still teaching beginner riding lessons at home. My very favorite students are the ones who love horses but never have had a lesson. I love to teach grooming, tacking and I say “up, down, up, down” all day long and love it so much!

How did Pony Club influence your life and where you are now?

Pony Club greatly influenced me because I know that I learned the gold standard of horsemanship that has applied to my whole life. Because of rallies, I know how to organize a trailer and get to a show. Because of certifications, I know how to present myself and be on time. Because of turnout inspections, I know how to focus on details and organize my time wisely. Because of stable management, I know how to work as a team. These life skills are all part of Pony Club…. horses just get to be the medium for learning.

What advice would you give to young equestrians trying to get involved with the sport?

I think it is really important that recreational equestrians remember that they have a lot to learn and that there is not a timeline to get there. They should find a coach that is invested in the process, not just the product. By recognizing that, they can learn skills while having fun safely. Having goals is a great thing, so use the Pony Club standards as a method of incremental learning! But don’t be so hung up on being a particular level by a certain time, that you forget to be a partner to your horse and enjoy the ride.

Barbie watching Andie Sue ride.

Photos courtesy of Lindsay McCall.

So funny... I don't know why I was crying! Well, yes I do. I "rode" that dressage test right along with her, breathed out every downward transition and lifted every step. To see it all come together so beautifully was really just so sweet. It wasn't perfect, but it was perfect in that moment. I could see the smile on Andie Sue's face and I knew she was so proud of Centeno. The thing is, with a big stallion like that, if he wanted to leave the arena, or buck her off or do any number of things, he absolutely could. But he is such a gentleman, he just doesn't. He's a special horse for sure.

I looked at Leoni "Button" Baker and she said, "Oh my gosh are you CRYING? Why are you crying??" Just as I started to answer I saw that she was crying too. Then we started cracking up laughing at each other. "I'm not crying, YOU'RE crying". It was hilariously ridiculous. Button and Andie Sue really hit it off that week. I know Andie Sue came away not just feeling like she had an incredible coaching experience but a friend as well.

Lisa Hellmer

When did you begin Pony Club?

I became a member in 1999.

How many years were you actively involved?

I was an active member from 1999 through 2009 right up until I aged out (when the age out was 21).

Andie Sue and Lisa with Aniko.

Photo courtesy of Barbie Roth.

What certification level?

I am a Traditional B (now known as Eventing).

What do you currently do?

I currently own my own training business in Ocala Florida called LCH Equestrian. We have a dressage training facility where we use a unique cross training approach to dressage, utilizing my background as an eventer and Pony Club member to keep our horses happy. I really enjoy the benefits of cavalletti work, trail riding and working outside of the arena to improve the dressage horses we work with.

What advice would you give to young equestrians trying to get involved with the sport?

Pony Club was the foundation to my equestrian education and has helped me over and over throughout my career. Before I even decided to become a professional, the life skills I learned in Pony Club I used everyday and in many of my other jobs. As I have gotten older, been through the ranks of working student, assistant trainer and now owner of my own training facility, I still feel my Pony Club education is an enormous asset. When I have hired working students, I know which ones have done Pony Club and those are the ones I want to work with! They are organized, understand the horses, are able to ask questions, always want to improve themselves and most importantly are good horse people. It cannot be overstated how valuable that is in any kind of work place - whether in the stable or not. My advice to those looking to get involved in the sport is to use your Pony Club experiences to help you. Ask questions, LISTEN, observe and never stop learning. Everyone you work for has something to contribute to your own wealth of knowledge and if there is anything Pony Club teaches you, it’s that there is always more to learn. Take any opportunity you can and work for other professionals. See how they do it, and stick it out for a while, through the good, the bad and the ugly. Take each opportunity as a way to expand your vocabulary. Work as a team and be the best horse manager you can be - because oh my gosh does it make my heart sing when another Pony Club member steps in my barn and can appreciate how “Pony Club” it is. It is safe, tidy, and most importantly horses and riders are happy.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?

The reason I was initially so drawn to Andie Sue was because she was a Pony Club member. It was not because of her many other accolades, which there were many and don’t get me wrong, impressive. But what made me as a trainer want to help find Andie Sue a horse was how her mother spoke about her experience as a Pony Club member. Because of that I knew we would speak the same language and I knew the education she had received. I trusted her to with my horse and they were tremendously successful together after just a few rides. Because she was a Pony Club member I also offered her this opportunity at a discount, because I want to support fellow Pony Club members just as I had been supported. I did many certifications on someone else’s horse, borrowed horses for all my USDF medals and to this day still don’t own a big time horse of my own. But using the Pony Club foundation and support I was able to use other people’s horses and I want to be able to pass that along as best as I can, as I did with Andie Sue.