Galloping Towards a Better Life

Meet Alanna Flax-Clark

Alanna is a para-dressage athlete training to compete in the 2021 Summer Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. She didn’t grow up with horses, and she never expected her life would lead to the stables, nevermind an international stage. 

In her mid-20s, Alanna was thriving as a Special Ed Teacher in Boston when her life changed irrecoverably. She was rushed from her classroom to the ER after developing a sudden, spiking fever and experiencing an unnaturally high heart rate. She had contracted a debilitating, fast-acting virus that caused her immune system to attack the nerves in her spinal cord and vocal cords — ultimately leaving her a quadriplegic and unable to speak. 

After her initial recovery, Alanna returned home to Los Angeles to be under the care of her family. Now in a wheelchair, she felt lost and frustrated by a slow rehabilitation process that included relearning how to speak. That’s when she sought out hippotherapy, a therapeutic and rehab-based treatment method that uses the rhythmic motion of horseback riding to address posture, balance, sensory integration, coordination, and mobility. 

Taking part in hippotherapy
Gaining more confidence and ability to stay on the horse without assistance

In Alanna’s Words

“Immediately I began to see progress both physically and emotionally. I fell in love with the horses, the community at the stables, and doing therapy outside rather than in a traditional office. Instead of wanting to stay in bed all day, I wanted to go to the barn. 

These animals don’t see my disability. They look to me for confidence and to lead them through our ride. I was motivated to learn to groom the horses, which got me trying to use my arms more, and I could practice speaking to the horses, who made great nonjudgmental audiences. 

Eventually, I was strong enough to push my own wheelchair, and I regained enough stamina to go out with friends and help around the house. My independence was slowly returning, and I started to see glimmers of a new life.

With therapy coming to a close I realized I didn’t want to give up the horses or the community I had experienced. So, I set my sights on learning the sport of dressage and going to the Paralympics. I made the move cross-country to New Jersey to train full time with my horse, El Paso, or Taco as I affectionately call him. I’ve gone from not being able to sit on a horse without a few people holding me up to competing nationally and internationally for the past 3 years. This winter was especially packed with the entire month of January spent competing in the Adquan Global Dressage Festival with riders from all over the world. During my last national show before everything was canceled, Taco and I placed 1st out of 7 riders, across all grades – in para-dressage they are classified in grades according to functional level, not disability. This enables everyone to be on an equal playing field.

You never know what can happen, how quickly things can change. This process has given me back my life, my spirit. And my journey is still unfolding.”

Alanna with Taco

Alanna reminds me that the greatest gifts can emerge from our darkest storms. Today, horseback riding is her gift, and the Paralympic Games are her dream.

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