Inspiration Rising

There are certain qualities that define a cowgirl.  Strong-willed. Determined. Fierce.  Resilient. 18-year-old Andie Sue Roth embodies all those things. Adopted from China when she was 15 months old, she has blossomed into a very promising dressage competitor. But Andie Sue is no ordinary rider. Born without enough bones in her foot, her right leg was amputated below the knee shortly after arriving in the U.S.

“She’s one of these kids that thinks that everything is a challenge to overcome,” says her mother, Barbie.  “She just jumps in headfirst to all the different things.  I think a lot of what other people would consider challenges, Andie Sue doesn’t let those things hold her back.  She just gets in there and figures it out.”

Andie Sue developed a deep love for horses at a very young age.  Much of her youth was spent on the back of a horse, riding across the lush green hills of her family’s Central California ranch.  “We had a ranch horse that was named Poco that just packed me around everywhere.  We would go on trails.  My mom would walk alongside me or put me in a buddy saddle so I could be right behind her.  I would fall asleep on the back of Poco and my mom would hang on to me and we would just go on a chill ride.” 

A custom prosthetic designed for riding paired with specialty equipment allows Andie Sue to compete to the best of her ability.  “It’s always different for other people, but I have to have bands on my leg so that my leg doesn’t fall out of the stirrup.  Then on my USEF dressage dispensation, it says I can always have a whip, because sometimes for dressage you’re not allowed to have a whip, but I need the whip.  I always wear breakaway stirrups because I don’t have the ability to move my ankle, which means that if I were to get caught in the stirrup, I could just be dragged.”

Her competitive career began as an eventer, but an off-the-track thoroughbred her family bought as a prospect unexpectedly shifted her trajectory.  Their rocky start ended up being a blessing in disguise.  Andie Sue recalls, “I realized that he didn’t really like jumping.  He stopped at all the jumps and then he would just run.  So, then I was like, ‘Okay, well I guess that means we have to focus more on our dressage.’ And the wonderful part is he really loves it.” 

To Andie Sue and her mother’s surprise, she also fell in love with the elegant event.  “If I never had to jump again, I would be okay with it.  And that’s when I knew that I really liked dressage.  I’ve been training my horse, Blue, from practically the ground up and he’s now in a double bridle and at third level, which is really cool considering we had no steering or brakes when I first got him.  Your horse is worked very hard and has to have a lot of stamina and strength to be able to execute all these movements.”    

Dressage is derived from the French term meaning “training” and its purpose is to strengthen and supple the horse while maintaining a calm and attentive demeanor.  Competitive dressage involves progressively difficult levels incorporating multiple tests within each level.  Each test is a series of movements that must be performed by the horse and rider and is scored by a judge.

As both a United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Bronze Medalist and HB/B Pony Club member, Andie Sue has dedicated a lot of time, both in and out of the saddle, to mastering her craft.  A USDF bronze medal means that she has completed the Training, First, Second, and Third level efficiently.  Every level raises the performance expectation from the previous level, and tests include more difficult movements that reflect the next natural step in your training.  

The H-B Certification, which Andie Sue considers to be one of her proudest accomplishments, covers Horse Management knowledge and skills that demonstrate increasing awareness, education, and competence in the care and handling of horses and in teaching those abilities to others.  She has also received her Pony Club certifications to the highest level in Western Trail.

Andie Sue always knew that she wanted to do “something big” with horses and be an inspiration to others, so she turned her sights to the 2024 Paris Paralympics.  “I really wanted to go for that.  I want people to see me, see all the hard work that I do, and get to that big goal of mine.” 

Qualifying for such a prestigious event is labor-intensive and requires very detailed planning.  “My first goal towards the Paris Paralympics was to get on the Emerging Athletes List, followed by the USA Development List, which I recently did.  I’ve just been going up the levels and trying to get good, consistent scores at that.  I’ve also been showing at able-bodied shows, which has helped me get my name out there and gain show experience.” 

Not only is Andie Sue talented in the dressage show arena, but she is also a multifaceted rider who forged a special friendship with “Million Dollar Cowboy” and respected horseman, Cal Cooper.  When given the chance to branch out and try her hand at reining to help with her dressage performance, she jumped at the opportunity.  “I’ve always been interested in trying different disciplines, so I spent a week training with Cal and riding Ben Balow’s cowhorses.  That was great, especially coming from jumping.  The biggest thing I can tell you is it really helped me sit.  We also did some cattle work and some cutting, which helped me focus myself on an object.  It also taught me how to be quick, because in dressage you have to think and move quickly.” 

Cal is one of Andie Sue’s biggest supporters and offers advice where he feels necessary.  “It’s really interesting to listen to his critiques because, even though it has nothing to do with dressage, it’s just good, balanced horsemanship, which of course is the whole point of being a good rider,” she praises.  “He very much embodies that whole idea that good horsemen are good horsemen, regardless of what discipline they’re doing.”

Cal has become such a huge influence in Andie Sue’s life, that her family even named a horse after him.  They bought the roan gelding from an abusive situation for a single dollar.  “I always say he is the best dollar I’ve ever spent,” says Barbie.  “One of the reasons we named him Cal is because we looked at him and he’s so kind.  He is a teacher, and you can tell he wants to be a teacher.  We’re giving him that space to learn what his new job is and how to be part of our lesson program.  From the first time we saw him, there was just something about him that made us feel Cal Cooper’s presence.”  We asked Cal if it was okay, and he chuckled  and said he thought it was great!”

Andie Sue continues to keep her feet in different disciplines to develop her repertoire as a well-rounded rider.  Spending time on her family’s ranch allows her to reset from her busy showing schedule, bi-coastal training, and embrace her cowgirl roots.  “It’s just so peaceful for me.  I love going out with the cowboys and helping them gather cattle.  I love fishing and hiking, and it really showed me my love for nature and why it’s important to keep it safe and preserved.” She has even been developing her roping skills.

Her journey is an incredible example of the resilience of the human spirit, no matter what obstacles stand in your way.  “Try everything, work hard, and help others.  Be flexible and positive in every situation that comes because there’s always going to be something that flies in your face, and you just have to change direction a little bit.  Go with the flow and keep on that same path but remain positive and take it how it is.”

Cal Cooper died peacefully in hospice as this article was being prepared. Andie Sue and her entire family felt the loss greatly. "Cal touched so many lives through horses and doing what he loved. If I can have even just one small bit of that kind of impact on people, it would make me so happy."