Amberley Snyder was born in January of 1991 in southern California. At the age of three, Amberley began riding lessons and developed and unyielding passion for horses. Her family moved to Utah in 1998, where Amberley began her rodeo career.
Amberley was raised in a competitive family with five siblings. Each took a dedicated route to their sports including gymnastics, baseball, and rodeo. By her senior year in 2009, Amberley had qualified for the National High School Finals and won the National Little Britches Rodeo Association All-Around Cowgirl World Championship.
Amberley was also active in the FFA during her adolescent years, and in 2009 was elected the Utah FFA State President. She gives credit to this organization for beginning her career in motivational speaking.
On January 10th, 2010, Amberley was on her way to the Denver Stock Show and Rodeo. During her drive, she looked down at her map causing her vehicle to fade. In an effort to regain her lane, Amberley overcorrected. She was ejected and slammed into a fence post that broke her back and she immediately lost feeling in both of her legs.
The prognosis was she would never regain use or feeling below her waist. Amberley made three goals on the first day of therapy; Walk, Ride, Rodeo. 18 months after her accident, Amberley returned to the arena. She now competes as a member of the Women's Professional Rodeo Association. Amberley has been recognized in the both the Cowboy and Cowgirl Hall of Fames.
Amberley continued to pursue her education obtaining her Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Education and Master's Degree in School Counseling.
Amberley has let the challenges she faces refine her, not define her. She is a motivational speaker, social media icon, coach, mentor and hero to those she meets along her journey.
Amberley can be found at http://www. amberleysnyder. org/amberleysnyder/
