9 years after the tragic incident, the jockey from Manitoba returns for a special ride

Last weekend, Alyssa Selman did what she was born to do.

Nine years after she was thrown from her horse during a race at Assiniboia Downs and the talented jockey has been paralyzed from the chest down ever since, Selman was racing for barrels during a race in her home community of Carman, Manitoba.

Although she already has over 400 professional races under her belt, this special ride brought butterflies to her stomach again.

“I was surprised that I was a little bit nervous. I wasn't quite sure if Duke wanted to do it or would be ready to do it. So I was nervous, but the excitement was good, it was nice,” she explained.

After her 2015 accident, described at the time as the most serious on-track accident in 35 years, Selman had moments of doubt as to whether her days as a racing cyclist were over.

That changed with the arrival of a special saddle and a beautiful Belgian Paint named Duke, whose owner, a woman from Beausejour, knew immediately that they were a good match.

“She knew that I needed it and that I could probably make it happen at Duke and that it would end up being a good fit.”

Although Selman has left her racing career behind, she has passed her love on to her daughter Ari, who is following in her mother's footsteps and pursuing her dream of riding for a living.

“That's what keeps me going, I enjoy it and the fact that she wants it as much as I do, that's enough.”

Her love of horses began when she was allowed to sneak away and ride against her parents' wishes, but Selman wouldn't dream of standing in the way of her daughter's dreams, even if she has a painful past of her own.

“You could get hurt in a car accident or something else. It just happens, you can't stop it. Then you might as well do what you love.”