Warrior Princess

Warrior Princess

Small Fry Rider Sloane Weakly smiles through life’s hurdles with an unrivaled spirit

By Delores Kuhlwein

On October 10, 2022, at the All American Quarter Horse Congress, Sloane Weakly was getting ready for Small Fry Hunter Under Saddle with Hubbout A Dance.  Despite the fact that her other horse, Its A Good Pleasure, was in the hospital for emergency surgery, Sloane put both her hands on the sides of “Henry’s” face and said, “We’re going to do this one for Trapper. We’re going to win it, aren’t we?!” with a huge grin on her face.

And win they did, cinching a Congress Championship in Small Fry Hunter Under Saddle, with Sloane riding in a manner her mom, Shay Weakly, had never seen. “She could not wait to get to the veterinary hospital to see Trapper and give him her neck sash,” says Shay.

Though Sloane had cried while her unicorn Trapper wasn’t with her at the show, she’d say, “Mama, he’s going to be fine. I know it,”  impressing everyone at her barn, Reid Thomas Performance Horses, with her perseverance.

“Sloane ended up showing a horse that she had never ridden in the Horsemanship, Trail and Pleasure,” explains Shay.  “She was a finalist in the Horsemanship and took 9th in the Trail. We couldn’t believe that this little 9 year old girl was able to jump on a horse she didn’t know, compete with confidence, and then finish up the day visiting It’s A Good Pleasure in the hospital. To Sloane, this show was for Trapper. She was completely selfless, and she made sure we knew it was all in his honor.”

A Light That Shines

Sloane’s optimism is contagious and it’s quickly becoming a light known to others in the industry, as she not only takes everything in stride, but seizes each moment and opportunity, and as some have been known to say, moves mountains.

Since she’s a right below knee amputee, the Small Fry rider could compete in EWD classes, but that’s not on Sloane’s radar – simply shooting for the top is.

“She’s very proud of her residual limb and calls it her Baby Pookie Leg!” says Shay.  “Sloane lost her limb a few months before her third birthday. After her surgery, she walked the first day with an immediate postoperative prosthetic.. it was insane, and since then, nothing has stood in her way. Sloane tumbles, cheers, plays softball, runs track, snow skis, snowboards, wakeboards, models, and has decided that she wants to play basketball and give it a go in acting.”

A Model For Everyone

Speaking of modeling, Sloane’s images can currently be seen in Target, and right after Congress, and Sloane started shooting in New York City for The Children’s Place, approaching modeling with her signature zest for life. “I love showing that all girls are beautiful! Even if you are a little different! It makes you cool,” says Sloane.

Her modeling career began when she became best friends with “The Model with Golden Legs,” Lauren Wasser. “Four years ago we were on the hunt for a new prosthetist,” explains Shay.  “We needed someone who would let Sloane lead – someone who supported her physical desires of athletic competition at a crazy young age.”

They found him in San Diego California and met Lauren the very first day. “I recognized Lauren immediately, as we had followed her on social media, and of course, made sure we saw all of her ads,” Shay reveals.  “She was stunning, a major model who rocked two golden legs. I loved showing Sloane pictures of her, so she could see that she, too, would still be seen as beautiful.”

Now a year later, the two are truly soul mates despite their 20-year age gap, with Lauren as Sloane’s mentor, and with Sloane’s “nothing is going to stop me” attitude pushing Lauren to try new things as an amputee.

In fact, they appeared together on The Today Show in New York a few years ago, and Shay said she knew then modeling would be a part of Sloane’s life, now complete with a publicist, Olivia, and booked with a top agency in New York.

The Role of The Horse

It’s the horse, however, that makes Sloane feel free and equal to everyone else competing, and the horse has healed Sloane and her family.

“A little over 6 years ago I chose to take something away from my daughter,” Shay reveals.  “I can sit here and tell you all the medical reasons why, all the spiritual reasons why I knew it was right for her, but I still made the decision to take something from her that would never be given back. It was, and I pray will be, the hardest decision of my life. To some, a missing limb may seem like something that one can get over. Sloane had no choice; she didn’t play a role and she will never be “healed.” Time will not ease, and will not nurture… she has had to, and will continue to have to live this life without… always adapting.”

The horse, she says, was the answer to her prayers.

“It’s amazing to see your child persevere and do all the things that no one would expect a child “missing a limb,” accomplish… she’s amazing… but, even she knows she’s missing, and overcoming and persevering. I’ve prayed every day and then some for the Lord to provide something… a thing, an outlet, the missing piece… a something that would allow my girl to feel whole,” admits Shay.

She says the Lord answered in a majestic creature named Dun It In The Dark and a mentor, trainer and best friend, Reid Thomas.

“Thank you, Eric Mendrysa for pushing me out of my comfort zone to let my baby on a horse. Dun It In The Dark gave Sloane confidence, he filled her soul with a love that only they understood, and I saw my child for the first time whole. She wasn’t missing anything in Dun It In The Dark’s presence. I knew it, and she knew it. Even though this missing piece, Sloane’s first unicorn, gained his wings to heaven, our precious “Bucky” gave us the answer we had prayed for, for so many years.  Sloane was physically whole riding and showing the Lord’s horses.”

Watching their daughter on her unicorns has been the greatest gift of peace to her parents, and Shay adds, “We’re committed to supporting our girl, and her unicorns for forever.”

So while Sloane continues to move mountains that are already budging at her request, Its A Good Pleasure has come home, is healing, and is happy to be back in Boerne, Texas, with Sloane as his nurse.

“Her spirit will shake you in the best way,” concludes Shay. “My life, her Daddy’s, our 6 other children’s, and anyone’s that has the privilege to get to know Sloane, is changed. She’s simply amazing. A true warrior princess with childlike faith.”

 

Watch for our Equine Chronicle magazine feature with this amazing Small Fry, Sloane Weakly, in an upcoming 2023 EC Youth Profile!