Special Young Barrel Racer Aims To Challenge Others

Aaliyah ran in her first race on May 2 in Bird Springs, where she posted a time of a minute and 16 seconds with her dad, Ted Spencer, guiding her horse with a lead line. He explained that the rodeo association usually does not allow lead line or times over 45 seconds, but made an exception for Aaliyah, who does not yet have the strength or balance to guide her horse around the barrels herself.

“She opened a lot of eyes,” he explained. “She’s the first one to compete with a disability with kids that can do it on their own.”

Aaliyah, who runs under the rodeo name Thomas Spencer, has cognitive and neurological impairment due to a vitamin deficiency. The condition is rare and her mother, April Spencer, explained that it took doctors a long time to reach the correct diagnosis. Since her body does not process B12 normally, she must take daily medication and injections to remain alive.

“By the time they found out what it was and started to treat it, there was already damage to her brain,” April said.

Aaliyah uses a special belt to maintain her balance in the saddle, but her dad explained that she is getting stronger and has a goal of being able to ride on her own.

“She picked it up really quick. Her goal is to keep going. She knows when she needs to focus,” Ted remarked. “It’s what she talks about day in and day out.”

She started learning to ride just two years ago and at first was afraid to even touch a horse. Ted, who is both a bull and bareback rider, introduced her slowly and she began learning to ride on a donkey. From there she progressed to an old gentle horse, Shadow, who recently passed away. She now has her own horse named Strawberry, who continues to help her learn.

Ted explained that riding and working with horses has had a positive effect not only on Aaliyah, but on himself, his family and people who watch her compete.

“Most people have never seen someone with her type of disability riding or competing,” he said. “The Southwest Junior Rodeo Association has welcomed her with open arms and encouraged her to keep coming back. They’ve been really open to us and we want to thank them for accepting her.”

Her family has also rallied around her passion for riding, with her aunt, uncle and grandparents all helping to provide transportation, care for the horses and cheer her on at every turn. Ted noted that Aaliyah returns the favor by cheering him and the rest of the family on at rodeos, and pushes him to stay fit by walking every day.

“She makes me get out and walk so I’ll stay healthy,” he said. “When she’s not rodeoing, I am and she’s always cheering me on.”

April explained that balancing rodeos and doctor appointments is a challenge, but it’s worth it to see the joy that Aaliyah gets from competing. The busy young barrel racer is also a seventh grader at Holbrook Junior High School.

“We go to Phoenix three to four times a month for appointments and when we come back, she practices,” she said. “We have to squeeze in appointments and rodeos, but we want to let people know that if she can do it, anybody can do it.”

The family has a goal of putting on a rodeo in Aaliyah’s name with a similar theme of encouragement, “If I can do it, you can do it.”

Ted noted that Aaliyah is not out for buckles and prize checks, but to show people what she’s capable of and to have fun.

“We want to see where it takes her, how far she can go,” he said. “This is a new chapter in her life and she is really enjoying it.”