Wellington, FL - Respected rider and trainer Debbie Atkinson, 44 of Columbia, KY, sustained a serious injury after taking a fall while competing at the Kentucky Classic Horse Trials in September. She crushed her C1, C2 and C3 vertebrae and injured her spinal cord causing paralysis, but is totally coherent in mind and soul.

Atkinson wishes to have one of her successful horses, Pantera, continue to compete with rider Cathy Wieschhoff of Lexington, KY. Sponsored by Nutrena and the Ocotillo Group, Wieschhoff is an accomplished rider who has represented the U.S. at the Burghley CCI**** in England and is a longtime local favorite at the Rolex Kentucky three-day event. She is also a longtime friend of Debbie’s, who had started training with her after moving to Kentucky earlier this year.

“I’m close to my students and I care about them,” said Cathy. “I would like for Debbie to be able to continue her involvement in eventing with Pantera.”

Pantera, a nine-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding, was sent to Cathy’s Carriage Station Farm in Lexington following the accident and Cathy has been riding him since then. She took him to River Glen in Tennessee to try him out and said, “I’m very impressed.”

A syndicate is being formed to purchase Pantera to provide Debbie with funds for medical expenses and to help support Pantera’s expenses. If you are interested in supporting this venture, you can call Cathy Wieschhoff directly at 859-396-4470.

Donations are tax deductable and must be made to the American Horse Trials Foundation with a note attached, “Pantera Fund”.

Donations may be mailed to:

Cathy Wieschhoff
4470 Old Frankfort Pike
Lexington, Kentucky 40510
OR
American Horse Trials Foundation
221 Grove Cove Road
Centreville, Maryland 21617
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