Manitoba jockey paralyzed in accident back in the saddle

Manitoba jockey Alyssa Selman, who was paralyzed in an accident at the Assiniboia Downs in 2015, is back in the saddle.

Alyssa Selman’s passion for horses is deep-rooted.

“I wasn’t raised with them,” Selman told Global News at her home in Carman, Man.

“My dad didn’t really like much of any animal and my mom is a little scared of horses, so my uncle had a horse at my grandparents’ and I used to sneak out and play with it and ride it. And that’s probably where it all started.”

Sneaking out to ride her uncle’s horse eventually turned into a career in the fast lane. Selman says at about eight years old, she knew she wanted to be a jockey. She began racing horses at the age of 21.

“Just riding horses all day and getting paid for that? Getting paid to ride horses, lots of horses, all of them. You could be as greedy as you want, (ride) as many as you want,” Selman said.

“And a little bit of adrenaline.”

In 2015, an accident during a race at Winnipeg’s Assiniboia Downs changed everything. Selman was in fourth place, when her horse clipped the legs of the horse in front of it and tumbled to the ground.

“I don’t remember the accident; I think I’m missing about four days. It’s likely just shock because I was awake and coherent, but I don’t remember anything,” Selman said.