Ava Leitze
Donation protected
Where to even start...
When I first met Ava she was a young girl coming to the stables where I taught lessons. Her family was new to the equine world but the look a little girl gets when she receives her very first horse doesn't go unnoticed. Ava was in love with the industry. You could tell instantly she had the passion. She would be in the barn all day if she could.
She started her riding career in the pleasure horse arena. She devoted lots of time really just learning the basics to ride underneath another instructor.
One day out of nowhere she decided she wanted to try her hand at running barrel and it was over from there. She was hooked on the need for speed.
Not to long after this, She got her second horse dash. To say these 2 were a match made in heaven was an understatement. Not that she needed another reason to ride but when her and dash are in the arena together it is something magical.
To watch such a young rider take in every piece of criticism and recommendation that a teacher throws at you during a lesson is a instructor's dream. She always applied everything instantly and then would practice hours on hours during the week.
Her family was just as devoted. Watching her dad Nick come and drag the arena so she had fresh dirt at every practice or her mom Kari and little sisters Rowan and Harper helping get her horse tacked up.
Ava put so much work into her first year riding in NBHA (National Barrel Horse Association) shows, where she competed in her first state show and came home with a huge win, winning the 4th division. Seeing the picture with her and Dash with the trophy saddle was such a rewarding feeling to everyone in her family as well as her cheerleading squad in the stands.
Seemed like everything was on track up until July 31st 2020.
Ava wasn't feeling good and thought she might be anemic and decided to go to the hospital where her and her parents thought they might be sent home with some vitamin recommendations.
Their world was instantly rocked when they were told that Ava is suffering from Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Ava is now needing a much larger cheering squad as she fights this battle. Lets not let her fight alone. Please help this young girl get back to where she belongs in the saddle riding.
When I first met Ava she was a young girl coming to the stables where I taught lessons. Her family was new to the equine world but the look a little girl gets when she receives her very first horse doesn't go unnoticed. Ava was in love with the industry. You could tell instantly she had the passion. She would be in the barn all day if she could.
She started her riding career in the pleasure horse arena. She devoted lots of time really just learning the basics to ride underneath another instructor.
One day out of nowhere she decided she wanted to try her hand at running barrel and it was over from there. She was hooked on the need for speed.
Not to long after this, She got her second horse dash. To say these 2 were a match made in heaven was an understatement. Not that she needed another reason to ride but when her and dash are in the arena together it is something magical.
To watch such a young rider take in every piece of criticism and recommendation that a teacher throws at you during a lesson is a instructor's dream. She always applied everything instantly and then would practice hours on hours during the week.
Her family was just as devoted. Watching her dad Nick come and drag the arena so she had fresh dirt at every practice or her mom Kari and little sisters Rowan and Harper helping get her horse tacked up.
Ava put so much work into her first year riding in NBHA (National Barrel Horse Association) shows, where she competed in her first state show and came home with a huge win, winning the 4th division. Seeing the picture with her and Dash with the trophy saddle was such a rewarding feeling to everyone in her family as well as her cheerleading squad in the stands.
Seemed like everything was on track up until July 31st 2020.
Ava wasn't feeling good and thought she might be anemic and decided to go to the hospital where her and her parents thought they might be sent home with some vitamin recommendations.
Their world was instantly rocked when they were told that Ava is suffering from Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Ava is now needing a much larger cheering squad as she fights this battle. Lets not let her fight alone. Please help this young girl get back to where she belongs in the saddle riding.
Organizer
Brooke Szentes
Organizer
Peoria, IL