By Cailean Cooke

Town Crier Editorial Intern

When diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of three months, Charlotte Colby of Los Altos Hills was cast into an unknown medical category; professionals did not know how the prognosis would affect her life or even whether or not she would be able to walk again.

Yet 12 years later, Charlotte, nicknamed Charlie, will be the first disabled equestrian to participate in the Poker Ride, a local ride-a-thon taking place on Saturday at the Mounted Patrol Grounds in Woodside.

“Charlie has wanted to be able to ride with me since she was about 6,” said Budd Colby, Charlie’s father and avid horseman himself. “She has never seen a Redwood tree from the back of a horse, something those of us riding take for granted.”

However, this weekend Charlie will ride along with 120 other equestrians, on a trail that begins at the patrol grounds and continues through Huddart Park. The Poker Ride derives its name from the game riders play while on the trail. Each rider accumulates five cards at checkpoints along the trail and at the finish the player with the best poker hand wins. All funds raised by the event will support the National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy (NCEFT), an organization that provides physical and occupational therapy to disabled individuals. The Mounted Patrol has already donated $20,000 in support of Charlie.

According to Summer Lopez, the Development Director at the NCEFT, Charlie has attended weekly hippotherapy sessions at the center since she was just over 5 years old. With the guidance of instructors, and a special therapy horse named Odie, she began working to improve her balance, coordination, muscle strength, attention span and ability to walk independently. Though she was only able to crawl when she began the program, she has since improved and can now walk with assistance. Currently she participates in the therapeutic vaulting and riding program at the center.

“Charlie has been tenacious in using her abilities at the best level she can,” Lopez said. “She is very determined and has overcome many hurdles to get where she is now.”

Throughout Charlie’s experience with the program, her family has been very supportive. Her father is a former captain of the Mounted Patrol, a private club that collaborates with the sheriff on community service and rescue efforts in the San Mateo and neighboring counties. He is also the current chairman of the board at the NCEFT. Additionally, Colby accompanies his daughter at her weekly half-hour sessions, riding his own horse, Chance. His achievements as a horseman have propelled Charlie’s desire to ride horseback without aid.

“Charlie has had to acquire a sense of self image to even consider beginning the program,” Colby said. “Even then she had to acquire significantly more balance and upper body strength.”

Though beginning life with a crippling disorder and uncertain future, Charlie Colby has persevered and will now achieve a goal she has been working toward for six years. She is truly a horse of a different color.