Gianna Trotter is a 27 year old equestrian who, at just one year old, was in a tragic car accident. She suffered a traumatic brain injury and doctors told her parents she would never walk or talk again. The accident resulted in hemiparesis which means she has increased muscle tone and limited function on the right side of her body. She was placed in an inpatient long term care facility and underwent physical, occupational, and speech therapy daily.

As she grew stronger, Gianna graduated to outpatient care. One of Gianna’s therapies included Hippotherapy. Hippotherapy uses the characteristic movements of a horse to provide carefully graded motor and sensory input (National Institute of Health). This ultimately introduced her to the horse world.

Growing up in a hospital setting, Gianna wanted to give back and volunteered at her hospital’s summer camp. The camp had children with disabilities similar to hers and she wanted to become an advocate for them. The hospital directors took notice and nominated her to be New Jersey’s Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champion. If chosen, Gianna would travel the state to share her story and represent every child who walked through the door of a hospital.

In 2011, Gianna became Champion and started public speaking. She spoke at colleges, golf outings, Walt Disney World, and even The White House. The more she shared her story, the more she embraced her disability. She began to realize there was purpose in her journey. She began crafting her message ‘anything is possible.”  Little did she know that message would become even more apparent.

In September of 2017, Gianna took her first riding lesson since childhood. She rode a 19 year old Appendix gelding named Ziggy who was a former show jumper. Gianna didn’t even know horses were capable of jumping! When Ziggy took her over her first cross-rail, she was instantly hooked and her life was forever changed.

Gianna had to determine which equipment modifications would allow her to ride properly and safely. The increased muscle tone did not allow her to correctly apply pressure on the reins or get heel strike with her right leg. Initially, she rode with rubber bands attached to her stirrups, but now rides with magnetic stirrups which safely keep her feet in place. The rein setup is a combination of a German martingale and traditional reins with clips on each end. This allows her to keep even contact without worrying if the reins would become loose. They also could be adjusted depending on the horse she rode. Gianna’s motto is the same as Bethany Hamilton’s, the one-handed surfer who survived a shark attack, “the list of things I can do differently is long, but the list of things I can’t do is short”.

Gianna, in her first show season placed 4th overall in the 0.70s jumpers and also showed in the 0.90s that same year. Her heart horse, Ziggy, passed at the age of 22. Her new horse, Casey, has proven to be the perfect partner for her. In 2022, Gianna and Casey showed in the 0.85s and they became Champions at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala each week they competed. Today, they travel the country as part of the Para-Show Jumping Movement. In July 2024, they traveled to Kentucky to represent Para Show Jumping at Breyer Fest. They hope to continue in their show jumping journey and inspire many people along the way.

Gianna has been riding for only six years but succeeds in sharing her story on social media. She strives to be a source of encouragement and advocate for people around the world. Her journey demonstrates dedication and determination. If she can jump horses using only one side of her body, who’s to say others can’t do exactly what they put their mind to. You can follow Gianna’s journey online. 

Instagram - @gianna_trotter

TikTok - Gianna Trotter Equestrian