Born to Ride: Kassidee's inspiring journey to rodeo star

It’s the typical morning for Pony Express cowboy Zach Guess as he saddles up the Prada for a ride. But today’s ride is for his daughter 3-year-old Kassidee.

“Zach is really persistent about putting children on horses early,” said Myia Guess, Kassidee’s mother.

Born with cerebral palsy, Kassidee had her challenges early in life

“She was born three pounds two ounces,” said Myia. 

The first month of her life was spent in the NICU and she underwent therapy to assist her with walking.

“The rotator cables, they actually help straighten her legs out,” said Myia.

Once Zach put her on a horse she loved it.

Kassidee actually started riding before she was two years old, and while she didn’t take to it initially, it quickly became her happy place.

“It first started out just riding around the farm you know they’ll take trail rides and stuff,” said Myia.

After a few of those trail rides, Kassidee needed more of a challenge.

“Eventually she was like 'Oh, I want to go faster',” said Myia.

Which gave Zach the idea to try her Barrell racing.  

“She’s really a natural, I think, I mean it’s in her blood,” said Zach, Kassidee’s father.

So to no surprise, in her very first rodeo.

“In the peewee barrels she won her very first outing,” said Zach.

But that win didn’t come with a little scare.

“Prada started bucking and she stayed up there, she was smiling the whole time, and everybody was like wow,” said Myia.

That ride made her somewhat of a circuit superstar with the smile that is still there every time she gets on her horse.

“She was born to ride, even with her disability,” said Zach.

This could definitely be a Venus and Serina Williams in the making, her little sister Kaden, at two years old is already riding as well.