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Teen rides wave of good will to state horse competition Donors aid boy and mom who was injured by runaway horse By DANI DODGE William Schmidt rides Lucky loop after loop around barrels in the arena, until finally they can run around three without knocking any down. From outside the Royal Crest Ranch arena, 4-H leader Jonel Todd breathes in the dust kicked up from the horse's hooves and shouts advice. "Quit flapping your arms." "Lead with your right." "Go, go, go!" And Schmidt does. After receiving dozens of anonymous donations, Schmidt, 16, will go to the state fair next week. The Ashland teen wants to be ready. William qualified for the state gaming championships the day after his mother, Patricia "Dian" Brandenburg, was critically injured trying to protect children from a runaway horse. Not only did she suffer life-threatening injuries, but she also lost her summer computer science teaching job at Rogue Community College. The family's dream of going to the state fair seemed nearly impossible. But even before Brandenburg emerged from her coma, 4-H club members started a fund to help William and his mom. So far, $1,955 has been donated. Most of it is from people the family doesn't even know, according to family friend Erica Martin. Additionally, William has found cash-filled envelopes addressed to him - first in his mother's hospital room, and later in the mail box - with wishes that he go to the fair. William earned another $155 washing cars. Brandenburg expects the money to send William to the state fair as well as help them get through until she starts work again in the fall. Insurance is taking care of most of the medical bills. "I'm surprised," William said. "We've both known for a while that there are a lot of people in this valley that care about her and me. But I was surprised that so many people reached out." His mom, who is now recovering at home, is thrilled. "The fund has made it so I can breathe easy," she said. "We won't lose the house." William will compete Tuesday in the intermediate level of gymkana, a sport where riders are judged on their speed in four events involving riding around barrels and poles. William is one of nine Jackson County youngsters who will compete in the event. He had qualified for two events at state, but decided to do just one because of his situation. Brandenburg had been helping with the annual 4-H horse club costume contest at the Jackson County Fairgrounds July 21 when the accident occurred. She was at the open gate of the arena when a horse spooked and tried to escape. "I don't remember anything but looking up and seeing the horse and then seeing kids behind me," Brandenburg said. "I thought, 'I've got to close the gate and protect those kids.' Everything else was blank until I woke up in ICU four days later." The horse slammed into the gate and sent Brandenburg flying 10 feet. Her shoulder broke and her spleen burst. It wasn't the first setback for the family. In the past three years, William lost his dad to a car wreck and nearly lost his mother twice due to heart problems. She has a pacemaker and an artificial aorta. Last year, William was close to qualifying for the state championships when his horse, Shabar, developed life-threatening colic. Shabar still hadn't completely recovered in time for this year's fair, so Todd and her daughter offered to let William use their horse, Lucky, for competitions. Brandenburg is determined to watch William compete at state, even though she is still weak from a loss of blood and can barely lift her arms because of torn muscles. "I very seldom have missed anything he's been in, be it T-ball or football or horses," Brandenburg said. "State championships are the culmination of 4-H involvement and I just want to be there to say 'I'm behind you' and 'You're doing a great job.' " So William, gets in the arena wearing his usual Wrangler jeans and oversized belt buckle. He replaces his cowboy hat with a helmet and climbs on Lucky. He rides around the barrels again and again and again until the horse's skin glistens with sweat. But it's not about winning. It's about overcoming adversity and living proud. "A lot of people go to state with the attitude 'I'm gonna beat you' and 'I'm gonna beat you' and 'I'm gonna beat you,' " he says. "But me, I just want to go and have fun and not embarrass myself or my horse." Donations can be made to the Patricia "Dian" Brandenburg fund at any Wells Fargo Bank. Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.