HAYDEN - Briana Luttge is a cancer survivor.

Not just once, but twice.

The 14-year-old was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of connective tissue cancer, when she was only 2. Then at 10, she developed osteosarcoma, a bone cancer brought on by radiation therapy.

"Being in the hospital kind of taught me to never take each day for granted," she said.

These days, the teenager is feeling great. Her last treatment was in April 2010. She has been riding horses for three years, and is a part of the Bridle Path Brats, a competitive horseback riding team. Briana was the inspiration for the Brats to become a nonprofit organization focused on raising money for childhood cancer research.

"She's opened my eyes so much, even as a parent," said Briana's mom Jami Luttge. "She's the strongest human being I'll ever meet."

On Sunday afternoon, Briana rode her American quarter horse Hammer and joined 19 other youths in the Kids Ride for Cancer competition at the Bridle Path Quarter Horses, Inc. in Hayden.

Competitors were categorized into ages 10 and under and 11 and older. The events included mastery of racing the equines around poles and barrels.

One by one, they sped out of the gate, with hair, manes and tails flying behind them. Alexa Johnson, 14, of Post Falls rode her horse Annie in the competition. She began riding with the Bridle Path Brats earlier this year.

"It's really exciting to go so fast," Alexa said. "It's kind of scary too, but it's really fun."

After the competition, ribbons and prizes were handed out by Bridle Path Brats coordinator Angie Hilding. Gift baskets, buckles and two coveted custom saddles were awarded to the young riders.

Hilding said it's pretty amazing that some of them had no experience riding earlier in the year and are ending the season competing and winning. She said the kids actually paid for all the prizes by raising the money themselves.

"We put the money back in the team," she said.

Briana received a special bag given to her by the Brats for her medications and things she might need while riding. Briana's mom said she really feels Briana is here for a special reason.

"Never give up," Jami said. "She's beat more odds ... they said within a month she would have been gone" if they hadn't caught the cancer when they did.

The Bridle Path Brats competition is in its second year, but this is the first year it has generated money for a cause. After the awards ceremony, Jami and Briana handed a check for more than $1,000 (the amount the Brats raised) to Mary Anne Ruddis, the executive director of the American Childhood Cancer Organization of the Inland Northwest.

Information: www.bpbrats.com