COEUR d’ALENE — This morning, Amberley Snyder will be competing on the rodeo circuit in Heber City, Utah.

Thursday afternoon, she was in a wheelchair, onstage before nearly 400 people at The Coeur d’Alene Resort.

“The next time you have a moment of doubt or fear or get knocked down, or the odds are just not in your favor, don’t stop there. Dig a little deeper. Push yourself beyond that limit,” she told the crowd of mostly women “and a few good men” at the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber’s annual Women’s Luncheon with the theme, “Empower Strong Female Leaders.”

Snyder began riding horses when she was 3 years old and competing in rodeos at 7. She was a champion high school barrel racer in Utah when her legs were paralyzed in a vehicle accident while driving to Denver on Jan. 10, 2010.

Not long afterward, she set some goals: Walk, ride, rodeo.

"Nobody had ever done what I was planning on doing or what I was going to do," she said. "As of this point, it was impossible."

It wasn’t.

But along the way, there were struggles and setbacks, tears and troubles, aches and pains.

Her mom encouraged her, and told her she had even more and greater opportunities to connect with people and share a life-changing message.

"My mom told me in the very beginning that I had doubled my power," Snyder said. "When she told me that I told her she was crazy."

Mom was right.

Amberley Snyder persevered. She set small goals of being able to get out of bed and get herself dressed in the morning. Soon, she was back on her horse.

Still, she found there were moments of despair and doubt, and stretches when she nearly gave up.

She didn't because she knew success could be around the corner.

"If you stop in any of those moments, you won't get to see what's next. You won’t get to see what's ahead,” Snyder said to the crowd that listened intently.

Within four months of the accident, she was back in the saddle. In 2016, she won her Women’s Professional Rodeo Association card. And last year, she qualified for her first Pro Rodeo Wilderness Circuit Finals.

She didn't stop there.

Snyder graduated from college and earned a master’s degree in counseling. She wrote a book, “Amberley Snyder’s Walk Ride Rodeo,” and Netflix released a film about her life in 2019.

With blonde hair, blue eyes and an engaging personality, she's at ease in front of the camera and, in 2020, she landed a guest role in the hit show "Yellowstone." She was also in the 2020 Rose Bowl Parade as part of the Cowboy Channel’s float.

The 31-year-old has close to a half-million Facebook followers.

Her success was a matter of resolve.

Snyder said after the accident, she had a choice: Give up or go after what she loved.

She went for it.

But not alone.

Family and friends supported her. When she needed help, she reached out and they responded. She urged others to do the same.

“Please, don’t ever stop looking for the light in that darkness and above all, there is no future in giving up," Snyder said.

The luncheon included about 40 female students from local high schools who were sponsored by business members.

"We support you, we love you and we are so excited to have you here," said Linda Coppess, chamber president and CEO.

Elaine Damschen, co-founder and vice president of Mainstream Electric, Heating, Cooling and Plumbing, also spoke.

The wife of Todd Damschen and mom of three has a decorated career.

She was named the 2021 Empowered Woman of the Year and Top Entrepreneur of the Year by the International Association of Top Professionals, and was the Idaho Business Review's 2021 Woman of the Year.

She and Todd started Mainstream Electric in 2000 and expanded it. Today, it has annual revenues in the millions.

Elaine said, while they work hard, "love in action" has been their secret to success.

"All human beings have hearts and we all have the ability to give and receive through love and build beautiful lives and successes together," said Damschen, who grew up in Post Falls.

About two years ago, the Damschens formed "Miracles from Mainstream," a nonprofit that has installed free furnaces, water heaters and air conditioners for those in need.

"In some way with all the giving back, there is love in action happening," Elaine said.

Snyder, who does motivational speaking, said an elementary school student asked what may have been her toughest question: "If you could go back to that day and change it, would you?”

She wanted to say

yes, but she thought before answering. She thought about the places she’s been, the people she’s met, the opportunities she's been given, "because of this silly chair.”

She said no.

"There’s a reason I’m in this chair, and I’m going to serve my purpose,” Snyder said.

"And by the way, I have no doubt in my mind I’m going to walk," she said, as the crowd gave her a standing ovation. "It’s not if, it’s just when."

Larry and Rhonda Frisbie came away impressed.

"She seemed like such a strong person, so her parents did a great job raising her," Rhonda said.

Larry said she displayed a never-quit attitude.

"She was going to do what she does, period," he said. "She knew what her mission in life was early, which a lot of us don't. She didn’t let anything get in her way."

Kiersten Kerr described Snyder’s story as one of resilience.

“Amazing,” she said.