Current Issue - Thunder Roads Kentucky

Wildhorse – A Woman With A Passion to Ride
Article by Terri “T” Collier, TRM Oklahoma. Photos by “Wildhorse”
I recently had an opportunity to do an interview with one of my fellow
lady riders whom I admire, Rebecca “Wildhorse”. She has an interesting
story that is worth sharing.
This year, the National Director of Sisters in Spirit riding group, Linda
Blankenship, lost her battle with cancer. It was a very sad loss for the
women in this National riding group which was founded by her in Tulsa,
OK. The group began as a place to promote women motorcyclists.
They currently have members in 38 states, as well as, Canada and
Argentina. As Linda had requested of her members, keep on riding and
promoting our motto of “being ladies first and bikers second”. Upon her
passing, there was no better choice to graciously take her position than
“Wildhorse”. She had been serving as VP National Operations and was
one of the first founding members.
“Wildhorse” said that she began riding horses, the equestrian variety,
prior to the iron variety. She said, “Before I was old enough to walk, my
dad had me riding horses. I’m known as the Chrome Cowgirl, Real and
Steel. If I’m not on my motorcycle, I’m on a horse. I’ve been schooling
horses since I was 6. I’ve done everything from barrels, poles, roping,
team penning and even square dancing on my BLM Mustangs and rescues.
My Mustangs have a special place in my heart. It became a family
affair adopting Wild Mustangs in 1995 from the BLM & schooling then
into the most versatile all around horses.”
Her pa-pa Allen was an old school Harley man and loved horses. She
says, “Motorcycles and horses have been in my life since I was young
because of him. My husband Darren got me more interested in motorcycles
8 years ago. I took his 2000 Honda Shadow 750 and he bought a
2003 Honda VTX 1800 in 2004. I purchased my Honda VTX 1800 Neo in
2006. I put around 8,000 miles a year on my bike. Most of the miles are
in town as don’t get to do long road trips due to a lack of vacation days.
I’ve got almost 70K miles on my Neo.”
A couple of years ago, we all got a scare when we learned that “Wildhorse”
had been broadsided by an automobile while out on her iron
horse. Her recollection of the accident went like this, “I was going South
on Hwy 169. A guy turning off 169 North didn’t see me and proceeded to
24 Thunder Roads Kentucky
turn. I gave her the throttle and prayed
for the best. He hit me right behind my
left leg. I went 120 yards swaying back
and forth but finally got my bike stopped
and put the kick stand down. The gentleman
said he didn’t know what he hit until
he looked and saw me fish tailing down
the road. I argued with 911 trying to tell
them I was the one on the motorcycle.
The OHP tried to call an ambulance as
well as a tow truck. I refused. Then the
guy who hit me said he had a trailer to
which I responded have you ever hauled
a bike before?!?! He hadn’t do I enlisted
the guy and OHP to pull the fender off
my tire and swung my leg over her and
told them to follow me for a mile and I’d
wave them off if I could do it. I was seven
miles away from home. Once I got there,
I took myself to the hospital. I ended up
having pulled tendons and ligament in my
left ankle which resulted in a cast, torn
meniscus in my left knee, tendinitis in my
left shoulder which resulted in a sling and
they summonsed me to crutches!! I have
3 blown disks in my neck and have been
fighting surgery as the neurosurgeon cannot
guarantee the results. I was off work
for two months, but it didn’t keep me from
my passion of riding once healed.” She,
like many others who’ve been hit have
learned, it is dangerous and we never
know when it may happen to us. Furthermore,
we have to watch out for other riders
when we get in our own four wheels.
The gentleman who hit her is a fireman
who is all too aware of the dangers of
riding.
There was over $4500 in damage done
to her trusty steed in the accident. With
a lot of TLC she’s better than ever now.
Her ride is a 2004 Honda VTX 1800. She
has done many modifications includ-
ing, HOK chameleon paint cyan to purple; custom graphics by me of my Mustang, Cherokee, as well as my speedo;
custom leather tank bib with my rescue mare, Akila, carved in it; Carlini apes and risers; braded cables; Arlen Ness
mirrors; custom P4 intake by German Pete; V&H Bigshots; chrome wheels; chrome final drive; chrome reservoir
covers; Cobra fatty highway bars; flush Kury chrome license plate cover; custom embroidered Ultimate seat; fender
bib; floorboard fringe & 39” tassles by Chilhowee; Goodyear Triple Tread 205/60/16 on the rear. Desmog also done;
custom license plate reads PLUM6C. Purple is her favorite color and even her cage is a Challenger SRT8 which is
purple with a tag that reads PLUM6E.
Wildhorse is also a Native American Woman business owner. She and her husband own and operate Cherokee
Fire Protection Professionals. It was a pleasure to interview and share her story. I look forward to seeing her continued
efforts to help her fellow female riders by participating Nationwide in varying volunteer situations to promote
female riding.