The picture caught my eye and heart, if I’m honest.
A horse standing in one of the most powerful stances, and a rider looking completely like one with her horse. Chasing Dreams. Yes… this is my kind of dream. The caption read: The true story of the youngest female Tevis Cup champion.
The little I know of endurance riding, I do know this: the Tevis Cup is one of the hardest and most grueling rides in the world. A 100-mile race through desert mountains, in the heat of summer, over rough and unforgiving terrain.
So to win it? That is no small feat.
It was a no-brainer. I had to read this book.
Written by Sanoma Blakely, Chasing Dreams is her memoir of growing up in an endurance riding family and eventually going on to win the Tevis Cup at only 18 years old.
The story is nothing short of incredible. Sanoma not only lived an unusual and horse-filled childhood, but she was completing endurance rides at a very young age. It’s not only impressive—it’s deeply inspiring.
To fund their horse passion, Sanoma’s parents often found “cheap” horses. And if you love an underdog story, this one will grab you. The horse she won the Tevis on was a free Craigslist horse. His name was Goober.
Goober was an Arabian gelding who had been diagnosed with OCD in his stifle and was given away as a yearling. He was the kind of horse who always seemed to find trouble, earning him the name “Goober.”
Let me tell you—people don’t win races like this by chance.
Sanoma, even at a young age, spent years working, training, and building toward this moment. Nothing about it was accidental.
I’ll be honest, I had no idea how a young person could accomplish something like this. But as I read more, it became clear that their tight-knit family unit was just as powerful and inspiring as the riding itself. Ambition alone isn’t everything. Sacrifice, support, and doing life together as a family—that’s what makes this story feel even more special.
I found myself cheering Sanoma on the entire way through the book. I loved how she shared moments straight from the saddle—moments of pain, grit, exhaustion, and joy. She didn’t sugarcoat anything or make it feel easier than it was.
If you’re looking for a story that pulls you into the world of endurance riding, determination, and a very real journey behind a championship title, I highly recommend Chasing Dreams.
“In the end, this isn’t just a sport or a hobby—it’s a way of life, a passion.” — Sanoma Blakely
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