Sylvia Harris had reached rock bottom. She was homeless, she had lost custody of one of her children, and above all, she was battling mental illness. At her emotional peak, she needed an escape.
When a twist of fate elicited a fond childhood pastime−horseback riding−she finally found the answer to her whirlwind of despair. After utilizing the activity as outlet to curb her problems, she went on to break barriers in the process. Her incredible story is detailed in the book, Long Shot: My Bipolar Life and the Horses Who Saved Me.
Released on March 8, Long Shot, is a memoir that captures Harris’ ascent from a single mother facing bi-polar disorder to her status as just the second African-American female jockey in the country to win a major thoroughbred race.
“I don’t even know how I made it out alive,” Harris told the AFRO as she reflected on her past. “I had low points before, but it had never gotten to the point where I was homeless. It was kind of devastating−to the point where I did not care what was going to happen to me.”
Though she was originally born in Germany, Harris grew up in California. At the onset of her adult life, problems began to arise.
Harris’ manic behavior ranged from hearing voices, to spontaneous imaginary outbreaks and before long, she found herself alone on the streets of Orlando, Fla., struggling with her illness.
But a breakthrough occurred while she was residing in a local shelter. After holding a conversation with a priest at the establishment, he discovered that she had a passion for horses−which she developed as a child.
“The priest told me, ‘OK, I’ll be right back,’” Harris said. “He was gone a few minutes and he said, ‘Get your stuff together and be ready in a half an hour.’ Harris explained that then he set her up with a job at a farm in Ocala, Fla.
She spent a considerable time at this location as a groomer and cared for the horses. At that moment, she immediately found solace.
“There was just something about the being or the essence of the horse that for me very calming and therapeutic,” Harris said. I just have a very strong connection and bond with animals, particularly horses. I think it’s because they don’t judge us the same. They’re not verbal and cruel enough to hurt our feelings the way people do to one another.”
She later wanted to become a jockey. Though others attempted to discourage her from following her aspirations, she defied their opposition and acquired a license. She explained that people would often tell her she was too old, and horseback riding wasn’t a sport that African Americans participated in.
“ people were telling me ‘no,’ it wasn’t because I physically couldn’t do it, because a majority of the physical part comes from the horse,” Harris said. It was because there are some color problems and color issues very much in effect in this country.”
Shortly thereafter, she made history after she went on to won her first major thoroughbred race at 40 years old. This victory made her just the second African-American woman to achieve this honor, the first being jockey champion Cheryl White.
Harris’ story quickly found its way onto national headlines, as people from across the country fell in love with her story.
Today, Harris continues to ride and compete. With the release of her book, she hopes to inspire others with disabilities in hopes for them to accomplish their dreams, as she did.
“Just because you have a disability or challenge, that doesn’t mean that your dream can’t come true,” Harris said. “They may not come right away when you want them to, but they will, if you keep your faith intact.”
‘Long Shot: My Bipolar Life and the Horses Who Saved Me’ is available now. For more information, visit: www.harpercollins.com.
