No one expects to find a future world champion in a pasture littered with horse skeletons, but that’s what happened to horse rescue volunteer Amanda Delgado in 2015. Abandoned, starved, and distrustful of humans, the mare who would come to be known as Athenian Lady showed a resilience and spirit that could not be broken, despite all she had been through. Initially deemed aggressive and unadoptable, Delgado wasn’t ready to give up on her. Their partnership began with a long, patient journey of building trust and love.

From Abandoned to Champion

By 2019, “Athena” had fully transformed from an abandoned rescue case into a champion in the western dressage arena. She earned her first world champion titles that year at the Pinto World Championship Show and has continued to be a success and inspiration ever since. In 2025, she earned three world championships and three reserve world champion titles at the WDAA World Show. In her career, she has earned three USEF Horse of the Year awards in western dressage and has garnered numerous WDAA high score awards.

Athena is an ambassador for equine welfare causes worldwide, including the ASPCA’s Right Horse program and Brooke USA. In 2024, she was immortalized as a Breyer model and the Breyerfest Celebration Horse for that year’s “Against All Odds” theme. She has built a massive fanbase and shown the world what a rescue horse can do.

Wild Idea

“When I first started working with Athena, I had this wild idea that she could be a World Champion. I was told I was crazy and it would never happen,” said Delgado. “I want to encourage [everyone] to have a look at rescue horses standing in a desolate pasture or in a kill pen. You might be looking at your next partner. You might be looking at a World Champion. You might be looking at the next USEF Horse of the Year. But most importantly, you may be looking at your best friend.”

As the winner of the National Horse of the Year, Athenian Lady received a commemorative trophy, a leather lead line and custom halter from SmartEquine, as well as a premium gift basket from Ethel M. Chocolates.

Stay Connected  
Find more information about the 2026 US Equestrian Annual Meeting, visit www.usef.org/annual-meeting and follow US Equestrian on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.