Riding Against the Odds: Elle Woolley’s Journey from Childhood Brain Aneurysm Survivor to Para Dressage Professional

The daughter of an equestrian, Elle Woolley “was on a horse” before she was even born. Up until she was eight months pregnant, Elle’s mother continued to ride with baby Elle in her belly. It was not long before Elle was on a horse herself – in fact, Elle started riding about the same time she learned to walk. Growing up in rural northern Maine, Elle was a healthy, active girl who spent nearly all of her free time riding. But everything changed in an instant when she was 11 years old.

It was 1999 and Elle was at riding camp when she began to not feel well. “I had a riding lesson in the morning and was in the tack room for our lunch break when my head began to hurt. It literally felt like someone was splitting open my skull,” says Elle. There was a teenaged girl watching us younger campers and luckily, she knew something was terribly wrong and went to get an adult.” Elle called her mom and the trainer called an ambulance. Soon, Elle started to feel a “Novocain-like” sensation on her left side and began to have a seizure while on the phone with her mom.

Though she did not know it at the time, Elle was experiencing a ruptured brain aneurysm and similar to cardiac arrest, getting medical help as soon as possible is imperative. Every minute counts. Unfortunately, in rural Maine, there were no life-flight options and the local hospital had not seen anything like what Elle was experiencing. The only option was for Elle to be transported by ambulance to Maine Medical Center in Portland four hours away. She does not remember anything about the ride and had seizures for the duration of the transport. Upon arriving at the hospital, the medical team tried to stabilize her, but there were not many options in 1999 for treating brain aneurysms. A very young neurosurgeon explained to Elle’s father that he would have to cut into her skull immediately to relieve the pressure on her brain. After the surgery, Elle was in a medically induced coma for 10 days – the medical team was not sure if she would survive.

The “Ride” to Recovery

Elle’s aneurysm was not genetic in nature and was caused by an arteriovenous malformation, or AVM, which is a tangle of abnormal blood vessels that allows blood to flow directly from arteries to veins at high pressure. The high pressure can cause the walls of the veins to bulge, forming an aneurysm. As a result of the aneurysm, Elle lost the use of the left side of her body, including her arm and leg. After a year of physical therapy, she was able to move from a wheelchair to a cane.

Understandably, Elle was depressed as she faced her new reality. She was not only struggling to walk but also was struggling to find a will to live. When one of her physical therapists recommended equine therapy, everything changed. “That was the first spark of hope I had. I was such a good rider before the brain aneurysm and not being around horses was affecting my mental health. Soon, my mom agreed to take over and teach me to ride again,” says Elle. The rehabilitation journey was difficult as Elle had severe balance issues and no core strength on her left side. There were several incidents of broken bones and concussions from falls while learning to ride again, but Elle was stubborn and refused therapy assistance. She was determined to get back to some form of normalcy and horses were the only way for her to achieve that.

Becoming a Pro Para

After high school, Elle spread her wings. Despite having no use of her left arm and her left leg having only about 70 percent of the strength of her right, she had an underlying drive to be independent and moved to Los Angeles. She enrolled in college and received an associate degree in fashion design, making the dean’s list. After eight years of trying to break into the industry, Elle realized she was distracted by riding. When she was introduced to para dressage in California, she was hooked. “By 2012, my heart was shifting. My mom wasn’t crazy about me living so far away and told me she would buy a horse for me if I would move to the East Coast. So that’s what I did,” says Elle. “I found a young horse in Germany that needed to be trained, which had many challenges, but he’s now 10 years old and an amazing horse. He and I have been through so much together.”

 Today, Elle lives in Ocala, Florida where she is an international-level professional para dressage rider who also competes in some able-bodied shows. She has not used a cane in more than 20 years and while she has no use of her left foot and ankle, custom orthotics give her the stability she needs. All professional athletes must continuously push themselves, but Elle notes that para-athletes have to push even harder. Her determination has paid off and in 2024, Elle was an alternate for the U.S. Para Dressage Team at the 2024 Paralympic Observation Event. She now has her eyes set on the 2028 Paralympics Games that will be held in Los Angeles.

For Elle, there is no doubt that her childhood love affair with horses continues to be the driving force in helping her overcome the long-term effects of her brain aneurysm. “You have to find your passion – something you truly want to live for – and for me, it’s riding. Riding has always been stronger than the depression that tried to pull me down. Everyone, even the able-bodied, needs to find that passion that gives you something to live for,” says Elle.

“Elle’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. Her unwavering determination and passion for para dressage exemplify the incredible strength of brain aneurysm survivors. Despite the challenges Elle has faced, she continues to push forward with remarkable resilience. At the Trinity Love Hoblit Foundation, we are honored to share stories like Elle’s that shine a light on perseverance, possibility and the human spirit. Through awareness, education and research, we strive to make a difference in the lives of those affected by brain aneurysms. Stories like Elle’s highlight the importance of perseverance and the impact that finding a passion can have on one’s journey.”

            —Olivia Hoblit, Founder & President

                Trinity Love Hoblit Foundation