On December 12, 2009 Jerry Slemp, AQHA Professional Horseman and trainer, was riding a quiet training horse when he had a terrible accident.  Somehow, the horse fell on Jerry.  They are not sure what happened and Jerry does not remember. 

He was rushed to UVA hospital in Charlottesville.  Jerry had dislocated his neck and crushed his C6 vertebrae (in the base of his neck).  They immediately put him into traction and after two days the doctors were able to operate to replace the crushed vertebrae and insert cadaver bone, plates and screws as well as fuse the neck from the C5 to C7 vertebrae.

Jerry is home and doing rehabilitation and it is not clear yet whether he will ever be able to ride again.  Hopefully with time and healing he will eventually be able to give lessons and judge horse shows.  He is considered disabled at this time.

Training horses is Jerry’s passion and he lived the past decade doing what he loved.  He and his wife Julie, have been very successful in both the Quarter Horse and Paint Horse communities.   Most of his clients have gone on to win numerous Championships and Futurities both at the breed show level and on the local show circuit.  Jerry has also been very active with local 4-H’ers, teaching, coaching, and giving clinics.  But as with most horse trainers, training horses was Jerry’s only source of income.