To the outside world, Kendall Jenner’s Vogue shoot, perched atop a majestic horse in a field of green, was simply another breathtaking display of beauty and style from one of fashion’s most famous faces.
But for the horse’s former owner, Amber DeLauer, the image carried a far deeper meaning: an emotional, life-changing moment that symbolized healing, forgiveness and fate.
‘I had a whole rainbow of emotions,’ Amber told The Daily Mail exclusively. ‘At first, it was a gut punch to my ego — but that quickly shifted into tears of joy, peace, and pride. It felt like a sign from the universe that I could finally let go of the guilt and shame I’d been carrying since my accident.’
DeLauer purchased Jericho, a striking palomino with four white stockings and a bold white face, at an auction, drawn to what she called her ‘Barbie Dream Horse.’
But his unpredictable nature and her own devastating accident left her unable to continue his training.
Letting him go, she admits, initially felt like a ‘monumental failure.’
Amber DeLauer revealed seeing Kendall Jenner (pictured above) ride her former horse in Vogue was an emotional, life-changing moment for her
‘Selling him felt gut-wrenching, but deep down I knew it was the right decision,’ she explains. ‘Horses had always been my safe place, and after my accident I had PTSD and a fear of the very thing that once grounded me. Seeing Jericho in Vogue reminded me that both of us went through a transformation that day — he moved on to fulfill his potential, and I began a journey of healing and rediscovering myself.’
For DeLauer, the fact that Jenner was the one to spotlight Jericho was the highest compliment.
‘Horses have always been my passion, and while many women choose fancy handbags, I’ve always chosen to have a fancy horse,’ she says with a laugh. ‘That photo of Kendall riding him across the field had me beaming with pride — not just for him, but also for the incredible work Grant and Diamond Cross Ranch did in finishing his training and helping him become the steady, confident horse he is today.’
Though Jenner likely had no idea of Jericho’s backstory, the images struck DeLauer with almost symbolic power.
‘Kendall probably has no idea how powerful that moment was for me,’ she says. ‘It felt like proof that letting him go wasn’t a failure, but part of both our healing journeys. For me, it symbolized courage, forgiveness, and the strength to move forward without shame.’
DeLauer’s riding accident, which left her with a traumatic brain injury and severe PTSD, nearly ended her love affair with horses altogether.
‘I had a whole rainbow of emotions,’ Amber told The Daily Mail exclusively. ‘At first, it was a gut punch to my ego — but that quickly shifted into tears of joy, peace, and pride’
She continued: ‘It felt like a sign from the universe that I could finally let go of the guilt and shame I’d been carrying since my accident’
‘Relearning to ride again was like walking through fire — I was shaking uncontrollably every time I got back in the saddle, but I knew the only way out was through,’ she recalls.
Letting Jericho go gave her the space to heal, and in the years since, she has returned to riding, even introducing her children to their own pony, Marshmallow.
As for her recovery, DeLauer, who is married to fitness coach and author Thomas DeLauer, says she now feels ‘incredible, stronger than ever, really.’
‘My husband, Thomas, was my rock,’ she shared. ‘He guided me through recovery with incredible knowledge and support, putting me on a strict post-TBI protocol before I’d even fully understood my accident. From fish oil and a high-fat, brain-healthy diet to red light therapy, HBOT [hyperbaric oxygen therapy], and more — that roadmap made all the difference in helping me heal.’
‘Kendall probably has no idea how powerful that moment was for me,’ she says. ‘It felt like proof that letting him go wasn’t a failure, but part of both our healing journeys’
She also revealed that one of her doctors told Thomas that ‘if the hoof had landed just a quarter of an inch differently,’ she likely would never have woken up.
‘That perspective makes me even more grateful for my life and for the incredible doctors in Jackson Hole who cared for me in those first hours,’ DeLauer explained. ‘Most of all, my near-death experience has given me a whole new lease on life. I’m just so grateful to be here with my husband and children, loving every minute of it.’
DeLauer hopes that people who see Kendall’s photos with Jericho take away more than just a beautiful picture.
‘I hope people understand that even though the journey may be bumpy, there is always light at the end of the tunnel,’ she says. ‘Sometimes letting go is exactly what propels us forward into what’s meant for us. Jericho went from being my auction gamble to a Vogue cover star. I feel deeply honored to have been a stepping stone for him along the way.’
