The inspiring story of Savannah, Skye, and Blue Thunder, a powerful testament to faith, dreams, and second chances. A reminder to believe and keep dreaming no matter the odds.
Most of us have heard the expression “dream come true,” but what does that look like? For 10-year-old Savannah Mize, it looks like her four-legged friend, Blue Thunder, a sorrel gelding who may or may not be a unicorn in disguise. From the moment Savannah and her mom, Skye, began planning this horse’s life, miracles have swirled around him, turning dreams into reality. This is the story of how Blue and Savannah braved impossible odds and found their rainbow on the other side of the storm, inspiring thousands along the way.
Franklin, Texas, is where this tale takes place. It all began when young Savannah fell in love with the sport of reining, mostly thanks to the YouTube channel of professional trainer Matt Mills. When breeding season arrived, her mother, Skye, asked the little cowgirl—who was 5 at the time—if she wanted to breed her mare, Lady Bee Packin. Of course, the answer was yes. Savannah carefully scoured stallion registries to pick the perfect match for her foal and settled on the beautiful buckskin Gunner Dun It Again. Skye was amused and went along with her daughter’s dreaming, but she knew Savannah’s chosen stallion was out of their price range. Nevertheless, Savannah wasn’t deterred. She contacted the stallion station that had Gunner Dun It Again and attempted to negotiate a breeding contract for her mare.
When the stallion’s owner heard about Savannah’s call, he agreed to trade a breeding to his horse for one of Savannah’s paintings. Naturally, people were enchanted by the story of this determined 5-year-old, and they began to follow Savannah and Blue Thunder’s journey before the foal was even born.
These same followers soon became donors when Blue suffered a disastrous fracture to his radius and ulna after being kicked at just three months old. The foal needed extensive surgery, and with the help of generous supporters via an auction, Skye and Savannah were able to take Blue Thunder to Texas A&M for a life-saving operation. Surgeons Dr. Glass and Dr. Watkins performed the procedure, and Dr. Cameron Stoudt-Donnell, the Mizes’ regular veterinarian, referred them. To this day, the Mizes express their immense gratitude to the veterinarians and donors who saved Blue Thunder’s life. While he will always have a plate in his leg, Blue is still able to thrive and compete in the arena, thanks to the kindness of those who rallied behind him and his little girl.
After his operation, Savannah continued to have big hopes for Blue, and those hopes centered on her idol, Matt Mills. From the moment her foal existed, Savannah told her mom that Matt was going to ride her horse. One miracle followed another, and somehow, Matt heard about Savannah and the horse she dreamed of turning into a reining superstar. He agreed to ride Blue Thunder and coach Savannah, and thus, a fairytale friendship was born.
In 2024, Matt rode Blue during his futurity year. The two placed fifth at the APHA Open Level 4 Futurity, and they competed at the NRHA Open Level 4 Futurity in Oklahoma City, where they missed the finals by just half a point. Matt plans to haul Blue during his derby year as well, and he has never charged the Mizes for riding Blue or helping Savannah.
When asked about working with Matt, Savannah says, “I am grateful every time I talk to him or ride with him. It’s the biggest opportunity ever.” With a choked voice, Skye adds, “That man is an angel among us. His wife, Karen, has been a huge part of this, too. They are absolutely incredible.”
It was through Matt that Savannah came into contact with the Western megacompany Teton Ridge. Like thousands online, those at the company were touched by Blue Thunder’s story. Soon after, they hired Savannah as a reporter, and she now serves as the official Teton Ridge kid reporter for the American Performance Horseman each year. She interviews athletes and speaks with stars from the reining and cutting worlds.
The Mizes also released a children’s book called Blue Thunder: A Unicorn Story, available on Amazon. At the NRHA Futurity in 2024, they even held a signing event with Matt. Skye and Savannah are passionate about introducing the world of reining to more people, especially kids. From this passion came the Youth Summit event, which features a clinic with Matt Mills, a speech on veterinary medicine by Dr. Glass (one of Blue Thunder’s surgeons), a session on social media etiquette with Skye Mize (owner of equine media company WhoaZone Marketing), and motivational pep talks from Savannah herself. She emphasizes her belief in God as one of her main talking points, as both she and Skye say Blue Thunder’s story has been a “God-thing from the start.”
This year, the Youth Summit will be held at Circle T Arena in Hamilton, Texas, on Sept. 20. Details about the event will be available online on Savannah and Blue Thunder’s Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts.
When asked what advice she would give to others like herself, Savannah says: “If you want to dream bigger, just know God has a plan for your big dream. Just dream as far as you can. It will happen if you believe it can happen.” At every turn, Savannah and Skye have credited God with guiding their journey.
Sometimes, we all need a reminder to dream. That reminder might come in the form of a surprise note, a rainbow on a cloudy day, or a horse happily grazing after being given a second chance at life. Savannah and Blue Thunder are a powerful reminder to keep dreaming and believing in the power of faith.
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