Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus

Aven Green’s horse, Chili, represents both Aven’s confidence and her insecurity, mirroring her journey of self-discovery over the course of the novel. Aven’s birth mother was a talented horsewoman, and Aven wants to follow in her footsteps. Aven’s horseback riding shows that she does not let her armlessness hold her back from participating in life. Instead, Aven adapts by finding a horse that is trained to voice commands and using specially designed stirrups to let her guide Chili. Horseback riding is empowering. Although a little nervous, Aven is initially certain that she and Chili can do a jump for the horse show.

After Joshua’s betrayal, Aven loses confidence in all aspects of her life and is frightened of falling off Chili, believing she is not strong enough to ride the horse. Chili comes to represent Aven’s lack of self-assurance and new feelings of inadequacy. After telling others about her bullying, and learning to again believe in herself, Aven makes the jump. Her fall helps restore her self-confidence with the realization that she overcame her fear Aven extrapolates that experience to the rest of her life, literally and figuratively getting “back in the saddle” to face life’s worries and problems head on.