Let's ease into this podcasting thing shall we?By Abriana Johnson

Periodically we like to check-in with each other, assess what we are noticing in our community and in our industry and share any plans coming up for BITS. In this episode, we covered our newest project "Moments", the Fireside Chats with our Facebook community and our plans for the end of the year. Want to join the Moments Waitlist? Visit www.blkint…

COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIP EMPOWERMENT WELL-BEING The CREW is a nonprofit based out of Minnesota that has gone to great lengths to create spaces for children of color to learn how to interact with and grow with horses. In this week's episode we speak with Jenny and Kenatia from The CREW Urban Youth Equestrians about their journey as a fairly new non-pr…

Last week, I applied to receive mentorship and well as to become a mentor with two organizations. Being able to uplift and guide the next generation is important to me because I know the impact my mentors have had on my life. They encouraged me to use my voice, encouraged me to challenge every boundary and supported me as I grew in their industry a…

You may have watched his bull riding career, and you may have seen him on the Ultimate Cowboy Showdown, but have you seen what impact Jamon is making in communities across the country? Just Believe provides hands-on equine and agricultural education programs along with trade introduction for youth. They believe in the power that agriculture holds p…

Cowgirl Camryn is an equine innovated learning brand that grew from a children's book series. As the creator of that brand (and this one) I thought it was important to share how you can bring your ideas to fruition and impact your community in a non-traditional way. In this episode, I share 4 things I learned/reflected on after this event that will…

What does it mean to be Black In The Saddle? After a summer hiatus, the podcast is back with a new name, a new feel, and a new energy. In this episode, Abriana talks about the transition to Black In The Saddle (BITS), her vision for the future of the podcast, and bringing along help to make it happen. Tune in to hear about new sponsorship and colla…

We made it! 100 episodes of Young Black Equestrians the podcast 🤯 I never in a million years thought I would get to this point or have the opportunity to celebrate this milestone with my YBEfam. I also celebrated the third anniversary of the podcast on February 28th... this is the season of celebration! Tune into this episode of reflection and appr…

The last time I had Brittney on the podcast, she had just quit her corporate job 2 weeks prior and started working in her lesson program full time. Fast forward to now, with 3x the client load, 3 additional staff members, and her own private barn to run her lesson program, Brittney has learned how to carve her own path in the industry. Brittney has…

Whether you are new to horse ownership or you are dabbling into a new discipline, building a team of people around you to support you during this journey is instrumental. In this episode, I share the five key members of your horse care team and the role they should play in your horse journey. Sponsored by Cargill Nutrena ___________________________…

If you search for an image of the "Black Cowboy" you will likely come across Ivan's work. He has spent the past few years capturing Black cowboy culture, rodeos, and trail rides and telling their stories through captivating images. Ivan's work has been featured by major brands and outlets as well as on exhibit in galleries and museums. Despite bein…

When confronted with protests and riot cops right outside of her apartment, Nikki West picked up her camera and did what she knew how to do best. Capturing impactful moments through the summer of 2020 led Nikki to her passion for activism in and out of the equestrian space. In this episode, Nikki shares how her activism has impacted her equestrian …

I've been holding in a secret for a few weeks and I can finally share! Diversity on Horseback is COMING BACK! In 2020, this "clinic" was designed around the theme of clarity, communication, and confidence and our speakers did not disappoint. This episode is a replay of our conversation with Nahshon Cook from that event. This year's event will be he…

When having conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion, sometimes it's hard to comprehend what role horses play in the equation. Elizabeth McCorvey has used her social work expertise and equine-facilitated coaching abilities to draw connections between DEI and anti-racism work and how equine professionals show up for their horses and thei…

Parents of equestrians have a unique challenge when it comes to raising their horse-obsessed children including expense, time, and commitment of horse sports and horse care. But what is it like raising two horse-obsessed kids, ones who have made careers around their passion for these giant animals? Hear it straight from my parents, Illey and Gwen J…

Another season and another reason to share the passion, culture, and lifestyle of the Black horse industry! I am so thankful that you have continued to listen, share and interact with this platform and message. In this epsiode, I share with you: Season 5 Recap YBE Updates New Merch! Goals for 2022 Future Events and Partnerships Black Equestrian Net…

From riding with Rutgers University to riding with Crazy Faith, Chelsea has taken more than one step to make sure she can enjoy horses on her own terms. In this episode, Chelsea shares how attending a horse auction led her to a local faith-based saddle club in New Jersey, Crazy Faith Riders of New Jersey, and an incredible community working with in…

As creatives, we are often tasked with telling a captivating story, entertaining and educating at the same time. That is exactly what Brandon G. Alexander has managed to do through his acting career, content, and community. In this episode, you will learn about Brandon's unconventional entry point into the horse industry and how his passion and pur…

This episode was inspired by a conversation held on Winners Circle Wednesday (weekly Instagram live on Wednesdays at 8pm EST) about how to become more confident in your environment. In this episode, we cover how community plays an incredible part in gaining confidence in this industry, how continued support does not go unnoticed and what it means w…

What horse-loving person hasn't seen Spirit: The Stallion of the Cimmaron? What horse-lovign hopeful hasn't dreamt of seeing wild horses and galloping across open plans. Well, now we know this is very much illegal, but this episode shares what could truly be the next best thing. In this episode, Cam Davis shares her journey owning, training, and le…

The Harder They Fall came out on Netflix this week, on November 3rd. There have been many whispers about this movie since it was teased in 2020, but the end result was a lot more than many of us even realized. In this episode, we discuss the nuance behind the movie, some of the insights from the director himself and where the responsibility lies in…

Red light, green light! It's squid games for the horse industry. When you are seeking opportunities in the horse industry where do you go? What do you need to keep in mind? Let's talk about it in this episode. **IMPORTANT** Check out this guide to working on farms from Not Our Farm, which details questions, considerations, and things to note when w…

Equestrian sports is a partnership between human and horse, but at what point do we focus too much on the horse's fitness and not our own? Ifa Simmonds from Ifa Fit shares his journey into fitness, more specifically equestrian fitness, and how a bouncy horse named Qua Qua started this horse-loving journey for him. In this episode, Ifa shares how he…

Nestled 15 minutes from Charlotte, North Carolina is the home of some of the most loved and revered horses in the industry... Friesians... and not just any Friesians, but the Friesians of Pearman Ranch. In this episode, Andrew Pearman takes us through his journey from college football to internationally evaluated Friesian horses and everything in b…

It's October. It's Fall. It's our favorite time of year! Along with the bonfires and fall trail rides, it is important to start prepping for winter as many of us experience inclement or extreme weather. Check out this list of 10 things you can do to prep your horses/barn for winter this year! Are there any things you do to prep that are not on this…

This episode contains clips from a live interview with Dr. George E. Blair of New York City Riding Academy. There is quite a bit of background noise due to the barn being located on an island, but we grabbed some of the best clips and gems to share with you on this episode. Dr. Blair not only runs a riding academy, but he is also the founder of the…

Hey everyone and welcome to Season 5! We are excited to be back and bringing you more culture and conversation on this here podcast. In this episode, Abriana covers updates for YBE this season including welcoming a new sponsor Cargill Nutrena! After a recent trip to West Point Military Academy, Abriana shares her experience witnessing the unveiling…

Dr. Blanche is a double gem! A Black woman and a veterinarian. Her tenacity and perseverance lead her to a career of compassion and impact and we are so excited she came on the show to share her story with us. Hailing from Reno, NV, Dr. Blanche shares her experience seeking opportunities in her field when there wasn't a single face that looked like…

What do walking horses and chocolate have in common? Robert Bowden Robert Bowden turned pro after a successful run in the show ring and trained horses in Texas for 15 years. After becoming the best in his region, he decided to pursue other jobs outside of horses, which included headhunting and finance to now chocolate making. Tune in to this episod…

After Ranee released the cover of her new book Helmet Hair, we knew we needed to have her back to talk about the importance of reading, representation, and author life as Black women in the horse industry. Stay tuned for the release of Ranee's new book!By Young Black Equestrians

Over the last year, we have observed many conversations held at high-level governing bodies and lower-level organizations, but one trend we have noticed is where the conversations reside. As people with western/trail ride backgrounds, we enter these spaces to share our experiences in the industry as a whole, but many of the invites come from entiti…

Have you ever wondered what the difference was between working student positions, apprenticeships, internships, and more? We broke it down in today's episode and discusses the pros and cons of each type of position. Before you accept any opportunities you need to know what to expect and how to advocate for yourself in each position. Follow us on So…

REWIND to this episode that was originally published on April 11th, 2019. Marlin Sims is a member of the US Cultural Heritage Team and competes internationally in mounted archery. Sims shares some of his experiences and wisdom related to life, horseback riding, and competing on an international level.…

This may be the first time you have heard of Raina Marie Paucar, but we guarantee it won't be the last. We had the pleasure of talking with her about her journey in the horse industry, her journey as an entrepreneur and the vision she has for her future. She has experienced so much of the industry from obtaining her jockey license and working on a …

When we asked Dezmine about her viral Tiktok videos she asked, "Which one?" When we asked Dezmine to tell us about her herd of animals she said, "All of them?" That paints a pretty good picture of how Dezmine popped into our lives and has been making us laugh ever since. Growing up in a predominantly white area, Dezmine didn't see other Black eques…

Life update in this episode! Here are the major topics: Garden Plans: We talked about our garden plans for this spring and what plants we are excited to grow. Awkward naming conventions for horse programs (and some that are doing it right!) Setting boundaries for YBE collaborations A new event Summer of 2021 Concrete Cowboy movie coming out April 2…

As a pastor, horse trainer, and people trainer residing in Austin, Texas, Noah T-Y has a mission and drive rooted in family and the desire to help people be safer on horses. He tells us how he took the leap and changed career paths to help his family and fill a need he saw in the industry. Listen as he talks about the thought process behind Steady …

During this episode, we discussed 2 questions that have come up in our community and in recent discussions. Tune in to our latest episode and listen to the end for a bit of fun.By Young Black Equestrians

It all started with a horse named Red. Fredrick got his start in the horse industry by rehoming kill pen horses and learning the lessons that come with retraining and rehabbing animals with traumatic experiences. As a competitive person, he dabbled in a bunch of different disciplines to find his perfect fit. He went through barrel racing, dressage,…

We've all seen this discipline. The flips, the stunts, the jumps atop a cantering horse, but have you ever taken a deeper dive into the sport to learn what it really requires? In this episode we talked to Amanda Staalsoe, a physiotherapist and vaulter out of Denmark. She shares with us the story of her vaulting career, the intricasies of the sport …

You've probably seen Dale gracing social media with his captivating action shots on the polo field. But, what you may not know is that Dale has only been in the industry for 3 years and has had laser-focused every since. He comes from a family that prides itself on history, culture, and making sure Black history is discussed regularly. His mom says…

We received a question from Kimberley about some tips for people who are thinking about purchasing a horse. This is a great topic to cover so we came up with a quick list to share with you all today. The two main things to keep in mind are EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE for you and the horse. It takes the two of you to make it work and if you have a grea…

This is our first episode that originally aired February 28th, 2019. SO much has changed since then. Here we are, November 2020, and a lot of people are asking us to hear our story. We wanted to give you a glimpse into our beginning thoughts surrounding this podcast so we can really digest how far we have come and how far we have to go. Enjoy this …

Tis the season! For thankfulness, giving and much more. In this season, we discussed the "Gifts N' Things" gift guide we just published as well as some of the brands that are featured. Head over to our website to check it out today --> www.youngblackequestrians.com Have you seen our new apparel? We released 3 new designs this week and are LOVING th…

It's time for updates and conversation. What have we been up to? Where is the conversation of diversity in the industry going? We had time today. Enjoy!By Young Black Equestrians

Steven started out in the horse industry by getting involved with therapeutic riding and volunteering at barns. In this episode, sponsored by Flying changes magazine, he used his bubbly personality to network and find opportunities within the industry. He first started showing in AQHA halter (and winning Top 5 in the world), but wanted to focus on …

Shariah Harris grew up in Philadelphia, PA, and stumbled upon the Work To Ride program after getting lost in the park. Through this program, she was able to travel internationally, network with people around the world, attend an ivy league school, and play on their polo team. In this episode, we discussed her journey to becoming a collegiate polo p…

Raised in the rural south, Michael Lynch was determine to show up and show out from a young age. Whether it be canines or equine, Michael gained valuable experience parading the finest of his favorite breeds around the ring. Fast forward to today, Michael is know for his outspoken advocacy and unapologetic conversation. We only got a glimpse of thi…

If you have tapped #blackequestrian anytime over the past 8 months, we are quite positive you have come across the amazing work that is @equestrian_noire. After seeing image after image of captivating attire, lighting and concepts, we had to sit down with the creator and figure out the story behind this project. In this episode, we had the opportun…

*DISCLAIMER: Young Black Equestrians the podcast, nor it's extensions or sponsors, condone the practice of soring or horse abuse surrounding the Walking Horse industry or any related industries.* Serving in the military for over a decade, Venita has to balance serving her country and caring for her horses. After spending 2 years in Japan, she has c…