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Leo is the Spring 2023 OYES Scholarship winner, sponsored by Kerrits Equestrian Apparel.

I am a firm believer in letting love guide you through life. Pretty much every equestrian says this, but horses are my life force- nothing drives me more than my passion for these remarkable animals. I started riding when I was about five years old, but just a few times a year on trail rides. When I was eight, I rode English for the first time, and I realized I wanted to learn to jump. By the time I was 14, I was having so much fun jumping hunter courses in my lessons, although I never had much interest in showing. The connection and learning experience with the horse was most important to me, not ribbons or points. I am currently still doing hunters, but also learning natural horsemanship, and I still ride western for my own enjoyment.

My main riding goal is to have the most symbiotic connection with the horse I’m working with, where the horse does not feel pain or fear, is not overwhelmed, and feels safe when learning. I want to learn more about why a horse reacts the way it does, on both a physical and emotional level; a mentor would be super helpful with this. I also have a growing interest in showing in hunters, as the competitive nature of shows will put healthy pressure on me to improve as a rider.

One of my major long-term goals is to grow safe spaces for equestrians of color and LGBTQ+ equestrians, as well as safe spaces for horses in need. I have a passion for helping both people and animals in need of love and care, and helping horses and helping people strongly goes hand-in-hand. I am currently learning horse training through natural horsemanship and working with a few project horses so that in the grand scheme of my plans, I will be able to rehabilitate, gentle, and train troubled horses.

Mustangs, slaughter-bound horses, neglected horses, ‘problem’ horses, off-the-track Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds, senior horses, and any horses in need of care have always had a soft spot in my heart, and it is my goal to provide better lives for them. So many horses end up in neglect cases or the slaughter pipeline, often due to irresponsible owners and breeders. Three of the project horses that I am working with are Arabians that have been rescued from slaughter by a friend of mine, and he is having me help rehab and retrain them. The quality of a horse’s life depends on the human taking care of them. Thus, it is also a part of my goal to open an equestrian facility and rescue program to teach people about horse care and compassionate horsemanship, and at the same time create a place to be very people-of-color and LGBTQ+ friendly. A place where all types of people and all types of horses feel loved and safe is my absolute dream.

Horses are my safe space in a hostile and ostracizing world, even when the horse industry is the world that makes me feel ostracized. The first strain of alienation that I felt when it came to the horse world was being Asian-Latino. My parents are immigrants-my dad is from Shanghai, and my mom is from Peru. I have been surrounded by preppy white kids my whole life, constantly feeling like the odd one out, but I did find joy when I would seldom meet a fellow Asian equestrian. Unfortunately, I’ve never met a fellow Latino equestrian. I also don’t come from an equestrian family, nor a family that can afford a single horse.

Almost everyone I’ve met in the horse industry has come from a generation of equestrians and are particularly wealthy. Growing up, when not in school, all of my time and energy went toward planning my life to revolve around horses. Within those years, and still to this day, I worked hard both volunteering and being employed at as many horse facilities as possible, taking the jobs that nobody wanted in exchange for riding lessons (and life lessons), driven by the force of love that I have for horses. One thing I particularly love about horses is that every horse has something different to teach me.

What made me feel ostracized the most from the horse world was when I started realizing that I am queer and transgender. I felt so unsafe, as many horse people that I know are rather conservative, that I distanced myself from being involved with horses for about 4-5 years. Stepping away from the people in the horse industry was vital to growing into my true self, but that entire time I felt that a large part of my soul was missing.

I got extremely depressed and suicidal, feeling very lost and that my life was on the wrong path, and was consumed by fear. Luckily, within the past couple of years, I’ve been so blessed to find safe spaces in the equestrian world where I can be myself without fear and my quality of life and my mental health has significantly improved with horses back in my life.

The funds from the OYES scholarship will help aid my equine education and training. I will be majoring in Equine Science and Management this fall and am planning to join the university’s equestrian team. A portion of the scholarship will help pay for what it costs to join and participate in the equestrian team, as well as buying appropriate hunter show attire, such as tall boots, a show coat, show shirts, show breeches, and an ASTM/SEI-certified show helmet; I currently only have paddock boots with half chaps, casual riding pants, and a colorful helmet that may not be appropriate dress code for shows. Outside of school and the university’s equestrian team, I will be using the scholarship funds to take lessons in natural horsemanship, as well as hunter lessons, to improve both my overall ability and experience with horses on the ground and in the saddle. I am planning to take natural horsemanship lessons and hunter lessons.

Becoming a better rider as well as better understanding of horses and what they need both emotionally and physically is key to helping me achieve my goals of helping horses and helping humans.

Nia is the Fall 2022 OYES Travel Fund recipient.

“In riding a horse, we borrow freedom.” In one short quote, Cambridge University professor Helen Thompson best captures the feeling of every rider. My name is Nia Walters, I am a 26-year-old aspiring equestrian living in Berwyn, IL and I am tapping back into my love for horses. I graduated from Stetson University in 2018 with a major in French language and a minor in Chemistry. But my love for riding started long before then. 

As a child, I knew I wanted to become a veterinarian. Once I learned the word for an animal doctor, I made it my life’s purpose to fiercely pursue the career path. The very first time I rode a horse was for a trail ride on a Girl Scout trip. I was always fascinated with the connections that we have with animals, especially with horses being so integral to the history of humanity. Lessons were not feasible for me at that point, and once I was finally able to start learning, I was in high school joining the Equestrian club. From there, I started taking lessons once a week at a local barn, but the highlight of my experience was spending Friday afternoons volunteering with hippotherapy lessons. 

This portion of my riding journey, however, was short-lived, as I could not afford lessons. This financial hurdle continued through college, as I couldn’t afford to join my college equestrian team. As disappointing as it was, I knew this wasn’t the end, just a detour. Although my career pursuits pivoted away from veterinary medicine, I knew I still had a heart for helping both animals and people. 

I am a first-generation U.S. born citizen in my family. My parents emigrated from Jamaica in their youth. In learning my family’s history, my great-grandma Ruby Wilson grew up riding horses and caring for animals. Her father managed a plantation called Braco Stables in Jamaica where she first learned to ride. She had a giving heart and always ensured that whoever was around her, person or animal, had their needs met. Later in life, she became a single mother and had to set aside her passions to take care of her five children. Truly, she was a hard-working woman and when life handed her lemons, she made lemonade. 

On February 5, 2022, she passed away. With the pandemic occurring and her passing, I decided that I shouldn’t forgo my passions, as life was too short to not do what you truly love. My current riding goals include taking group lessons to quickly improve my abilities and to enter my very first competition in Spring 2023. Outside of the saddle, I would like to work part-time at an English barn to learn barn management as well as understanding the behind-the-scenes work that goes into maintaining the business.

In terms of my future dreams and plans, I will own a teaching barn that provides the opportunity for Chicago minority children and teens to learn how to ride horses and care for animals.  Experiences like this aren’t easily accessible both financially and physically to many Chicagoans, which limits the number of minority farmers and future equestrians that will pursue the career path. Bridging the equity gap in the horse industry brings about a greater diversity of riders and a development of equestrian sports for the better. Making more progress with this dream is one of my top priorities so that it can be brought to life. Currently, I’m seeking mentors with experience in business, especially farm management, to provide their expertise in supporting this mission.

The financial cost of equestrian sports has prevented me from participation as well as staying involved. Currently, I work full time, but don’t make enough to support my basic needs and take riding lessons. As a black woman, it can be incredibly discouraging to pursue a field in which others may feel that you are unworthy of participation. From both a racial and socioeconomic front, I stand out at a barn. I will help change the face of what an equestrian looks like and to properly level the playing field, we must first get to the playing field.

Grace is the Fall 2022 Platinum Stables HJ Excellence Award recipient, sponsored by Platinum Stables.

A little over two years ago, as I was entering college in the middle of a pandemic, I began exploring extracurricular options for my collegiate career and learned that Randolph-Macon College has an Equestrian Team. With encouragement from a peer who was already on the team, I signed up for a month of hunt-seat lessons at the school equestrian center and from my first lesson, I was hooked. Only two months into my riding education, I officially joined the Randolph-Macon IHSA team in the walk-trot division, and I began working with Ashley Adams and the R-MC Eventing team.

Throughout the past two years, I have remained connected with the school teams and have been learning as much as I can whenever I can by working in various local barns, taking lessons with Hunt Seat and Eventing coaches, attending clinics as an auditor and as a participant, and catch riding horses. In March of 2022, I purchased my mare, a 10-year-old broodmare, who I have worked with and started under-saddle. Now, we are working together with the school Hunt Seat and Eventing coaches toward walk-trot equitation classes and a starter horse trial in the spring semester. In addition, I am continuing to work towards gaining as much education in the equestrian world as possible so that I may remain in the equestrian world upon graduation. 

In the future, my plan is to learn about the corporate side of the equine industry while seeking out every learning opportunity I can so that my mare and I can be the best that we can be. Currently, I am seeking out internship and education opportunities that I can pursue while I am in college so that I can be well prepared for my future career. One opportunity that I seek to take advantage of soon is the SaddleFit4Life Certified Equine Ergonomist course so that I can learn more about saddle fit both for myself and for others. I also would like to take advantage of as many riding and horsemanship clinics as possible. Finally, prior to the time I turn 25, I aim to learn and train as much with the hopes of being on the Area II Young Riders list. 

In order to be involved in the equine world, I have faced many challenges including financial and social challenges. Since I started riding much later in life, I often feel that I am behind in the equestrian world. Many of my peers grew up in the equine world and participated in Pony Club and 4-H, and as such developed a significant knowledge base in the equine world and have significant advantages in experience riding a variety of horses with a range of experience. With the shared experiences of growing up in the equine world, I have always found that becoming involved in conversation can be more challenging since I do not have as much experience. In addition, due to my late start, when I started riding, my family and I agreed that riding and any other horse responsibilities would be mine and mine alone. Due to the financial limitations of fully funding both myself and my mare on a college student’s budget, I am unable to afford boarding at the college-owned barn and often find myself unable to afford to go to clinics, schooling, and competitions as often as other students can.

Between the general stressors of college, the heavy responsibility of owning my own horse, and gaining an education among my peers, I have found that on occasion, my mental health suffers. To continue in this sport, I am frequently working or trying to find the time to maintain a well-rounded plan for my wellbeing and that of my horse. However, with the aid of financial assistance programs like this one, I can make connections with others in the equine world and learn more about financial assistance that is available to me.

Julia Miller is the Fall 2022 OYES Dream It Award recipient.

My name is Julia Miller. I recently turned 21, and I have been riding horses since I was 12 years old. I ride hunter-jumper, low level dressage, and enjoy trick training and riding bareback and bridleless as well. I currently own a retired thoroughbred named Wasabi. Last year, I bought a severely abused ex-bucking horse from a kill pen and rehomed him after getting weight back on him and starting to gain back his trust. I do not show, but I enjoy working with all sorts of different horses, retraining them to English careers whether it be an ex-barrel racer or an ex-racehorse to a jumper or trail horse. I am particularly fond of thoroughbreds because I love the underdog and disproving stereotypes of all types.

My horse Wasabi was intended to be my jumper step-up horse in the making, but after purchasing him, we faced many setbacks. When I got him, he was undermuscled, had no idea on giving to bit pressure, and was extremely unmotivated to work. A few months into working through these problems, our farrier of many years went through personal issues that impacted his work, resulting in cutting my horse’s hooves so short and poorly that he was lame for 8 months.

From there, back pain, ulcers, and general discomfort followed. Then Wasabi was diagnosed with hock arthritis and sacroiliac issues. I did extensive research into the best and most economical supplements, treatments, and therapies as I am on a college budget. While my initial passion was jumping, that wasn’t in the cards for us yet, so I continued to ride many other horses in that time.

Wasabi’s lameness spanned years, which in that time allowed me to find passion in dressage and focusing on flatwork, as well as pursuing trick training with Wasabi and other horses while he was in stall rest or only sound enough to do groundwork and eventually rehabilitating him for low-level dressage and jumping. Owning Wasabi has been my biggest financial and mental challenge because owning him has been a rollercoaster. Behaviors which originated from pain led to some behavioral issues while we figured out his lamesss. For example, he created new twisting and jumping variations of bucking and other days he would absolutely refuse to move at all even with spurs and whips. It was difficult to see my horse in pain but also to justify having a miserable horse that bites and bucks from pain and may never be sound enough to ride.

Though my parents help me pay his board and weekly lessons, I pay for Wasabi’s supplements, therapies, and my own tack and extras. Last winter, my barn wasn’t able to turn out during very icy weather, which resulted in low grade ulcers, which cost me $1,300 to scope and treat for. Wasabi is the most expensive horse I could’ve owned despite a low purchase price, but he has taught me a lot about equine care and arthritis. I’ve learned a lot about how horses function and the best ways to treat physical challenges. After all his therapies and such, he is doing fantastic and is able to return to jumping and has so much life and personality again.

That said, it has been difficult affording his care, and I have always had to do 3-4 side jobs while being a full time college student to be able to provide the best care for him. I feel it is my responsibility as a horse owner to provide the best for him and I wouldn’t trade him for anything now. While Wasabi has held me back from my jumping goals and from my more recent dressage goals as well, I have definitely learned to sit a buck and I have opened my mind to liberty work and bridleless riding through him as well. I aim to ride all the horses I currently ride in just a neck rope one day, but still have my goal of moving up the heights in jumping. 

I struggle with anxiety and depression myself, and I have been tentatively diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder, though my therapist didn’t want to make the jump too soon and I did not want medication, so never pursued a diagnosis for it. While I struggle with those issues, the barn has never been severely impacted by it. Horses and riding always gives me a reason to get out of bed even if I can’t make myself clean my house or barely turn in my school assignments. 

While my mental health has always been a change for me since middle school, finding myself through horses and photography has been wonderful for my mental health. I started taking photos of Wasabi and friends’ horses for fun years back, but recently turned it into a business. Next year, I hope to register my business and get everything official now that I am sure I want to pursue it seriously, so I would be amazed if there were a mentor who was an equine photographer or other small business owner I could talk to for advice and guidance. I hope to own my own business and be successful whatever that might be, but currently it is photography for me.

I would use guidance and money to help fund my photography business and support Wasabi and my riding journey. I would use funds to invest in online photography classes or mentorships to help me grow my business and further my skills. One day, I hope to be in a position of being able to mentor others myself and become an approved photographer for Equestrians of Color Photography Project which provides short biographies and photoshoots to highlight equestrians of color’s contributions to the equestrian community. I hope to be able to inspire others struggling with mental challenges and physical limitations of either themselves or their horses as I grow my business and continue to work with my horse and others. I am very grateful to have had the opportunities I have been offered and my hard work to be paying off, but I would always appreciate an extra boost of support and guidance.