Black In The Saddle

Mathena Washington grew up on horseback. From pony rides at three years old to volunteering at ranches in Georgia as a teenager, horses have been a constant thread through a life that's taken her from Boulder to Amarillo to Denver and back again. Now she's channeling everything she's built, an athletic background, a broadcast journalism degree from West Texas A&M, and years of community work,...

Coach Kamerra Brown didn't set out to be a coach. She set out to be a veterinarian mostly, she admits, because she couldn't figure out another way to afford her horse habit. What she found instead was a calling she'd been living out since she was nine years old, cleaning stalls just to stay close to the thing she loved most. In this episode, Kamerra walks us through a journey that spans a childhoo...

Sydney Steverson didn't grow up in the show ring. She got bit by the horse bug at summer camp, had to put it down when life got complicated, and then made a beeline for the barn the day she crossed the graduation stage. No plan B. No "let me ease into this." Just: here we go. In this episode, Sydney, an adult amateur eventer training in Virginia with her horse Superman, brings that same energy to...

In this episode, I am joined by Tiombe Vaughan , whom I had the pleasure of meeting in person at the Black Equestrian Summer Bash. Tiombe is an incredible equestrian, artist, and breed preservationist who is doing vital work to protect the Spanish Barb horse . We dive deep into her journey from being a kid in Queens, New York, to establishing Falcons Heritage Farm in Waldorf, Maryland, where she b...

Sometimes you need a little pep talk before you go to the barn. In this episode, I update you on my own 90-day recommitment plan. I share where I am now, what’s been working, and the moment I realized I was letting my “inner bully” tell me a story about my horse that wasn’t even true. I want you to know the exact ways I’ve learned to shut that voice down, build self-trust, and create those small m...

In this episode of Black in the Saddle , I sit down with the incomparable Pennie Selina Brown, a community connector, wellness champion, and founder of The STAND Foundation. From trail rides under the stars to leading equine-facilitated leadership retreats in Jamaica, Pennie’s journey into the horse world is anything but traditional. And yet, her impact is exactly what this industry needs. We talk...

In this episode, I’m unpacking something that’s been on my heart, and on the minds of a lot of folks in our community: the future of work in the horse industry. We’re in a different era now. College is more expensive, student loan systems are shifting, and the next generation isn’t buying into the “go to school, get a good job” blueprint the way we were told to. So what does that mean for people w...

In this episode, I’m diving into a topic that’s become deeply personal and professionally exciting for me: agritourism. I’ve been studying this space for over a year now, and through my work on the board of the North Carolina Agritourism Networking Association, I’ve seen just how much untapped potential there is — especially for Black-owned farms and horse facilities. This episode is for anyone wi...

In this episode of Black in the Saddle , I'm reflecting on a type of grief we don't often name, the grief that shows up when our reality no longer reflects our vision, especially when it comes to our horse journey. What happens when the life you said you wanted feels out of sync with the life you're actually living? After a meme, a TikTok, and one simple question from a mentor, I found myself refl...

In this episode, I’m reflecting on my experience at Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter concert and using it as a jumping-off point to explore history, identity, and how narratives get reclaimed. We’re talking Black cowboys, the politics of genre, and why Beyoncé’s artistry is about legacy, protest, and power. From the symbolism in her visuals to the deep roots of denim in our ancestral labor, this is an epis...

I’m back after a much-needed break and a whole lot of reflection. This episode is my personal reset. I share why I paused the podcast, what I’ve learned from producing over 100 interviews, and how Black In The Saddle is evolving into something more intentional, grounded, and community-driven. If you’ve been riding with me for a while, or you’re just saddling up, this one’s for you. In this episode...

Let's ease into this podcasting thing shall we?

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.blkinthesaddle.com/moments-waitlist

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-profit organization and their vision for the future....

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 and outside of it. This week's episode is special....

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 pertaining to the health, wellness, and economic lo...

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 continue to lead to success. I hope you enjoy som...

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 collaboration opportunities as well as how this season...

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 appreciation of this podcasting journey. This episode...

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 branched out to consulting for budding lesson pro...

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 ___________________________________________ Stay Connected with YBE! Learn ab...

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 being known for his work, in this episode, we get to k...

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 journey and experiences in the horse industry. Con...

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 held on March 11-12, 2022! More details will be anno...

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 their clients. In this episode, we discuss how being a...