Black In The Saddle

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 Johnson, on how they found ways to support my broth...

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 Network is now YBEconnect Tune in to the first episod...

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 inner-city youth. To connect with Chelsea and the Cr...

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 pursuits landed him in the same rooms as James Picken...

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 when you are considered "too much". We seldom get t...

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 learning from wild mustangs. She shares a glimpse in...

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 representation and accuracy on film and in Hollyw...

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 working on a farm. It's not equestrian specific, bu...

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 incorporates fitness into his clients' barn activ...

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 between. His love for family, his horses, and his d...

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 list? Let us know on Facebook or Instagram! SPONS...

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 Black World Championship Rodeo held in New York C...

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 of the Buffalo Soldiers statue and its significan...

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 her. She shares her desire to connect students wi...

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 episode packed with experiences in horses, entrepreneurs...

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!

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 entities focused on English disciplines. How can we enco...

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 Socials! www.facebook.com/youngblackequestrians www....

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 racetrack to bodywork and rehabilitation. Now, as...

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 equestrians until she drove a couple of hours away last...

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 2nd! - PURA is raising money for a new home https:/...

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 Horse, LLC., Noah's experiences in the industry, a...

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.

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, roping, team penning, and mounted archery before...