Really interesting article in increasing diversity in Equestrianism (USEF focus)

[shortstuff99]

I saw this article posted by Eventing Nation and I thought it was really interesting. Especially about the average earnings of a horse owner, I sometimes wonder if the horse world kids itself about how privileged we really are to be able to compete. How it is more than just talent.

https://eventingnation.com/getting-to-the-playing-field-increasing-diversity-in-horse-sports/

 

[stangs]

It's not just an accessibility issue in terms of money. East Asians, for example, are a comparatively wealthy demographic in the UK, yet I have never met an East Asian at a livery yard or show, or working/volunteering at a RS (and I've mostly spent my life in probably the most diverse area of the UK). I've known and seen a fair number of black people, many of which had one white parent - but nowhere near the numbers of their white counterparts. One South Asian - ever. The demographic of people attending (low level) RS lessons was more diverse and varied, but not dramatically.

You could argue that that's because, if someone is a 1st/2nd gen immigrant, they may come from a country with less of a horse culture - equestrianism is only just becoming more common among middle class Han Chinese; parts of India have a strong horse culture, other parts still don't - so there's less of an interest in the riding world, and it's less likely their parents will support the hobby.

Seeing people who look like you riding at a high level is important, and it’s something that’s easy to overlook if you’ve been surrounded by people who look like you throughout your life in the sport.

This, but it's not just about seeing people like you riding at a high level. There's also something to not wanting to be the odd one out in your day-to-day life at the yard. I genuinely don't think white people recognise just how intensely white the sport is, and how potentially intimidating that can be.

That said, there's variation between the disciplines too. Polo seems to be more diverse (in terms of having new money Asians involved); racing in the US and Canada also has a large percentage of grooms from Mexico (though curiously we have nothing similar in the UK). I guess the fact that they don't have a large percentage of Mexican trainers/jockeys as well is very telling.

 

[coblets]

This, but it's not just about seeing people like you riding at a high level. There's also something to not wanting to be the odd one out in your day-to-day life at the yard. I genuinely don't think white people recognise just how intensely white the sport is, and how potentially intimidating that can be.

like x10

 

[daffy44]

This, but it's not just about seeing people like you riding at a high level. There's also something to not wanting to be the odd one out in your day-to-day life at the yard. I genuinely don't think white people recognise just how intensely white the sport is, and how potentially intimidating that can be.

So true, I am mixed race, and when I grew up I never, ever saw anyone who looked like me anywhere near a horse. Not in horse related adverts, not in the pony club, not at any yards I went to, not at any local competitions, and not at any major televised competitions. It did used to disturb me a bit, but fortunately I'm a stubborn soul, and I just focused on what I wanted to do, and did my best to ignore the fact that no one looked like me. I was very lucky in that I never experienced and racisim, or anything negative at all abot how I looked in any equestrian environment, and it wasnt until very recently that the concept of "you have to see it to be it" ever even occured to me.

 

[teapot]

I wrote something recently about the mission creep towards elitism in the industry. While I didn’t specifically mention race, the industry in its current state will very much be a preserve of the rich white in the near future if we’re not careful, and so much of that is about accessibility in various forms.

 

[coblets]

I wasn’t stubborn enough.

It didn’t get to me much when I went to view a horse and got called a P*ki. The only racist comment I’ve ever received. I squirmed with embarrassment at pony camp when it was only my name that the camp counsellors couldn’t pronounce. Not their fault, it’s an awkward non-English name. But I felt very other among the Katie’s and Lizzie’s and Sophie’s. So I shortened it into a white sounding name. I’m used to it now but it still doesn’t feel like ‘my’name. Someone said I pronounced certain words like foreigner. They weren’t wrong. I have a slight accent on loan words like jodphur and gymkhana. But it made me feel other.

All my horse friends were white and British. I enjoyed my friendship with them but sometimes I wanted to make a joke without having to explain it. To actually share it with them. But none of them were from my cultural background. Only one was a fellow child of immigrants. They never understood. They didn’t get it when I commented I was the only POC on the whole yard because I’m white-passing from a distance if you don’t know my name. So they thought I felt white too. To them, I was one of them. To me, I was different.

Every livery I tried was 100% white. Every group of staff at riding schools I applied for jobs at was 100% white. Every show I attended was 100% white. I wouldn’t have minded normally but combined with problems in my personal life it really got to me. You plant that seed and it keeps growing and growing and growing. Not the reason I quit horses but it contributed to why I couldn’t recover my love for it.

I liked watching Mirza Fouaad at the Olympics. but I’m sure he inspired children in India more than he could have me.

So true, I am mixed race, and when I grew up I never, ever saw anyone who looked like me anywhere near a horse. Not in horse related adverts, not in the pony club, not at any yards I went to, not at any local competitions, and not at any major televised competitions. It did used to disturb me a bit, but fortunately I'm a stubborn soul, and I just focused on what I wanted to do, and did my best to ignore the fact that no one looked like me. I was very lucky in that I never experienced and racisim, or anything negative at all abot how I looked in any equestrian environment, and it wasnt until very recently that the concept of "you have to see it to be it" ever even occured to me.

 

[daffy44]

Coblets, your post made me sad, I'm so sorry you feel that way, and I'm livid at the racist comment you recieved. I totally relate to that feeling of otherness, when you look similar, but not the same, and the same goes for your background/cultural references. My experiences of the equine world were also 100% white, and I can understand how that could combine with other factors to erode your love for horses, or at least to alter it. It makes me so sad to think of how many other people may have had your experiences, and walked away from horses because of it.

As i said, I am really stubborn, but this was hugely helped by the lack of any rasicm from everyone I encountered in horses, but I think most of all that horses just always drew me so strongly, and they were always my refuge, and the place I called home, so the fact that no one looked like me just was less important to me than how much I loved them.

 

[LEC]

Eventing has got worse in the last few years. More and more unattainable I think. My big issue with horse sport is how little privilege is recognised. Everyone works hard owning horses and wanting to compete but every single leg up makes a huge difference - mentor, committed parents, getting a pony etc
It’s one of my biggest banging head on wall moments when people who are top FEI judges etc just don’t get it.

I don’t think we are alone as motor racing,
and sailing have similar issues. The big issue horses have is that the bottom of the pyramid is being suppressed - Land prices/rising rates etc.

 

[RachelFerd]

It is no coincidence that the daughters of Steve Jobs and Bruce Springsteen (and Billl Gates) happen to be some of the best upcoming showjumpers in the United States. Sure, talent has a role, but not as big a role as funding.

 

[Birker2020]

Who remembers Oliver Skeete the rastafarian showjumper? He is now a lorry driver and he didn't make it in the sport, wonder if that was because of his colour or whether it was lack of talent as Wikipedia seems to think. So sad.

From Wikipedia:

Skeete was first introduced to the world of horses by a chance meeting with a Spanish countess in a night-club. However, this was not a successful introduction as Skeete was left bruised and embarrassed after being thrown in Hyde Park. After marriage to another lady and two daughters to entertain, Skeete enrolled them at a local riding school. He found that his enthusiasm grew with theirs and decided to chance his luck once more.

Skeete sold the family car to purchase his first horse, and started show jumping in 1992, aged 36. He has competed at most levels except the very top.[1] Skeete intended to represent Barbados at the Olympics in Sydney in 2000 as he failed to achieve the national British team Olympic standard and tried show jumping under the Barbadian flag, but he did not gain the required number of points for qualification.

 

[j1ffy]

coblets - your story is very sad to read, I hope you never have to experience such racism again and that you're able to enjoy horses now despite the lack of diversity.

There is a huge amount more that could be done to increase diversity and provide a leg-up or two for people of colour. When the Windrush Foundation was setup I thought this would be focused on racial diversity, given the name, but have been disappointed to see only white faces. Surely some of the privileges that LEC mentions could be provided through this type of foundation?

While money helps, there are plenty of successful riders in this country who have succeeded despite a lack of mega-funds and from non-horsey backgrounds. While becoming an Olympic team member might be out of reach for the vast majority of riders from any background, it should be possible to provide mentoring and education - places like the Ebony Horse Club in London are a good example.

Birker2020 - yes, I remember him well as he was a great advocate for SJ in general.

 

[LEC]

Windrush or now Wesko supports kids who already have huge amounts of privilege and funding. It’s not helping those who are coming from adversity and need further help with the mentorship it could provide.

 

[shortstuff99]

It is really sad to see the stories of discrimination you have faced . I would love to see the expansion of programmes to get more diversity into equestrian sports.

 

[j1ffy]

Windrush or now Wesko supports kids who already have huge amounts of privilege and funding. It’s not helping those who are coming from adversity and need further help with the mentorship it could provide.

That's really very sad with the contacts and training opportunities they have. I've just dug around the website a bit and seen this "Money can’t buy mentoring with Pippa and the former Eventing Team GBR World Class Performance Manager Yogi" - hmm, actually it can...

 

[RachelFerd]

It is really sad to see the stories of discrimination you have faced . I would love to see the expansion of programmes to get more diversity into equestrian sports.

So, what the racing industry does that works very well is the British Racing School and Northern Racing College. Both centres provide training that gets young people ready to work in the horseracing industry and gives them a permanent job at the end of a 14 week course. The course is free of charge, residential with all food included and funded by the industry. There's a qualification framework surrounding all this, so kids who haven't succeeded in formal education will often come at 16 and leave with a job. Its not perfect, but it does bring diverse audiences into the racing industry, and then there *is* a pathway to then become a professional jockey if people show the necessary skills, talent and desire to do that. Money doesn't particularly come into it.

Now, the equestrian industry does not have the same kind of funding structures that racing does, but I think solutions to increasing diversity must be found by connecting school leavers with roles that allow them to get qualified - ideally through the BHS exam system - without having to fund it themselves. There are some nice seeds of ideas out there (eg. http://carrington-rc.com/schoolcommunity-visits/) but nothing so well structured as racing has.

 

[teapot]

I think the problem goes a lot wider than access to training though.

While some of you will always say yes riding lessons have always been expensive, I think it’s worth reiterating that unless we can get all walks of life, regardless of race/ethnicity/religion, through the gates of riding schools, the industry will shrink, and I genuinely believe it already is.

How on earth can you do that when you have riding schools charging upwards of £50 for a kid’s group lesson, or £800 for a half term camp. That’s inaccessible to all but an ever decreasing number of people.

Why should anyone from a non monied background get palmed off with the cheap as chips shoddy school down the road? That’s if those riding schools survive much longer… The very bottom structure of our wider industry is under huge threat by squeezing costs, while the better run places become inaccessible pricing wise. Forget the affiliated disciplines for a minute, where is the next generation of riding school riders, staff, coaches going to come from if the industry becomes too expensive to even step a toe into?

I also know of somewhere that binned its apprentices because they were quoted as saying they couldn’t afford to pay them (at what £4.20 an hour). Great advert for the industry that ?

 

[RachelFerd]

I think the problem goes a lot wider than access to training though.

While some of you will always say yes riding lessons have always been expensive, I think it’s worth reiterating that unless we can get all walks of life, regardless of race/ethnicity/religion, through the gates of riding schools, the industry will shrink, and I genuinely believe it already is.

How on earth can you do that when you have riding schools charging upwards of £50 for a kid’s group lesson, or £800 for a half term camp. That’s inaccessible to all but an ever decreasing number of people.

Why should anyone from a non monied background get palmed off with the cheap as chips shoddy school down the road? That’s if those riding schools survive much longer… The very bottom structure of our wider industry is under huge threat by squeezing costs, while the better run places become inaccessible pricing wise. Forget the affiliated disciplines for a minute, where is the next generation of riding school riders, staff, coaches going to come from if the industry becomes too expensive to even step a toe into?

I also know of somewhere that binned its apprentices because they were quoted as saying they couldn’t afford to pay them (at what £4.20 an hour). So if you want BHS training there you have to pay for it…

I think you're right - fixing issues with making competing or keeping horses a little bit cheaper doesn't address structural issues with access to the industry.

The reason I talk about the racing schools model is because it is a viable alternative to further education that careers advisors working nationally know that they can push people towards. So there is no structural barrier to participation and no equine background of any kind is neccessary.

If you change the industry so that it is staffed by a more diverse group of people, and then better link of the educational and competitive sides of the system, you could start to create pathways which allow anyone to come into the industry (to work) and have pathways through to realise bigger ambitions to compete.

At the moment, the total lack of structure means no formal pathways... so random luck alongside having access to funding is essential.

 

[stangs]

I think the problem goes a lot wider than access to training though.

While some of you will always say yes riding lessons have always been expensive, I think it’s worth reiterating that unless we can get all walks of life, regardless of race/ethnicity/religion, through the gates of riding schools, the industry will shrink, and I genuinely believe it already is.

How on earth can you do that when you have riding schools charging upwards of £50 for a kid’s group lesson, or £800 for a half term camp. That’s inaccessible to all but an ever decreasing number of people.

Why should anyone from a non monied background get palmed off with the cheap as chips shoddy school down the road? That’s if those riding schools survive much longer… The very bottom structure of our wider industry is under huge threat by squeezing costs, while the better run places become inaccessible pricing wise. Forget the affiliated disciplines for a minute, where is the next generation of riding school riders, staff, coaches going to come from if the industry becomes too expensive to even step a toe into?

I also know of somewhere that binned its apprentices because they were quoted as saying they couldn’t afford to pay them (at what £4.20 an hour). Great advert for the industry that ?

This. Low level community riding schools are hanging in there, and serve an important purpose, though the instruction tends not to be high calibre. And yet equestrian centres that provided high level instruction, and the opportunity to progress beyond jumping 70cm for people without their own horse, are dropping like flies.

 

[Orangehorse]

It's not just an accessibility issue in terms of money. East Asians, for example, are a comparatively wealthy demographic in the UK, yet I have never met an East Asian at a livery yard or show, or working/volunteering at a RS (and I've mostly spent my life in probably the most diverse area of the UK). I've known and seen a fair number of black people, many of which had one white parent - but nowhere near the numbers of their white counterparts. One South Asian - ever. The demographic of people attending (low level) RS lessons was more diverse and varied, but not dramatically.

You could argue that that's because, if someone is a 1st/2nd gen immigrant, they may come from a country with less of a horse culture - equestrianism is only just becoming more common among middle class Han Chinese; parts of India have a strong horse culture, other parts still don't - so there's less of an interest in the riding world, and it's less likely their parents will support the hobby.


This, but it's not just about seeing people like you riding at a high level. There's also something to not wanting to be the odd one out in your day-to-day life at the yard. I genuinely don't think white people recognise just how intensely white the sport is, and how potentially intimidating that can be.

That said, there's variation between the disciplines too. Polo seems to be more diverse (in terms of having new money Asians involved); racing in the US and Canada also has a large percentage of grooms from Mexico (though curiously we have nothing similar in the UK). I guess the fact that they don't have a large percentage of Mexican trainers/jockeys as well is very telling.

I knew a very successful Indian girl in Pony Club 40 + years ago and she went into dressage successfully. Unfortunately her father died when he was only 65 and the horses had to go. There is a local lady who runs a livery yard whose name and appearance are Asian.

I don't agree with the racing either - there are often stable staff from different ethnic backgrounds and that is onlyfrom watching TV. And we all know about the owners. There was a chap - Pakestanian heritage I think who is just an ordinary working man, builder or plumber - who owned a very successful horse and was interviewed on TV and said he had never come across any prejudice in the time he had been following racing, nor owning his horse.

But I do agree that sport is "intensely white" but it would be. What is the ethnic percentage of the population? Not that large and mostly urban based at the moment. It is a work in progress.

 

[stangs]

But I do agree that sport is "intensely white" but it would be. What is the ethnic percentage of the population? Not that large and mostly urban based at the moment. It is a work in progress.

I don't doubt that there is more than one S. Asian involved the equestrian world. I was just saying I had never met more than one, and I'm a born and raised Londoner. If you've not got some diversity among the urban-based equestrian population, then there's no hope for rural areas, which will naturally have fewer PoCs.

Racing owners are a different issue, as to what extent can you consider them equestrians?

 

[teapot]

I think you're right - fixing issues with making competing or keeping horses a little bit cheaper doesn't address structural issues with access to the industry.

The reason I talk about the racing schools model is because it is a viable alternative to further education that careers advisors working nationally know that they can push people towards. So there is no structural barrier to participation and no equine background of any kind is neccessary.

If you change the industry so that it is staffed by a more diverse group of people, and then better link of the educational and competitive sides of the system, you could start to create pathways which allow anyone to come into the industry (to work) and have pathways through to realise bigger ambitions to compete.

At the moment, the total lack of structure means no formal pathways... so random luck alongside having access to funding is essential.

I think the Racing school courses at 16 are great, and the only wider equivalent in the industry are the very rare apprenticeships that come with accommodation etc. The racing courses are equivalent to boarding school (for want of a better comparison) and those just do not exist in huge numbers.

As I say, one of the biggest known apprenticeship providers ditched them. That decision impacts on 20/30 16/17 year olds, not just one or two. Plus where do they go once the apprenticeship/training is over if there are less yards to work at? At least racing appears to be steady, and that’s without the international opportunities.

I will say though after five years of handling recruitment in the industry, the number of applications (regardless of background) was dropping off dramtically. Those wanting to work with horses is decreasing in number rapidly - another vicious circle. If you can’t staff your riding school… As for diversity in those applications, I sadly don’t remember many, if any.

It’s so white, pale and stale and that’s not ok.

This. Low level community riding schools are hanging in there, and serve an important purpose, though the instruction tends not to be high calibre. And yet equestrian centres that provided high level instruction, and the opportunity to progress beyond jumping 70cm for people without their own horse, are dropping like flies.

Or want to charge £100 for the privilege of having a 45 minute lesson… The industry is becoming elite by stealth.

 

[marmalade76]

But do ethnic minorities want to be involved with horses? It's not entirely down to money because not all people from ethnic minorities are low income families. All of us here know that owning/working with horses is hard work, a way of life and is for most of us, a passion so it's not something people go into unless they're horse mad. Are they suggesting that people from ethnic minorities should be forced into the horse industry & horse ownership just to even things up?

I have/ had two cousins of colour, one mixed race the other adopted native Canadian. They both rode as kids but neither were horse mad like I was (and still am). Both could have carried on if they'd wanted to but both chose not to (as did my sister). I don't know if they experienced racism at the time, I can't say I noticed any but I was only a kid at the time myself so I may not have. I've always assumed that they gave up simply becsuse they just weren't horse mad like me.

 

[teapot]

I’m certainly not, but they should feel it’s an industry they are able to join and be part of if they wish to.

Don’t underestimate the impact of being able to see and relate to other people - it’s far far wider reaching than simply ‘my face might fit’. Listen to Floella Benjamin’s Desert Island Discs, she talks about how she pushed for wider inclusion back in the 70s. Different industry, same issues.

The wider bigger problem is the industry is shrinking even for those who know it, used to be able to afford it, and were very much THE industry backbone.

 

[Zuzan]

Part of the issue is the equestrian sports we commonly see in UK / Europe and N America are essentially culturally white European / N American .. The horse sports that are culturally associated with Indian Sub Cont, Middle and Far East don't have a following .. If we want to encourage more diversity in equestrianism then we (Caucasian white) need to broaden what we understand as equestrian sport.

 

[daffy44]

Eventing has got worse in the last few years. More and more unattainable I think. My big issue with horse sport is how little privilege is recognised. Everyone works hard owning horses and wanting to compete but every single leg up makes a huge difference - mentor, committed parents, getting a pony etc
It’s one of my biggest banging head on wall moments when people who are top FEI judges etc just don’t get it.

I don’t think we are alone as motor racing,
and sailing have similar issues. The big issue horses have is that the bottom of the pyramid is being suppressed - Land prices/rising rates etc.

I remember the article you wrote about this issue, I thought it was excellent, one of the best things I've ever read on the subject. I was not wealthy growing up, I lived in London with non horsey parents, but I was so luckyto have a friend with ponies who I used to ride with all the time, and then I went to work at a dealing yard when I was fourteen, and I learnt more there than I could ever have imagined. But it worries me that those sort of opportunities just are not available to young people anymore, insurance, health and safety etc have made most yard owners nervous of letting youngsters on their yards, let alone working them hard.

I also fear for the amount of influence social media has, because I'm 150 i grew up before it exsisted, and I was happy not being wealthy, getting the bus everywhere, working all hoursetc, I felt lucky to be getting so many opportunities. But i seriously doubt whether I would have felt lucky if I could have seen other teenagers with posh yards that where also their parents houses, multiple horses being bought for them, lorries etc, I think if I had seen all that wealth and privilege I would have felt totally excluded and given up before I even started.

I think for these reasons and others young people without wealth and support are so much worse off now, than they were when I was growing up, and I think this represents such a loss, and so much exclusion for young people who are thinking of joinning the industry.

 

[j1ffy]

But do ethnic minorities want to be involved with horses? It's not entirely down to money because not all people from ethnic minorities are low families.

Do girls really want to study science and technology?
Not being entirely facetious, but I do think there's a structural cultural lens here. None of my (white, middle class) family have the slightest bit of interest in horses but I was pony-mad from a young age. A (white) friend of mine has zero interest despite her Dad being a jockey and growing up surrounded by horses on their small stud farm, yet her sister was always pony mad, went into racing, and now still rides as do her daughters. When I lived in HK, the vast majority of riders at all the stables were Cantonese. When I rode at a RS in east London, there were girls riding with headscarves under their hats.

Race has nothing to do with whether people want to be involved with horses or not, I have no doubt that many people of colour would like the chance to be involved but don't have friends who do it and therefore don't know how to get into it. As coblets pointed out, it can be hard work and lonely being 'different'.

Are they suggesting that people from ethnic minorities should be forced into the horse industry & horse ownership just to even things up?

Lol! I'm pretty sure no-one has suggested this, I doubt it would be legal ?

 

[marmalade76]

I'm not the sharpest tool in the box but I'm pretty sure science & technology are part of the school curriculum and therefore obligatory for both girls & boys. Being involved with horses is not. Maybe some sort of charity funded riding school access, similar to RDA, with a big publicity drive might get some kids to have a go but if kids aren't interested, they aren't interested (mine aren't).

 

[RachelFerd]

I also fear for the amount of influence social media has, because I'm 150 i grew up before it exsisted, and I was happy not being wealthy, getting the bus everywhere, working all hoursetc, I felt lucky to be getting so many opportunities. But i seriously doubt whether I would have felt lucky if I could have seen other teenagers with posh yards that where also their parents houses, multiple horses being bought for them, lorries etc, I think if I had seen all that wealth and privilege I would have felt totally excluded and given up before I even started.

I think for these reasons and others young people without wealth and support are so much worse off now, than they were when I was growing up, and I think this represents such a loss, and so much exclusion for young people who are thinking of joinning the industry.

I'm at a fairly unusual yard in that it is huge (100+ liveries, mainly DIY) and sits on the edge of a major city. It is perhaps a little bit more diverse than your average livery yard, although not hugely. It is broadly a friendly and supportive place and there are a range of kids in the 10-18 bracket, most of whom have much loved ponies kept on reasonably tight budgets. They are all doing their best to improve as riders and lots compete in our on-yard dressage competitions (many don't have transport) and really support each other. I certainly never got to be in such a great supportive environment when I was that age.

There was an interesting situation which is now resolved because the individual has left - but one teenager's family clearly had a lot more money to spend. And there were all of a sudden 4 ponies, 2 brand new lorries and the entire contents of a tack shop in their tack cupboard. There was a notable dynamic change on the yard as I'm fairly sure kids were clocking that amounts of money were being spent that they could never dream of - like there was some realisation of the level of wealth they didn't have access to, and what that meant. Or maybe I'm reading into it...?!

I try to do a little bit to even things up by doing things like offering a space on the lorry if I'm going somewhere useful with space to take someone who wouldn't normally get off the yard. It's easy to forget that hiring a box is a £100+ cost every time, which is out of budget for many.

 

[daffy44]

I'm sure you are not reading into it at all, kids arent stupid, and having extreme wealth suddenly paraded in front of you has to have an effect. But I think your yard sounds great, so good to have such a supportive environment to learn and have fun in, I imagine thats pretty rare in itself.

 

[coblets]

coblets - your story is very sad to read, I hope you never have to experience such racism again and that you're able to enjoy horses now despite the lack of diversity.

I stopped being around horses mostly because being horseless meant there was no way for me to ethically ride or spend time with happy horses on the ground. So related to what teapot's been saying. Then I went to shows and was the obvious outsider so couldn't enjoy from the sidelines either. But I'm having a lot of fun applying what I learnt about R+ with horses to guinea pigs instead! Four legs, herbivorous, you can barely tell them apart.

But do ethnic minorities want to be involved with horses? It's not entirely down to money because not all people from ethnic minorities are low income families. All of us here know that owning/working with horses is hard work, a way of life and is for most of us, a passion so it's not something people go into unless they're horse mad. Are they suggesting that people from ethnic minorities should be forced into the horse industry & horse ownership just to even things up?

I have/ had two cousins of colour, one mixed race the other adopted native Canadian. They both rode as kids but neither were horse mad like I was (and still am). Both could have carried on if they'd wanted to but both chose not to (as did my sister). I don't know if they experienced racism at the time, I can't say I noticed any but I was only a kid at the time myself so I may not have. I've always assumed that they gave up simply becsuse they just weren't horse mad like me.

Lol. If ethnic minorities didn't want to be involved iwht horses, no one would have heard of Ebony Horse Club. Anyway not all white people like horses too? maybe I should stop brandishing my gun forcing every white person on the street to become a groom. I don't know why the police keep telling me off for that.

I'm just one type of non-white but: my family's religion is pretty big on horses, if you go far back enough my ancestors had horses too, when I've visited India there's a few different RS in my small city, oh and tent-pegging/polo/endurance are all still thriving. SJ is big too. Horse culture isn't just in Europe. It's not just white people that can have a horsey background and want to ride.

My cousin liked riding but wasn't horsey and quit in high school. I'm still horse-mad. We're from the same cultural background.