I remember back in 2021, I asked myself the question:
“If money were not an issue, what would I be doing right now?”
It made me realise that I was an adult with autonomy and I could finally learn to ride a horse if I wanted to. And I remember how anxious and scared I was about being the only Black person in a traditionally white-dominated space. So much so that I wrote a zine about it.
5 years later, here I am.
Not only am I bolder and braver, but I'm totally comfortable in my own skin;
fully living and experiencing my life even if I’m the only Black person in the room.
And last weekend I rode in my first ever horse show.
This was a schooling show, and I rode in two “walk trot equitation over poles” classes and I ended up placing 4th and 6th which landed me some ribbons! My goal with this show was to have fun and gain the experience of being in a show and that kind of environment. It really reminded me of when Eden and I did schutzhund, and the times I volunteered at the DVG Nationals.
I think the thing that I’m most proud of accomplishing is being able to remember two courses and successfully riding them. In the past, whenever I saw a course map my brain would just turn off and I would immediately tell myself, “I can’t remember all of that,” or “I don’t have the brain capabilities to remember all of that.”
I’m sick and tired of talking down to myself, and discounting what I’m capable of doing.
So immediately telling myself that I can’t do something is a behaviour that I’ve been working hard of ridding myself of in the past couple of years. I am more than capable—and able—to do anything I want.
And so since I started riding, I’ve been playing puzzle and memory games to challenge myself to get better at remembering things. That way, when the time came for me to ride a course I could be more confident in my memory.
I’m a competitive person, but I think first and foremost we all need to remember—and prioritise—having fun and being kind to each other (this includes the animals we ask to compete with us).
And I’m so thankful and happy that I have such an amazing trainer, and every other student at this barn is an absolute gem of a human being who embodies those traits. And it felt good to not only participate in the show, but to also cheer on and support the other riders.
I’m so proud of myself and overjoyed to be representing the melanated equestrian girlies in the ring—and during Black History Month, no less!! I know Younger Shirley would've been so amazed to learn about the woman she would one day grow up to be.
Here’s to celebrating not just Black history, but Black futures as well.
