keep calm + give back

There are a lot of really important conversations going on right now, basically everywhere it seems. Conversations about systemic racism, inequality, and representation (or the lack thereof). 

Especially in the horse world, perhaps the most important aspect is that people in positions of power and influence are finally acknowledging that the very very white skew of equestrianism and the lack of accessibility are, in fact, problems. 

Kiiiiinda big problems, actually. But not so big that we can't all play a part in making things better. The question that keeps coming back to me is, what role do I have in making horses and horse sports more accessible? And I've got a couple ideas. 

pics today are all from past volunteer gigs

1. Resist Tribalism

Equestrians can be an opinionated and tribal bunch, let's be real. We all have fairly strong feelings on what constitutes ideal horsemanship that extend well beyond the equipment we use, how we ride and train, and the ways our horses live.

And sure, a lot of this derives from our chosen sport or discipline, right? It's natural that different sports engender the need for different attire, equipment, and considerations for horse wellness. And it's also totally natural that we as riders might want to "fit in" with our tribe.

There is literally nothing wrong with wearing a skull cap + custom silk cover bc other eventers do too. Or Tailored Sportsmen breeches bc they're de rigueur with the hunter jumper crowd, not to mention the cute colors. Go ahead and replace all your leather with biothane & sheepskin padding bc ain't nobody wanna chafe after 50 miles. And wrap your dressage horse's legs from the knee down in the fluffiest fuzziest bandages + bell boots bc that's how you #DQ.

Honestly - that is all good. Have. At. It.

But.... we shouldn't let our own desires or aspirations to fit in or succeed get twisted into setting standards that keep others out or block access. Do you know what I mean? 

Like.... Remember that judge who felt like it was insulting for big name trainers like Philip Dutton to have beginner riders in their clinics? Or, remember Good Guy Greg with his lame trail horse Blue? Or maybe you've heard someone say that "So and so isn't a real rider bc {xyz}," or "they shouldn't be allowed to own a horse if they're not going to do {abc}!"?? 

There are tons of experienced and knowledgeable horse people out there who will happily offer diametrically opposite opinions on topics like hoof care, turnout, training, equipment usage, nutrition, etc etc etc. 

let's leave the indignant judgment where it belongs: back in the dressage ring with bitchy "r" judges

But really, so long as a horse's basic needs are met, so long as folks are healthy happy and having fun in their horsey adventures, does it really matter how they go about it? Does it really matter what "tribe" they're from? 

Basically, if we want to talk about access, we need to not be gate keepers, or try to define what it means to enjoy a horsey life.

Because everyone does it differently, right? That's a huge part of what makes horses so special -- just about anybody can enjoy horses regardless of background, resources, or interests, and it isn't up to us to create rules or guidelines for the "right" vs "wrong" ways to do it.

In my mind, increasing access means creating a bigger tent and rejecting exclusivity. It means focusing on and amplifying the massively positive impact horses can have in our lives.

2. Reconsider "Voting with your Wallet"

Oooh boy. Equestrians LOVE solving their problems with shopping. Lemme tell ya. Can't get your horse on the bit? Buy a new one! Having trouble holding a secure position? Time for a custom saddle! Horse seems sore? Go order that fancy anatomic girth and hi-tech half pad! And if none of that works, dive in to the amazing world of nutra-ceutical supplements!!!

Lol... Just kidding. Sorta....

For real, tho. I hear the phrase "vote with your dollars" used most often in relation to boycotting one brand or supporting another as a way to address racism and lack of representation in our sport.

Which. Ok. Yea, maybe don't buy a t-shirt from the company popping off with hateful bigoted language on insta. That's.... probably a given. And sure, supporting small or local businesses dedicated to a better world is a nice way to feel warm and fuzzy while still indulging in retail therapy. Even better if they're donating profits to a deserving cause!

this filly is #unimpressed by slacktivism

But.... Let's be real here. Capitalism (or slick PR) isn't going to solve this problem. Hell, American capitalism was literally born on the plantations. And there are hella more problems with our current retail supply chain than just racial injustice -- like massive global environmental and workers rights implications (all of which, you guessed it, also further reinforce inequalities and disproportionately affect minorities).

Again, I'm not saying don't buy that cute t-shirt off Etsy bc it'll look good in your IG selfie (appropriately hashtagged for inclusion in the movement!). #Slacktivism can indeed be effective in raising awareness and driving public sentiment, so ya know, that's good!

But.... Also don't forget that the origin of the phrase "Vote with your Wallet" means to choose according to what is best for you financially. Buying that cute t-shirt might be the easiest and most cost-effective way to 'be a part of the movement,' but donating actual money (or even better --- your time) might go further.

3. Volunteer

There are already a lot of great links and resources being shared across various social platforms right now. This post by L Williams is an excellent starting place. Others tho seem to have been copied and pasted, with the same (deserving) organizations and entities highlighted again and again as worthy of attention and amplification. Which -- obviously -- they are.

My challenge to myself, tho, and also to you, is to get beyond the 5 or 6 national headliners and instead focus within my own community. What's going on in my back yard? How accessible is my horse community? Are there opportunities to get involved? Especially right now, when so many organizations are already struggling bc of Covid...

Realistically, most of us have a LOT to give, and I don't just mean money (tho obvi donations drive change too!). This community is so full of enthusiastic, generous, smart people who know a LOT about horses plus all sorts of other interesting and useful skills. Combining that passion with volunteerism can have a massive impact.

local riding associations are a great way to get more involved -- esp if you have ideas for expanding programming!

I bet any of us could spend a little time digging around online and discover local opportunities to give back. There are literally limitless causes and organizations that need help (especially right now) - and as they say, "every little bit helps."

For equestrian-specific pursuits, there are a number of easy options. Obviously, volunteering at horse shows is a great way to get started. There's a robust system for finding and signing up for events (https://www.eventingvolunteers.com), and volunteer positions are well defined.

Schooling shows and especially local riding associations and organizers have possibly the most flexibility when it comes to community outreach and programming relating to expanding access and membership. Day camps, therapeutic riding centers, rescue / adoption facilities, and beginner lesson programs are also often in desperate need of help and have likely felt the pinch from Covid.

Just googling around led me to Volunteer Match - a specialty search engine allowing would-be volunteers to search and filter opportunities by location, program type, and interest area. A few clicks later and I found a therapeutic riding school literally right up the road from Isabel's old farm, but that somehow I never knew about.

A blog reader also sent me a CotH article on City Ranch (thanks Meredith!) - a local horse farm dedicated to providing accessible and affordable horseback riding to urban children and the greater Baltimore community. Which, obviously, is relevant to my interest in being involved in ways that perpetuate and spread the joy I personally derive from horses.

really tho, any time kids + ponies can connect has gotta be a win, right?

Not everything always has to be quite so formal, tho. For instance: 

-- Trainer P at Charlie's farm holds a weekly lesson slot for city public school children who come up as a group to get that horsey experience. Barn rats help out in exchange for free rides.

-- A former board member had Isabel's old barn approved as a worksite for community service. About once a month, groups of people who needed to earn community service hours would come spend a morning or afternoon on the property doing various group-based projects and chores around the horses. We just supplied the equipment and the board member ran everything.

-- I've seen quite a few different barns do annual "Community Days" where the farm is open to the public for tours, demonstrations, pony rides or mini lessons (dependent on insurance...), food, face painting, and more. Basically transforming the farm into a Community Fair for the day haha.

Any of the above ideas could be integrated into just about any lesson barn type setting if someone or some group had the interest and follow-through to make it happen.

There's more to modern volunteerism than what we'd typically think of, too. Organizations need help in a variety of other areas, including behind the scenes administrative tasks. Data management, entry and cleanup, resource utilization, communications, website administration, social media management, phone calls, networking, fundraising... 

Much of this can be done offsite from the comfort of our own sofas - and might make use of special technical skills you have that wouldn't otherwise be available to smaller organizations.

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These might all seem like small ideas in and of themselves. And maybe they are. Tho I'd argue they're probably more productive than getting into a flame war on facebook or posting a selfie on insta with all the latest trending hashtags. But ya know. Ymmv haha.

My experience with volunteering tho is that it can have a really positive snowball effect. The more I do, the easier it becomes to do more. 

When I first made volunteering at horse shows in particular part of my goals, I aimed for volunteering in at least one activity in 7 months out of the year. That proved to be extremely attainable, actually, and feels like a good starting metric for expanding my involvement beyond horse shows to more social causes. 

So that's my new goal going forward. Any of you think you'll do the same? Or maybe you're getting involved in other ways?