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Panel highlights barriers to urban and Black riders and local programs working on access
Summary
Audience members and panelists discussed how economics, equipment (helmets), and urban access limit participation by Black girls and other underrepresented groups; panelists pointed to grassroots efforts in Oakland, Los Angeles, Detroit and other cities addressing these barriers.
A question from the audience directed the panel to access and race in equestrian participation. "I have a question for women on the panel. I don't know what it looks like for Black girls," an audience member said, prompting a discussion of urban programs and equipment barriers that can stop would‑be riders.
Panelists cited the experience of Patricia Jackson in Oakland, who "started it because she was trying to find a helmet for her daughter" and, facing exclusion, founded a local group. A panelist said Jackson "started this organization called We We Bridal Too, and she's wonderful. It's access," using the example to illustrate how grassroots initiatives emerge to solve fit and equipment problems and expand inclusion.
Panelists also named programs in Los Angeles, Detroit, New York and Chicago as places where organizers have launched riding programs for urban youth. A panelist noted that economic access and urban infrastructure often dictate whether children in cities can participate: "There's no funds in the inner city for horses," the panelist said.
Speakers emphasized that practical barriers — helmet fit, lack of nearby stables, program funding — not innate interest determine participation levels in many urban communities. They urged local community groups and funders to support equipment access and instruction if they want to broaden participation among underrepresented youth.
