Why are there so few black people in equestrian sports?

Answer 1

I don't have a definite answer, but here is my guess. In general, the equestrian world is dominated by the upper-middle and upper class. In the US, these social classes have a great majority of white people. Although this certainly does not apply to all, much of the black population in the US still falls into lower economic classes. Also, in my experience, there is a greater percentage of black people in cities,w heras the country-like areas seem to have a lower percentage of black people. In order to ride horses, one needs both money and land (whether one owns it and keeps their own horses, or rides at another barn). Those in lower economic classes often do not have the money to support a hobby that is as expensive as horseback riding. Those in the city often do not have access to a nearby equestrian facility. Therefore, the people falling into these categories have limited access to the equestrian world. It's sad that not all people have equal access to such a wonderful sport, and I hope that in the future we will see increased ability for minorities to ride and compete in the equestrian world.

Answer 2

Someone hit the nail on the head a moment ago when they said it was because of money. They are right, to a large degree. But there is more to the story than that. A large percentage of African Americans not only live mainly in cities, where equestrian access is usually very limited, but they also have little or no opportunites for positive interactions with or about horses. I once worked at a facility where I taught riding and took children on trail rides, and the hardest kids to work with were invariably the African American kids from the inner city areas. These kids grow up without exposure to anything other than concrete, cars, people (usually gangs in the bigger cities) drugs, crime, and sex. In such an environment, if one of them has any contact with a horse at all, it is likely to be a police horse used for crowd control or to hunt down drug dealers- and it is also likely to be very traumatic experience for the child or teen. I found when I was teaching that when kids like this were taken into the country or a country like setting, they just couldn't handle it- it was so completely alien to the world that they were familar with that it scared them to death. I also agree with the viewpoint that the equestrian world is dominated largely by those of the upper middle and upper classes. Unfortunately, there just are not that many African Americans in those economic classes, and the ones that ARE there often have gotten to that level purely by a lucky accident or through happenstance. These people may not have any interest in the sport because of lack of exposure to its good qualities, or because of bad experiences with it or with horses or animals in general. Money does play a role as well, but more often, it's people's perceptions of riding as an elitist sport for the wealthy that is a deciding factor. Sad to say, many of the people in the horse business ( including some of the top professionals) actually have encouraged this kind of distorted thinking by refusing to train students who lack a certain income level, social position, or who come from certain parts of the country. I speak from my own experiences here when I say that it is not uncommon for someone who didn't grow up with horses ( or who wasn't born into the riding life, like me) to have his or her background and lack of exposure or experience held against him or her when they try to enter or succeed in this sport. It's sad, because these young people are where the great riders and masters of the future will spring from, and that INCLUDES riders of ALL racial and ethinic backgrounds, NOT just those with white skin. People have been asking why the color barrier hasn't ever been broken for a long time now- but precious little has been done to encourage more people of color to persue the sport. We desperately need someone to be the the Tiger Woods of riding. It just hasn't happened- and I'm not altogether sure that it will.

Answer 3

We didn't do so well in track and field.Our athletes couldn't compete drug free.Lol....Americans both Black and White are doing very well.Regardless of the deformation or mutation on Phelps ankles,he performed excellent and no American has been able to get 8 Golds. It comes to no ones surprise that first man is physically stronger and faster than other cultures.

Answer 4

Money is sadly an issue. There are certainly some great black cowboys out there. I don't think there are many black men prissy enough to ride English. oddly I've seen more men than women so I'm not sure how many ride western versus English.

Answer 5

There is the Black Rodeo Association. All events as in the main stream rodeos, bull riding, barrel racing, roping. They are damn good. Its professional but not to the degree of PBR.. LOL...
And it has to do with money too.

Answer 6

Because not many black folks watched Blazing Saddles!!

Answer 7

Umm... i'm half black. I ride horses. I compete in jumping and eventing... i guess i'm the only black girl in all of the united states that is actually good. hmm... watch for me in the olympics!

Answer 8

I think because there are not as many, pardon me, wealthy people that are black. It is a very costly sport, but i never thought about this.

Kyndell, please watch your rascism and keep it where people like me cannot be sickened by it.

Answer 9

Good question. I've been black all my life and I couldn't tell ya.

Answer 10

because we have yet to find a Tiger Woods type to pave the way.