PODCAST · society
Black In The Saddle
by Abriana Johnson
Black people have worked with horses for thousands of years. Despite their erasure from historical text, their legacy lives on across disciplines, continents, and cultures. Black In The Saddle podcast explores this continued passion, nuanced culture, and diverse lifestyle as Black horsemen and horsewomen continue to thrive today.
Episodes
-
Horses Deserve Nikes and Jordans too with Marcus Floyd
Imagine growing up in Lexington, Kentucky, but never touching a horses. Now imagine getting a call from the city's tourism board asking whether you can make sneakers for them. Marcus Floyd said yes before he knew what that meant. Four months later, Horse Kicks went globally viral, Nike's lawyers...
-
Four Beat Gaits and Walking with Purpose with Narsis Whigham
Narsis Whigham grew up in Chicago and learned horses on his family's 125-acre farm in Mississippi, riding the bus south by himself as a teenager to get back to the barn. A Batesville couple who bred spotted Tennessee Walking Horses put him on his first true walking horse, and that ride set the...
-
Belonging to Yourself in the Horse World with Preshuslee Thompson
Preshuslee Thompson came to horses with no background, no gear budget, and no one in the barn who looked like her. Six years later she's an equine-assisted psychotherapist who can name the shift from calling herself "green" to handling horses with confidence and supporting clients thorough that...
-
Gymnastics on Horseback with Mikhail Proctor
At five years old, Mikhail Proctor went for one pony ride at a fair and spent the rest of the day brushing horses and asking questions. Nobody in his family rode, so he found his own way in, cleaning stalls while friends took lessons and copying what he saw once the owners let him ride. That...
-
Building the Next Generation of Ranchers with Jamon Turner
Jamon Turner is back on Black in the Saddle three years after his first appearance and Just Believe has grown well past where it started. What began as half-day and full-day horsemanship camps is now a full youth development pipeline: a Western Playgrounds program that pulls in welders,...
-
On Sisterhood and Horses with Natasha Gordon
Join me as I sit with my good friend and horse girl sister, Natasha Gordon, for an unfiltered catch-up on ALL THE THINGS. Natasha walks us through buying her first horse, how she landed on her mare Tessa after nearly buying three other horses, refurbishing a $700 trailer from scratch, hauling…
more -
When Horses and Leadership Collide with Dr. Letita Mason
Dr. Letitia Mason has spent over two decades living in two worlds most people assume don't touch: elite academic admissions leadership and a horse program she and her mother ran out of High Point, North Carolina for 25 years. In this conversation, she traces it all the way back to a conversation...
-
From Harlem to Horsemanship with Samir Geiger
Samir Geiger didn't grow up around horses. He grew up in the Bronx watching the Harlem parade go by, catching a glimpse of Black cowboys and cowgirls at the tail end of it, and soaking up Westerns at his grandparents' house. That glimpse turned into Be Worthy Horsemanship, a program built for…
more -
Ifa Is Back Sharing England, Equestrian Fitness and Everything that's Changed
Ifa Simmonds is back on the podcast after four years. That's a long time. When he was last on the podcast, he was training clients in a cold New Jersey barn and had just launched Equestrian Fitness Academy. Today he's studying equestrian sport science at Hartpury University in England, expanding...
-
Exploring the Campaign behind the Crown with Mathena Washington
Mathena Washington grew up on horseback. From pony rides at three years old to volunteering at ranches in Georgia as a teenager, horses have been a constant thread through a life that's taken her from Boulder to Amarillo to Denver and back again. Now she's channeling everything she's built, an...
-
Finding Your Way in an Industry That Tests You with Coach Kamerra Brown
Coach Kamerra Brown didn't set out to be a coach. She set out to be a veterinarian mostly, she admits, because she couldn't figure out another way to afford her horse habit. What she found instead was a calling she'd been living out since she was nine years old, cleaning stalls just to stay close...
-
Sydney Steverson on Eventing, Late Starts, and Choosing Yourself Anyway
Sydney Steverson didn't grow up in the show ring. She got bit by the horse bug at summer camp, had to put it down when life got complicated, and then made a beeline for the barn the day she crossed the graduation stage. No plan B. No "let me ease into this." Just: here we go. In this episode,...
-
Preserving the Legacy of the Spanish Barb Horse with Tiombe Vaughan
In this episode, I am joined by Tiombe Vaughan, whom I had the pleasure of meeting in person at the Black Equestrian Summer Bash. Tiombe is an incredible equestrian, artist, and breed preservationist who is doing vital work to protect the Spanish Barb horse. We dive deep into her journey from…
more -
Silencing Your Inner Critic and Building Self-Trust
Sometimes you need a little pep talk before you go to the barn. In this episode, I update you on my own 90-day recommitment plan. I share where I am now, what’s been working, and the moment I realized I was letting my “inner bully” tell me a story about my horse that wasn’t even true. I want you…
more -
How Pennie Selina Brown Found Purpose, Healing, and Leadership Through Horses
In this episode of Black in the Saddle, I sit down with the incomparable Pennie Selina Brown, a community connector, wellness champion, and founder of The STAND Foundation. From trail rides under the stars to leading equine-facilitated leadership retreats in Jamaica, Pennie’s journey into the…
more -
Rethinking the Future of Work in the Horse Industry
In this episode, I’m unpacking something that’s been on my heart, and on the minds of a lot of folks in our community: the future of work in the horse industry. We’re in a different era now. College is more expensive, student loan systems are shifting, and the next generation isn’t buying into…
more -
Using Agritourism to Sustain Your Horses, Land, and Legacy
In this episode, I’m diving into a topic that’s become deeply personal and professionally exciting for me: agritourism. I’ve been studying this space for over a year now, and through my work on the board of the North Carolina Agritourism Networking Association, I’ve seen just how much untapped...
-
Good Grief: Recommitting to What Matters
In this episode of Black in the Saddle, I'm reflecting on a type of grief we don't often name, the grief that shows up when our reality no longer reflects our vision, especially when it comes to our horse journey. What happens when the life you said you wanted feels out of sync with the life…
more -
Genres Are a Funny Concept, Aren’t They?
In this episode, I’m reflecting on my experience at Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter concert and using it as a jumping-off point to explore history, identity, and how narratives get reclaimed. We’re talking Black cowboys, the politics of genre, and why Beyoncé’s artistry is about legacy, protest, and…
more -
On Growth, Community, and Everything In Between
I’m back after a much-needed break and a whole lot of reflection. This episode is my personal reset. I share why I paused the podcast, what I’ve learned from producing over 100 interviews, and how Black In The Saddle is evolving into something more intentional, grounded, and community-driven. If...
-
Warm Up Session 1
Let's ease into this podcasting thing shall we?
-
Embracing the Moments with Abriana and Key
Periodically we like to check-in with each other, assess what we are noticing in our community and in our industry and share any plans coming up for BITS. In this episode, we covered our newest project "Moments", the Fireside Chats with our Facebook community and our plans for the end of the…
more -
Building Community with The CREW
COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIP EMPOWERMENT WELL-BEING The CREW is a nonprofit based out of Minnesota that has gone to great lengths to create spaces for children of color to learn how to interact with and grow with horses. In this week's episode we speak with Jenny and Kenatia from The CREW Urban Youth...
-
From Mentorship to Mastery with Dr. Allen Cannedy
Last week, I applied to receive mentorship and well as to become a mentor with two organizations. Being able to uplift and guide the next generation is important to me because I know the impact my mentors have had on my life. They encouraged me to use my voice, encouraged me to challenge every...
-
Bridging the Gap between Education and Experience with Jamon Turner
You may have watched his bull riding career, and you may have seen him on the Ultimate Cowboy Showdown, but have you seen what impact Jamon is making in communities across the country? Just Believe provides hands-on equine and agricultural education programs along with trade introduction for…
more -
Catching Up with Cowgirl Camryn
Cowgirl Camryn is an equine innovated learning brand that grew from a children's book series. As the creator of that brand (and this one) I thought it was important to share how you can bring your ideas to fruition and impact your community in a non-traditional way. In this episode, I share 4...
-
Getting Black In The Saddle
What does it mean to be Black In The Saddle? After a summer hiatus, the podcast is back with a new name, a new feel, and a new energy. In this episode, Abriana talks about the transition to Black In The Saddle (BITS), her vision for the future of the podcast, and bringing along help to make it...
-
Celebrating 100 Episodes! What have I learned?...
We made it! 100 episodes of Young Black Equestrians the podcast 🤯 I never in a million years thought I would get to this point or have the opportunity to celebrate this milestone with my YBEfam. I also celebrated the third anniversary of the podcast on February 28th... this is the season of...
-
Carving Your Own Path with Brittney Chambers
The last time I had Brittney on the podcast, she had just quit her corporate job 2 weeks prior and started working in her lesson program full time. Fast forward to now, with 3x the client load, 3 additional staff members, and her own private barn to run her lesson program, Brittney has learned…
more -
Building Your Horsecare Team
Whether you are new to horse ownership or you are dabbling into a new discipline, building a team of people around you to support you during this journey is instrumental. In this episode, I share the five key members of your horse care team and the role they should play in your horse journey....
-
Behind the Lens of Eight Secs with Ivan McClellan
If you search for an image of the "Black Cowboy" you will likely come across Ivan's work. He has spent the past few years capturing Black cowboy culture, rodeos, and trail rides and telling their stories through captivating images. Ivan's work has been featured by major brands and outlets as well...
-
Activism through photojournalism with Nikki West
When confronted with protests and riot cops right outside of her apartment, Nikki West picked up her camera and did what she knew how to do best. Capturing impactful moments through the summer of 2020 led Nikki to her passion for activism in and out of the equestrian space. In this episode, Nikki...
-
Diversity On Horseback 2020 Replay - Nahshon Cook
I've been holding in a secret for a few weeks and I can finally share! Diversity on Horseback is COMING BACK! In 2020, this "clinic" was designed around the theme of clarity, communication, and confidence and our speakers did not disappoint. This episode is a replay of our conversation with…
more -
How Horses Help Us Heal with Elizabeth McCorvey
When having conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion, sometimes it's hard to comprehend what role horses play in the equation. Elizabeth McCorvey has used her social work expertise and equine-facilitated coaching abilities to draw connections between DEI and anti-racism work and how...
-
Raising Kids Who Love Horses w/ Illey and Gwen Johnson
Parents of equestrians have a unique challenge when it comes to raising their horse-obsessed children including expense, time, and commitment of horse sports and horse care. But what is it like raising two horse-obsessed kids, ones who have made careers around their passion for these giant…
more -
Welcome to Season 6!
Another season and another reason to share the passion, culture, and lifestyle of the Black horse industry! I am so thankful that you have continued to listen, share and interact with this platform and message. In this epsiode, I share with you: Season 5 Recap YBE Updates New Merch! Goals for…
more -
UNCOVER: Chelsea Rose
From riding with Rutgers University to riding with Crazy Faith, Chelsea has taken more than one step to make sure she can enjoy horses on her own terms. In this episode, Chelsea shares how attending a horse auction led her to a local faith-based saddle club in New Jersey, Crazy Faith Riders of…
more -
UNCOVER: Brandon G. Alexander
As creatives, we are often tasked with telling a captivating story, entertaining and educating at the same time. That is exactly what Brandon G. Alexander has managed to do through his acting career, content, and community. In this episode, you will learn about Brandon's unconventional entry…
more -
Confidence, Community and Being "Too Much"
This episode was inspired by a conversation held on Winners Circle Wednesday (weekly Instagram live on Wednesdays at 8pm EST) about how to become more confident in your environment. In this episode, we cover how community plays an incredible part in gaining confidence in this industry, how...
-
UNCOVER: Cam Davis
What horse-loving person hasn't seen Spirit: The Stallion of the Cimmaron? What horse-lovign hopeful hasn't dreamt of seeing wild horses and galloping across open plans. Well, now we know this is very much illegal, but this episode shares what could truly be the next best thing. In this episode,...
-
Cowboys In Hollywood
The Harder They Fall came out on Netflix this week, on November 3rd. There have been many whispers about this movie since it was teased in 2020, but the end result was a lot more than many of us even realized. In this episode, we discuss the nuance behind the movie, some of the insights from the...
-
Horse Industry Squid Games
Red light, green light! It's squid games for the horse industry. When you are seeking opportunities in the horse industry where do you go? What do you need to keep in mind? Let's talk about it in this episode. **IMPORTANT** Check out this guide to working on farms from Not Our Farm, which details...
-
UNCOVER: Ifa Simmonds
Equestrian sports is a partnership between human and horse, but at what point do we focus too much on the horse's fitness and not our own? Ifa Simmonds from Ifa Fit shares his journey into fitness, more specifically equestrian fitness, and how a bouncy horse named Qua Qua started this…
more -
UNCOVER: Andrew Pearman
Nestled 15 minutes from Charlotte, North Carolina is the home of some of the most loved and revered horses in the industry... Friesians... and not just any Friesians, but the Friesians of Pearman Ranch. In this episode, Andrew Pearman takes us through his journey from college football to...
-
Prepping Your Horses for Winter
It's October. It's Fall. It's our favorite time of year! Along with the bonfires and fall trail rides, it is important to start prepping for winter as many of us experience inclement or extreme weather. Check out this list of 10 things you can do to prep your horses/barn for winter this year! Are...
-
UNCOVER: Dr. George E. Blair
This episode contains clips from a live interview with Dr. George E. Blair of New York City Riding Academy. There is quite a bit of background noise due to the barn being located on an island, but we grabbed some of the best clips and gems to share with you on this episode. Dr. Blair not only…
more -
Welcome to Season 5! YBE Updates & Buffalo Soldiers Statue Unveiling
Hey everyone and welcome to Season 5! We are excited to be back and bringing you more culture and conversation on this here podcast. In this episode, Abriana covers updates for YBE this season including welcoming a new sponsor Cargill Nutrena! After a recent trip to West Point Military Academy,...
-
UNCOVER: Dr. Ty Blanche
Dr. Blanche is a double gem! A Black woman and a veterinarian. Her tenacity and perseverance lead her to a career of compassion and impact and we are so excited she came on the show to share her story with us. Hailing from Reno, NV, Dr. Blanche shares her experience seeking opportunities in her...
-
UNCOVER: Robert Bowden
What do walking horses and chocolate have in common? Robert Bowden Robert Bowden turned pro after a successful run in the show ring and trained horses in Texas for 15 years. After becoming the best in his region, he decided to pursue other jobs outside of horses, which included headhunting and...
-
It's Lit!
After Ranee released the cover of her new book Helmet Hair, we knew we needed to have her back to talk about the importance of reading, representation, and author life as Black women in the horse industry. Stay tuned for the release of Ranee's new book!
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Black people have worked with horses for thousands of years. Despite their erasure from historical text, their legacy lives on across disciplines, continents, and cultures. Black In The Saddle podcast explores this continued passion, nuanced culture, and diverse lifestyle as Black horsemen and horsewomen continue to thrive today.
HOSTED BY
Abriana Johnson
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Black In The Saddle have?
Black In The Saddle currently has 115 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Black In The Saddle about?
Black people have worked with horses for thousands of years. Despite their erasure from historical text, their legacy lives on across disciplines, continents, and cultures. Black In The Saddle podcast explores this continued passion, nuanced culture, and diverse lifestyle as Black horsemen and...
How often does Black In The Saddle release new episodes?
Black In The Saddle publishes regularly with 115 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Black In The Saddle?
You can listen to Black In The Saddle on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Black In The Saddle?
Black In The Saddle is created and hosted by Abriana Johnson.
URL copied to clipboard!