Speaking Up for Diversity in the Horse World, continued...


intended. Looking at the issue of diversity from an MBA mindset, she addressed four key fac- tors and lists many ways to “fix” each factor. Te key factors she lists in her essay are exposure, op- portunity, perception and reception. “I wanted to bring something to the table that was more than just my personal experiences. I wanted to be able to share some solutions,” she said. Presenting solutions is what most motivated Edgerton-Cameron to submit an essay saying, “we need steps on how individual horse people can move forward and make a difference.” Edgerton-Cameron


received feedback im- mediately from Event- ing Nation Editor-In- Chief Leslie Wylie before the essay was ever formally published. “Leslie sent me an email back saying ‘I just read your essay four times’ and ‘wow’,” Edgerton- Cameron shared. Once posted online,


of color since the scholarship was announced. “If we continue to come together, we can really make a difference,” she said. Edgerton-Camer- on also added, “I really do mean what I wrote in that essay about wanting to join committees addressing this area of conversation. I’m here and willing to do my part.”


Lea Jih-Vieira Seeing as how this


Diversity Scholarship was first announced on Eventing Nation’s website,


polo player


Lea Jih-Vieira did not think she was eligible to apply. “I get the EN emails and saw one that said ‘scholarship’ and clicked through,” said.


she


“It was interest- ing to find out that [the scholarship] was open to


Polo player Lea Jih-Vierira of Middletown


Edgerton-Cameron stated the feedback has started more and more conversations. She herself is even learning more about other people of color in equestrian sports. “I’ve learned just how many riders of color there are in this sport. I am not alone!” she explained, adding, “there is an entire community out there spread out across the country!” On a personal level, Edgerton-Cameron has joined several Facebook groups related to riders


just eventing.” Jih-Vieira, who is of Chinese and Portu- guese decent, remarked that as a child,


her


mother really wanted her to join some sort of


sport. “She tried everything… soccer, softball… I just would sit down and refuse to play,” she said. “Ten she signed me up for a riding lesson and I just loved it!” Her riding beginning was at a show hunter


barn but then she tried polo briefly before get- ting into barrel racing. “Ten in high school I started riding polo with Mountain View Polo and just stuck with it,” she stated. “I’m 100% a


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all disciplines, not


polo player now!” Now playing varsity polo at Cornell Univer-


sity as a sophomore, the Middletown native said, “I personally haven’t seen many Asian players in polo. Tey are mostly white and then Hispanic. I can count on one hand how many Asian polo players I’ve seen.” Jih-Vieira addressed in her essay the financial divide that is present in polo as well as many other equestrian sports. “Equestrian sports in general are expensive and to be really competi- tive in polo, you really need a string of good horses, which just triples the expenses,” she ex- plained. “Tis is why I really wanted to focus on the socioeconomic problems with the sport in general.” In her essay, she wrote, “Te underlying is-


sue why we have a lack of diversity in eques- trian sport amounts to a socioeconomic issue. Te historic systems in place, meant to limit people of color, are so interwoven in the fab- ric of our country that we may not even realize how much they influence our lives today.” She also wrote, “To make equestrian sport more in- clusive, we must be mindful of the struggles of these communities.” Jih-Vieira put out a challenge of sorts to or-


ganizations such as the U.S. Eventing Asso- ciation and U.S. Polo Association to do their part in breaking down barriers for low-income individuals entering the sport. She suggested, “By allocating money to help this population of aspiring equestrians start their careers, these organizations are not only supporting these in- dividuals, but are setting an example for every- one in the community.” She told Te Equiery, “I know there were a lot of comments on Facebook criticizing the amount of this scholarship but the thought is good and they needed to start somewhere.”


Things to do at Full Moon Farm!


•• Check Website for Updates Due to COVID-19 ••


November 8: FMF Fall USEA Recognized HT


Ongoing: XC Schooling - email chryzak@gmail.com


Horsemanship Program: For our riders 8+ who can groom & tack independently and are ready to start riding on their own! See website for more details


Also Offering: Boarding•Lessons•Birthday Parties•Equitation Teams Regular, On-Site Clinics with Renowned Clinicians in Multiple Disciplines • See www.fullmoonfarm.com for more information • 18 | OCTOBER 2020 | THE EQUIERY A MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION


Karen & Stephen Fulton • 4326 Louisville Road, Finksburg, MD 21048 410-795-8371 • www.fullmoonfarm.com • fullmoonfarmkaren@gmail.com 800-244-9580 | www.equiery.com


Deena Jih


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