August 2020 Issue

Page 12 August 2020 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN By Jennifer A. Sheffield Ask Imani Uzzell, 19, how she knows how to ride, and she answers by sailing over 2’6”-2’9” obstacles on her new 17-hand, OTT thoroughbred, Coraggioso, whom she calls C.J. It’s not that she is staying silent. It is because in the whitewashed equestrian world of eastern Pennsylvania, her goals as a young woman of color have to rise above being bullied by a judge or competitors For Imani Uzzell, Pushing Limits Brings Great Rewards who approach her trainer, Leah Saltzman, 21, with questions such as, “How does she own a horse?” These, along with assump- tions that she is a groom at a show in which she is clearly competing, are symptomatic of the systemic racism that persists in the show rings of the hunter- jumper circuit. Uzzell and others who are speaking out since the Black Lives Matter protests, hope that by doing so, unfair rules will be changed, those they look up to in the sport will be held accountable for comments made, and brands will notice that this generation of Black equestrians is cover-worthy for the next tack catalogue. “With everything going on now, companies are highlighting different cultures wearing their clothes,” said Uzzell, “but hope- fully, they really mean to put a dif- ferent message out there. Because we can’t wait,” she added, “until something bad happens again.” Uzzell, who also plays volleyball for Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, PA recently hosted a YouTube panel along with Cana- dian trainer Shelby Dennis, Las Vegas Junior “A” jumper, Nana Sarfo, and Michaela Nelson of North Carolina. They discussed safety concerns like stuffing their natural or braided hair into a helmet that is three sizes too big, and how hard it is to excel in one discipline since “barn hopping” is a common Black experience. “Luckily in the barns I’ve chosen, I haven’t felt like I have to be anyone except myself,” she said. “If I wasn’t at a barn like this, I would totally have to flip the way I act, my speech pattern, or my clothes to fit in, and then end up not fitting in anyway, even if I did those things. Friends have told me this is how certain barns are and it’s a problem.” Uzzell started riding nine years ago at Chamounix Equestrian (Continued on page 22) Imani Uzzell with her off the track thoroughbred hunter Coraggioso or C.J. and her trainer, Leah Saltzman at North Wynd Stables in Gilberts- ville, PA. Photo credit: Jennifer Sheffield (top), Madie Vinger (right)