December 2021/January 2022 Issue

The News East Coast Horse Owners Need To Know OUR TH YEAR 993 - PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 280 LANC., PA 17604 Vol. 28 No. 11 December 2021/January 2022 (Continued on page 22) By Suzanne Bush Chamounix Equestrian Center occupies just 3.5 acres in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, but its impact stretches far beyond the park’s boundar- ies. Since its founding in 1994, Chamounix’s iconic Work to Ride program (WTR) has been a lifeline for young people in Phil- adelphia’s under-resourced com- munities. A non-profit founded by Lezlie Hiner, WTR occupies a stable, arena and pastures that were built in 1973 to house Philadelphia’s mounted police force. While there have been some improvements and repairs to the facility, the years have taken a toll. The organization’s board identified specific needs and embarked on a campaign to raise $8 million. The good news is that they have already raised $5.4 million. And there is no bad news here. Instead, on November 12 Hiner joined several WTR graduates, board members and local digni- taries for a ground-breaking cer- emony that opened a new chapter in WTR’s storied history. Six million dollars will go toward a new indoor arena, $1 million will pay for upgrades to the existing facilities and pastures and $1 million will be a capital reserve to ensure the continued success It’s All Good News Work to Ride Breaks Ground on $8 Million Facility of WTR. Construction is sched- uled to begin mid-2022. The ceremonial ground- breaking was a celebration of the extraordinary leadership of WTR, and the achievements of the pro- gram’s graduates. Kareem Rosser, in an emotional introduction of Hiner, described her as “a saint, with an unmatched commitment to community. You allowed us to believe in ourselves.” It Turns Out That Horses Are Powerful Magnets The opportunity to ride horses is the magnet that has drawn youngsters to the facility for nearly 30 years. Hiner cre- ated a program that would offer young people—seven to 18 years old—riding lessons in exchange for their commitment to perform stable work (as in, shoveling manure among other important jobs), keep their school grades up and return after graduating from the program to mentor other youngsters. It’s a recipe for success. Con- sider Rosser, who is now on the board of WTR and chair of the capital campaign. He says that when he was eight years old, his brothers discovered Chamounix. “They were riding their bikes and stumbled upon the stables,” he says. It was the beginning of an incredible journey. Rosser fell in love with polo, and the sport has been a beacon for his young life. From the first time he touched Angel, the ancient pony that was every WTR kid’s first ride, he was hooked. Twenty years later, Rosser has compiled an impressive resume. A graduate of Colorado State University, where he led the school’s polo team to a national championship, Rosser is also an author, a financial analyst, and one of the leaders of WTR’s capital campaign. His book, Crossing the Line, was published earlier this year. It’s a frank, unflinching description of the domestic violence he and his sib- lings witnessed and the violence in the streets surrounding their home; and it details the many ways WTR opened new pathways for them, to better futures. Shariah Harris, another WTR graduate, won a scholarship to Cornell University, and cap- tained their polo team for three years. She was a standout, and Rosser says he’s “never seen a tougher player than Shariah.” After graduating, she returned to Pennsylvania and is now enrolled in a dual-track program working for an RN-BSN degree. She says that WTR helped her “develop the confidence to venture outside (her comfort zone) and to prepare for college.” WTR and its riders have broken barriers in the sport of polo, which is often associat- ed with royalty and the uber- wealthy. From fielding the first African-American polo team in America in 1999, to winning the The Work to Ride shovel crew from left: Ros alia Manfredi, Board Member; Lowell Thomas, Board Member; Richard Prather, WTR Alum; Daymar Rosser, WTR Alum; Lezlie Hiner, Executive Director; Joe Manheim, Board Member; Ruth Schemm, Chair of Board; Kareem Rosser, WTR Alum, Board Member; Uche Ojeh, Board Member; Brian Chacker, Board Member. Photo credit Work to Ride Inside... Our annual Holiday Gift Guide … pgs. 10-15 Owner of troubled riding stable charged with torture … pg. 7 Local authors’ horsey books for holiday giving … pg. 17 …and much more!