Photo credit: Work to Ride
Chamounix Equestrian Center occupies just 3.5 acres in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, but its impact stretches far beyond the park’s boundaries. Since its founding in 1994, Chamounix’s iconic Work to Ride program (WTR) has been a lifeline for young people in Philadelphia’s under-resourced communities. 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 dignitaries for a ground-breaking ceremony 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 of WTR. Construction is scheduled to begin mid-2022.
The ceremonial ground-breaking was a celebration of the extraordinary leadership of WTR, and the achievements of the program’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 created 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. Consider 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 siblings 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 captained 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 associated with royalty and the uber-wealthy. From fielding the first African-American polo team in America in 1999, to winning the National Interscholastic Polo Championship in 2011 and 2012, WTR riders have amassed an impressive array of individual honors:
- Jabarr Rosser was voted the Number One National Interscholastic Polo All Stary player in 2005;
- Kareem and Jaymar Rosser ranked Number One and Number Three National Interscholastic All-Star players in 2011;
- Kareem Rosser was named Polo Training Foundation Male Interscholastic Polo Player of the Year in 2011;
- Daymar Rosser, Brandon Rease and Julia Smith were Southeast Regional All-Star players in 2011;
- Daymar Rosser and teammates at Roger Williams University won the United States Polo Association National Intercollegiate Polo Championship in 2017;
- Shariah Harris became the first African-American female to play 20-goal polo in 2017, and on and on.
The lesson here is both obvious and complicated. Hiner recognized the connection between a rigorous work ethic and success, and she saw the often-harsh realities faced by the young people in WTR. She understood that as much as they wanted to be with the horses, and to fulfill their obligations to WTR, many of them were facing violent and chaotic lives in their neighborhoods and their homes. She created a space where her kids, as she calls them, could be safe, and be part of a nurturing community.
Broadening the Base
Ruth Schemm, chair of the WTR board, draws an imaginary triangle as she describes the organization’s plans. “The success stories are at the top of the triangle,” she explains. “One of our goals is to expand the bottom of the triangle, to reach more kids.” It’s clear that WTR has a recipe for success, but they are limited by their current space, and resources.
Hiner reminded people about the critical role WTR has played in the community. “The Work to Ride barn has been a home away from home for young people from nearby dense urban communities for nearly 30 years. They have learned to ride, worked hard for the privilege, and have opened up amazing new possibilities for their lives.” The expansion of the physical property will provide opportunities to more young people, expanding the base of that triangle.
City Councilman Curtis Jones congratulated WTR and its board for the organization’s many achievements. “We want in our old age to be treated as well as Lezlie’s horses—groomed every day, fed every day, dental care and occasionally new shoes. How grateful we are not only to have WTR but the people here.”
And Rosser encouraged people to keep in touch with WTR and its progress. “If it’s your first visit here, don’t let it be your last.”
To find out more about WTR, or to donate to their work, check their website: worktoride.net.