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Friday, September 04 2020 / Published in Sidelines Feature

Britt Larson: Dignity, Respect and Opportunity Matter

By Carter Anderson

In a time when the world is confronting a pandemic and racial injustice that is deeply rooted in our country’s history, a lot feels like it has been turned upside down. Fresh attention to racial injustice has caused the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA), athletes and colleges involved with NCEA to take a deeper look into the lack of diversity in equestrian sport. 

As a biracial woman competing in the NCEA for Sweet Briar College, Britt Larson-Jackson encourages riders, coaches, judges and anyone involved in NCEA to look beyond the color of someone’s skin in order to fairly assess them and to appreciate their value, talent and character. Intentionally treating minorities with dignity and respect and offering them the same opportunities will go a long way toward valuing and achieving diversity within the NCEA.

What’s your favorite part about being a student athlete at Sweet Briar College?

There’s a great opportunity to balance academics and athletics and academics. Sweet Briar is a small community, so our coaches and professors are invested in helping us to excel in both academics and athletics. Professors and staff are incredibly supportive of the NCEA team and cheer us on at our competitions. I also value the close friendships I have with my teammates and the ample opportunities to ride because the stables are right on campus!

How has Sweet Briar’s recent entry into the NCEA affected you and your teammates?

It’s been really fun, because we’re all figuring it out together! Our coaches were able to prepare through research and discussion with the NCEA, but once we were officially a part of the association, we learned so much so quickly and will continue to learn and grow. Since we’re getting our feet wet together, we’ve become very close as a team. 

With Sweet Briar being a small, all-women’s college, entering the NCEA and being competitive is a great accomplishment and I hope it encourages other schools who may not consider entering the NCEA format to pursue the opportunity. Our team’s involvement in the NCEA has increased my competitive edge and allowed me to learn from and compete against a large variety of skilled riders.

Do you feel as though the NCEA upholds an inclusive environment to all equestrian athletes?

I believe that the NCEA does have an inclusive environment even though it’s hard to assess because there are only a few people of color on NCEA teams. I think there’s a willingness and interest to embrace and encourage riders who aren’t currently well-represented. 

At this level of competition, however, the teams are going to be made up of recruits who are incredibly experienced and competitive in the wider equestrian industry which is not too diverse either. Therefore, it makes it challenging for the NCEA to have a diverse membership due to the environment in which coaches are recruiting. The NCEA does promote economic diversity in that it is affordable. Riders can show at a competitive level without having to worry about expenses.

What message would you give to your fellow collegiate equestrians about the absence of diversity in our sport?

Be aware of what’s going on around you. A lot of people may not consider the lack of diversity or may not consider it important. In many cases, the path to change is a boost in awareness. 

It’s important to be informed and be considerate of others who face different circumstances than you. Being mindful of the privilege that we have, being collegiate equestrians, and knowing that others may not have had the resources or support to pursue this opportunity will help all of us to be more active channels for change. 

Change won’t happen if people are neutral or opportunities are limited. It’s much easier to go through a door when someone opens it for you. So, supporting minorities in our sport is vital for creating a more diverse and inclusive environment.

How would you encourage riders to start having these important conversations with their teammates?

Begin conversations with the goal of understanding and empathizing — human to human. It’s ok to be uncomfortable and it’s ok to make mistakes! In an ideal conversation both parties would speak thoughtfully, with kindness and honesty. Speak with humility, truth and grace. The topic of racism is not going away, so it’s essential that we continue this conversation well to encourage positive change. 

We’re in a day and age where stereotypes are the norm and people are shamed and discouraged from talking about differences or even having disagreements of any kind on tough issues. This is incredibly unproductive because it divides people. It’s important that instead of judging someone by what’s on the outside, we take the time to know what’s on the inside before we make a judgment. This is where we could take a lesson from our four-legged friends who don’t see humans as a color, nor do they judge or exclude, based on culture or appearance.

Don’t be afraid to get personal and talk to people in your life who likely experience discrimination. Check in on their well-being and to further inform yourself on what they go through on a daily basis. Be willing to accept that some people may not want to talk about it. If you see or hear something that is inappropriate, kindly make a correction and help put a stop to injustice. Celebrate opportunities and growth for all riders.

How would you suggest we continue this conversation throughout the upcoming school year?

My charge to all collegiate athletes is to embrace differences, recognizing that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made. I would suggest taking personal responsibility. Never stop learning, and live a life spent building up people and not dividing or tearing them down. Remember that dignity and respect go both ways. Always consider people’s backgrounds and where they’re coming from when pursuing difficult conversations. 

Not all people of color think the same way or have the same experience, background or beliefs. Make it your goal to treat everyone with respect and dignity. Educate yourself on different cultures to broaden your perspective, and then celebrate diversity. Everyone has the opportunity to build up others to make a true and lasting difference in support of diversity in our sport. I’m thankful to those who have helped me improve my riding and have treated me with dignity and respect. I will pay it forward.

Photos by Laurie Larson-Jackson

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Tagged under: collegiate, diversity, Sweet Briar College

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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

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We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on o We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on our socials where we share some of the lovely stallions, and their breeders featured in each month's magazine. Our first feature on this #STUDSunday is...

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Contact Cheryl Maye at (703) 431-9096 for more information
https://www.mayeshowponies.com/more-info/stallions

You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

📸  SAS Equestrian
‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️ The purpose of this ‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️

The purpose of this month’s column is to help the young equestrians of our sport develop and maintain healthy friendships within the industry. Cultivating healthy relationships with other members within the industry is not as easy as one may think. As a young equestrian, it may be difficult navigating friendships at the barn and at horse shows. Typically, kids have friendships within the barn they ride at but also friendships with others from different barns in their area. 

Initially, it may seem as though making other friends in the sport would be easy and ideal; after all, there is the common interest of horses. However, because of the natural therapeutic benefits of horses, the sport has a history of attracting all types of people, with a wide range of personalities. This can be both an advantage and a drawback. We are now in an era that acknowledges the growing need to discuss and manage one’s mental health. 

One thing I have learned is that we are likely to notice mental health challenges at an age younger than most people may think. Some of the friendship dynamics I have observed over the years have caused me to pause and really think about the future of our sport. Without looking for a source to blame for the cause of this, i.e. social media, parents, school, teachers, etc., I think if all adults involved worked to encourage, affirm, love, and respect our youth, the likelihood of them developing authentic friendships with their peers may increase.

Both humans and horses were designed to have connected relationships. These relationships allow a greater sense of security when one experiences challenges in life. Cultivating the quality and authenticity of these relationships requires intentional work. 

Thank you Rob for providing your helpful insight on developing healthy relationships. Check out his tips in his column you can find in the link in our bio.
Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine🦄 

Photo by Blenheim Equisports

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