SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Sidelines MagazineSidelines Magazine

  • LOGIN
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Subscriptions
    • Flipbook
    • Subscribe Options
    • Order Individual & Back Issues
  • Podcast
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Stallions
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Classifieds
    • Horse Trailers for Sale
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
0
Monday, November 09 2020 / Published in Sidelines Feature

Jennifer Ridgely: Coaching At A Historically Black University 

By Carter Anderson

Coach Jennifer Ridgely has been a vital part of the Delaware State University (DSU) equestrian team and is going into her 15th season as head coach of the Hornets. Not only does she train young women to success in the ring, but she also stresses the importance of growing her student-athletes into successful young women who are advocates for change in their communities. The DSU equestrian team boasts the greatest number of community service hours in the athletics department every semester and carries a consistently high team GPA. One of Jennifer’s main goals, as the only head equestrian coach at a historically Black college or university (HBCU), is to spread awareness throughout the NCEA of ways our sport can become more inclusive and how teams can foster an environment that encourages productive conversations by leading by example at Delaware State. 

What’s your favorite memory as head coach of Delaware State?

My favorite memory is winning our first-ever conference championship. At that time, we were a part of the UEC, or United Equestrian Conference. It came down to the last ride. It was an absolute nail-biter! The last point was up to one of our freshman competitors. It was one of those moments you will never forget. The whole team jumped up to celebrate, and it was incredibly cool.

What has been your biggest challenge that you’ve faced as a head coach?

My biggest challenge was starting a program from nothing. I was actually on the board, a group of equine enthusiasts and equestrians in the area that the university had put together as a hiring committee. I didn’t apply for the position. I was instead on the committee to hire the coach. Unfortunately, the young lady that we hired only lasted four months, and then they reached out to me to see if I was interested. I originally said no, but I’m very glad that I changed my mind. It has been the best decision that I’ve ever made. So, the team was created in the fall of 2006 and I started in February of 2007. I had five girls on the team, five horses, and we worked out of my house where I had an indoor arena and a barn. We grew exponentially. Here we are with 45 girls on the team, 40 horses and two barns. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come. 

What do you hope that equestrian athletes take away from their time at DSU?

I hope when they leave here they’ve learned to embrace diversity and challenges in a positive way. Because we’re the only HBCU that has an equestrian team, we offer a really unique opportunity to young women to grow in so many different ways. I think the experience that our student athletes have is unique and will better prepare them for the real world and for the diverse workforce. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a mom and I do this with my own kids, but I’m big on pushing these young girls to become strong young women. For example, if they have a problem, they will come to my office and say they want to speak with me. I want them to become articulate, mature and professional in expressing their wishes, desires and perspectives, without getting offended. That’s what is happening in the world right now! People aren’t accepting of different ideas and perspectives. 

How has Delaware State, being a HBCU, responded to the Black Lives Matter movement? 

We’ve done several things. First of all, one of them is not rioting. We’re not for that at all. There’s no change that’s going to happen from it. Peaceful protests are different, but there have been no peaceful protests on campus. What there has been is lots of opportunities for people to listen and communicate. Those are the two biggest terms that we’ve heard from everyone on campus.

One of the biggest things that the athletic department did was purchase a book called “The Black and the Blue” by Matthew Horace, one of our alumni. He’s a retired FBI agent, police chief and a Black man. We required the entire athletic department to read it, and then each team had a WebX meeting with the author. The equestrian team did it and we were on the phone with him for two hours! It was life-changing, and several of my girls reached out to say that they were bummed to have to get on this call until they did it. That’s the way change happens: by listening to other people’s perspectives and opening up the dialogue.

The week before that, I spoke to the head football coach, Rod Milstead, who is a former NFL player, an alumnus and a Black man, and asked him what I can do to help my girls understand and appreciate what it means to be at an HBCU. My team is predominantly white girls with two African American girls on my team, and I wanted him to talk to the team about where this pride comes from and how we can get on board with it. We had another two-hour talk with the football coach where my girls asked some incredibly hard questions. He listened to them and communicated in a way that the girls were able to receive the information.

Even though our campus is just a small blink of what is happening around the world, our bubble is a utopia of what diversity is supposed to be. I wish the world could see what the white and the Black people are doing at Del State, because we are the ones who are making the change.

What do you think are the most important steps going forward in making our sport more inclusive?

I posed that question to our head coaching committee. Everyone was very perceptive and thought it was important to talk about. I take it very seriously, and as a white woman, I need to stand up and say, “Hey, look at what’s happening.” My duty as a coach working at an HBCU is to have more Black girls riding on my team. I’m going to create a panel discussion, where I will offer a WebX and invite Black equestrian professionals to speak on this panel so that we can restart the conversation. The head coaches of the NCEA have asked us to video it so that they can share it with their teams. 

DSU Eq carries the greatest number of community service hours in DSU Athletics every semester. Explain how your team gives back to the community. 

I mandate that each student athlete complete 20 hours of community service per semester. I started this when I first started coaching. The reason I did is because so many people didn’t know that Delaware State had an equestrian team. I knew that the way to get any support financially or emotionally was to get us out into the community, so they would know Del State offered this unique sport. 

Share this page:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
Tagged under: collegiate, equestrian team, hbcu, ihsa team

What you can read next

Nancy Smyth: Bringing Horses & Art Together
Calista Yun: Saving Lives by Baking Cookies
Jim Hagman: Building a Legacy Horse by Horse and Rider by Rider

Download Sidelines Digital now from your favorite app store!

Sidelines Magazine - Apple store   Sidelines Magazine - Google Play store   Sidelines Magazine - Amazon store
Update iOS app. Re-download Google Play and Amazon app.

Follow on Instagram!

sidelines_magazine

Sidelines Magazine
Balancing riding and academics can be tough, so Bl Balancing riding and academics can be tough, so Blue Ribbon Scholars is here to help! Whether you need help with a single subject, SAT prep, or transitioning to online school, Blue Ribbon will tailor a unique program to the needs of every student athlete, grades K-12. The exclusive education services provider at HITS Ocala since 2019, Blue Ribbon offers in-person tutoring services throughout the duration of the winter circuit, in addition to our virtual services via Zoom year round, anywhere, anytime! 

Are you showing at WEC this winter, but looking for affordable, fun, and individualized in-person support? Have no fear! In-person tutoring is available anywhere in the Ocala area, and everyone is welcome to attend our programs at HITS. Our tutors are kind, qualified, and understand the needs of competitive student-athlete equestrians. The founder of Blue Ribbon Scholars is an amateur jumper rider who holds a BA from Yale University and Master’s in Education from Vanderbilt. You will be in good hands! Message, email, or call us today to learn more about how we help you accomplish your goals.

blueribbonscholars, hitshorseshows

#sidelinesmagazine #sidelines2023 #forhorsepeople #abouthorsepeople #dressage #hunterjumper #eventing #magazine #horses #wellington #wef #florida #college #school #blueribbonscholars #hitshorseshows #hunterjumper #showjumping #hunterjumpersofinstagram #tutoringforathletes #tutoringservices #backtoschool #equestrian #equestrianlife #equestrianlifestyle #horseshowlife #studyhardplayhard #homeschooling #ocala
📣Exciting News!! 📣 Sidelines Magazine is gr 📣Exciting News!! 📣

Sidelines Magazine is growing!
Thanks to our success we are expanding our sales force and are looking for talented sales people‼️

Come join the team!!
👉For more information email editor@sidelinesmagazine.com
“There is no quick fix when it comes to horses,” said Samantha Wolfram, a 22-year-old equestrian professional. “You can’t flip a switch and the horse comes out broke and is easy to ride.” For most equestrians, this statement is a testament to the grit and reality of the horse business—there are no easy roads to establishing your career. But for Samantha, using her risk-taking, talent and ambition while riding and living abroad is helping set her up for success. 

Growing up an only child in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, Samantha received her first pony at the age of 2 thanks to her mother, who was a horse trainer. “My mom got me a pony like what you see at the fair. However, he was a bad pony—or what I like to call ‘character building,’” she said. Her early start riding was a gift unto itself and by 5, Samantha was jumping crossrails. She was committed to riding until the age of 8, when another sport became her focus. “I was at an age where I wanted to fit in, and being a crazy horse girl did not help with being popular,” Samantha shared.

Get to know Samantha in her recent feature "Finding Success in America and Overseas." And never miss an article by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine. Link below!👇
https://sidelinesmagazine.com

Follow Samantha on Instagram samanthawolfram

📸Photos by Kirsten Hannah, kirstenhannahphotography.com

#sidelinesmagazine #sidelines2023 #forhorsepeople #abouthorsepeople #dressage #hunterjumper #eventing #magazine #horses
At 78 years young, Barry Olliff doesn’t intend t At 78 years young, Barry Olliff doesn’t intend to take it easy during his golden years. Inspired by his horse-loving wife, Cyndy, Barry is devoting his retirement to create “A Gathering Place” for anyone who needs one at their Stable View Equestrian facility in Aiken, South Carolina.

Barry and Cyndy have transformed their parcel of land, originally a quail-hunting lodge, into a facility that welcomes equestrians, corporate retreats, weddings, ecotourists and local community members. “This all came about through a fortuitous set of circumstances, with good partnerships, an open and welcoming community and, most of all, our willingness to go where the land led us,” Barry said.

Barry believes fate and good luck have played a big factor in Cyndy’s and his life. “We’ve been in the right place at the right time and fortunate enough to take the right fork in the road when there were choices,” he said. “As we’ve gotten older, we’ve felt it’s up to us to give back. We need to provide opportunities for people to use Stable View however they see fit.”

Keep reading at the link in our bio!!

📸Photo courtesy of Stable View

#sidelinesmagazine #sidelines2023 #forhorsepeople #abouthorsepeople #dressage #hunterjumper #eventing #magazine #horses
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • A Wynning Advantage
    Take the Leap! Take your equestrian event or business to the next level. Lifestyle Marketing • Public Relations • Sponsorship Sales • Event Activation Sponsorship • Marketing • Promotion Event Management • Ananlytics Press/Email Campaigns • Editorial Photography • Social Media • Website Design Ad Copy • Onsite and Remote Activation Lisa Davis Engel • awynningadvantage@yahoo.com • 908-310-6248

    [Read more]

  • Vintage Oaks Horse Farm
    Lessons + Training + Showing + Sales Summer Camps Jarettsville, Md Kelle Lerch 443-310-0315 Katie Fitzpatrick 717-676-2355 vintageoakshorsefarm@gmail.com www.VintageOaksHorseFarm.com The personnel at Vintage Oaks have a strong love and respect for riding and enjoying horses and we strive to share that passion with riders of all ages.

    [Read more]

Sidelines Articles by Email

Subscribe to Sidelines Magazine Articles by Email

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • Woodside Recognizes the Best in the West
  • Get More for Your Money with an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage
  • Longines Global Champions Tour of New York Returns to Governors Island

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Conor Swail Was the Best Bet in $15,000 CSI2* Markel Insurance Welcome at San Juan Capistrano International
  • Lillie Keenan Leads in CHF68,000 South Coast Plaza Welcome Speed at San Juan Capistrano International CSIO5*
  • McLain Ward Wins CSIO5* Longines Grand Prix at San Juan Capistrano International

Category

Recent Posts

  • Zayna Rizvi: Horses from Family to Finals

    By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Melissa Fuller &...
  • Samantha Wolfram: Finding Success in America and Overseas

    By Juliana Chapman Portraits by Kirsten Hannah ...
  • Cedar Potts-Warner: At Liberty and Beyond

    Story and Portraits by Jennifer DeMaro   P...
  • Jordan Melfi: Turning a Secret Horse Life Into a Career

    By Veronica Green-Gott Portraits by Shelly Cart...
  • Olivia Williams: From University of Notre Dame to European Dreamin’

    By Veronica Green-Gott Portraits by Melissa Ful...

Copyright © 1987 - 2021 Sidelines Magazine
Privacy Policy · Returns & Refunds Policy · Hosting by Lucian Web Service
· Login

TOP
Get the Sidelines Scoop — your weekly look behind the scenes.Sign me up!