First and foremost, I am an animal lover. When it comes to equestrian sports, I will always love my horse above the sport itself. For me, the most fulfilling part of our sport has been working as a team with my horse. Watching him transform from a green rescue horse into champion has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
My mother used to perform rural medical service on horseback in villages in her native country – the Philippines. She exposed me to horses early, first putting me on a pony at age four. She and my father raised me on a horse farm in rural North Carolina. Each day after school, I would run to the barn to be with the horses, climbing on bareback and bridleless any chance I got. As it progressed, I entered the show world going on to train under Jack Towell – competing in the hunters and jumpers from WEF in Wellington to Devon to Harrisburg to Washington International and more. I look back at my old pictures as a child holding “My Little Pony” and “Black Stallion” toys, fondly recalling how it all started.
Buddhism has had a strong influence on my mixed Chinese, Filipino and Jewish family….and on me personally. The philosophy of interconnectedness between all beings has been a guiding tenet in my riding and my relationship with all my animals. Buddhists believe that we all have souls which are intertwined. All too often, I see equestrians treat their horses more like machines or commodities than living sentient beings with their own thoughts and feelings. When I look at my horse, I see a beautiful, generous soul. And when riding or competing, it is about being connected with him and truly acting as a team.
Competing as junior in the 90s, the sport was much less diverse and it always felt like my family did not belong. I would hear some rude, racist remarks or witness/experience microaggressions. It made us feel that we needed to prove ourselves… to work harder, be better, and win. In the end, it made me stronger and more independent. I am so encouraged to see that today’s equestrian landscape has become so much more diverse and inclusive, just as we have seen the in golf and in tennis. It is so heartening to see the doors open and the barriers start to crumble. On the whole, I have seen tremendous positive improvements. But I won’t whitewash the fact that even in our own predominantly equestrian neighborhood where we live, a neighbor has called my mom racial slurs. Despite that, I would not discourage anyone of color from pursuing the sport. For anyone who believes “this is not for you” because of your ethnicity or background, they are just plain wrong. This sport is for anyone with a love of horses.
I have had some amazing moments as an equestrian, including winning a class at Devon, ribbons at indoors and numerous tricolors at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington. But the most rewarding moments I have had were in my adult life with the rescue horse who got me back in the saddle after 20 years…and got me back into the showring when I never thought it would happen for either of us. I adopted my Off the Track Thoroughbred, Enduring Honor, from a rescue for less than most show saddles. But in the less than two years I have had him, we have been champions at the Georgia Hunter Jumper Association Finals, the Thoroughbred Incentive Program Championships, finished top in GHJA in two different divisions for 2023, Zone 4 Channel 2 Reserve Champions in Low Adult Hunter 2023 against expensive imported warmbloods and so much more. So I guess after all that, my proudest moment was rolling the dice and taking a chance on a “throwaway.”
The sport needs you. Just as it took time and a lot of effort to diversify sports like golf or tennis, along with workplaces and schools around America, it is taking time to diversify our sport. If this is something you’re passionate about, seek people who will support you in pursuing your dreams and help you find opportunities. If cost is an issue, look for working student opportunities or catch riding gigs. For experienced riders, I encourage others to give consider the “throwaway” horses who cost less and take more work but can be so rewarding to develop. And just know that if riding is what you want, you absolutely belong.
In the early days, it was not always easy to be “different” as the sport lacked diversity. But it has been so encouraging and exciting to see how the sport has become so much more inclusive. I’d encourage everyone to get to know those around you, even your competitors. Take opportunities to learn from each other, and most of all, show respect.
