The barriers to ethnic diversity and how to pull them down
“I’VE had people stop me to say: ‘I didn’t think Black or Asian people rode horses.’ It’s about changing that mindset.”
Imran Atcha, who runs St James City Farm Riding School in Gloucester, told H&H he has often been approached, when riding, by people who had never thought they could sit on a horse – and want to try.
He believes this lack of awareness is a major factor in the lack of ethnic diversity in British equestrianism – which he and others are working to change, to improve accessibility to our sport for all.
“We need role models,” Imran said. “We need someone who people in the area can relate to. If they see someone from the same background, they can relate to that person, but if everyone appears to be the same type, and wealthy, there’s a feeling riding is only for wealthy people – and
