USHJA On Course Episode 21

USHJA: USHJA On Course is back with the first episode of 2023. I'm Terisé, and today I'm joined by Ryder Richardson, a junior rider from Colorado who's hoping to lead the sport to a better future. But first, the new year means the association has a few updates that you should be aware of.

If you haven't renewed your USHJA membership yet, now's the time to do so before your first competition.

Enrollment is also open for the majority of your favorite USHJA programs, so make sure to visit ushja.org to enroll before you step foot in the show ring.

In this episode, you'll hear Ryder talk about his experience going to USEF Pony Finals as a recipient of USHJA's Gochman Grant for USEF Pony Finals. The grant is open to members that have not previously competed at Pony Finals and have jumping experience at 2'3" or higher. Applications are currently open and close March 15th.

Applications for the $25,000 Hamel Family Scholarship for Further Education are also open. This awards one or more members funds to be used for college, graduate, trade or professional school and applications close May 15th.

We have a variety of new competitive programs for 2023, including the new USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic for Amateurs, the USHJA 1.00/1.05m Child/Adult Zone Jumper Championships and a new central location for the Kym K Smith/USHJA Young Hunter Pony Championships. Be sure to check our website to find all the details as you set your show schedule for the year.

USHJA: Now to introduce our guest, Ryder is involved in and out of the saddle with the Hunter/Jumper sport. With USHJA, he is active on committees, was a Gochman Grant for USEF Pony Finals recipient in 2018 and received the USHJA Youth Leadership Award in 2021. In 2022, Ryder was awarded the USEF Youth Sportsman Award after receiving nominations from USHJA, as well as the American Connemara Pony Society.

In addition to competing in the Jumpers, Ryder founded Joy Ryder, an organization that aims to promote inclusivity and opportunities within the equestrian community, and is an advocate for mental health awareness.

Before we jump in, we do want to let you know that this podcast episode discusses topics related to depression and suicide. These may be triggering or difficult for some listeners. Specific timing of these topics can be found in the show notes. If you or someone you know is struggling with these issues, please seek support from a mental health professional or contact a crisis hotline.

USHJA: Hi Ryder, welcome.

Ryder Richardson: Hi. Thank you so much.

USHJA: Just to kind of start us off, tell me how you got started riding and started in the sport.

Ryder Richardson: So my mom used to ride when she was a kid and she took a little break, and then I was seven when I hopped on a little pony. And I was riding Western and I was jumping over barrels and stuff and hay bales and just really, really fun stuff and I loved it.

It was incredible to feel that feeling like you're flying. That's just how I could say it. Like the feeling you're flying. And I fell in love right there. The bond with the horses is a whole other thing that I also fell in love with. And then I became obsessed from there on out.

USHJA: So then in 2018, you ended up being the recipient of the USHJA Gochman Grant for USEF Pony Finals. What was that experience like for you? I know it's obviously been a few years-- now we're in 2023--but what was that week like for you?

Ryder Richardson: Oh my gosh, I remember it like it was yesterday. It was so, so incredible. It truly changed my life forever. Never did I think I was going to be able to go to Pony Finals and see all those amazing ponies and the Walnut Ring, like that ring was crazy! I was shocked. It was so big and the event was spectacular and everybody there helped me so much and I learned so much knowledge. Touring all the different farms like Spy Coast, that was an experience as well. Just seeing all the foals and God, that facility is incredible. I'd love to work there one day. Fingers crossed!

USHJA: So do you have a favorite memory or experience from that whole week? I know a lot goes on. It's like everything jam packed into this like little bit of time you're at the Kentucky Horse Park, but do you have a favorite moment that sticks out?

Ryder Richardson: Gosh, that's really hard. I remember every moment of every day was just so amazing just being there. I kept saying to myself, "this is a dream come true. It's always been my dream to come here, and now I'm finally here. Like, this seems impossible, but we did it. I'm here."

I'd probably say the moment that sticks out, like the best for me would be taking that first step into the Walnut Ring with this amazing pony named Nominee. And I was super, super nervous. I felt really out of place a little bit. You know, I was kind of shy. All these big ponies, big riders and that huge, huge ring. But it was like, there were so many different emotions cause I was so nervous, I was so excited. But that pony really knew that I was nervous and he was kinda like, "okay, we're going to do it. It'll be good. We're going to go in there, we're going to have a great round. We're going to have so much fun." And the pony could tell. And I think that's like that moment stuck out to me the most. I can remember it like yesterday. It was truly incredible.

USHJA: Applications are currently open for that grant. What would you say to somebody or maybe some advice to somebody who's thinking about applying?

Ryder Richardson: Do it. Just do it. It's life changing. It changed my life. It changed how I view riding and what I want to do with my career, and it helped me so much. I have made great connections, but really it's an experience of a lifetime. That's really all I can say about it. And all the other people too that have been recipients of that grant would probably say the same thing as well. That's been, you know, an experience of a lifetime.

USHJA: Definitely. You kind of briefly touched on it, talking about how it was life changing. What other opportunities came or maybe stemmed from some of the things you did that week or some of the people you met?

Ryder Richardson: Rob Jacobs and Robin Greenwood, they helped me the most while I was there. They trained me. They're amazing people and I'm still very good friends with both of them. And they've also been helping me a little bit and, you know, teaching me things along the way. And that has been a phenomenal connection for me.

And many, many other connections as well. You know, I was very lucky to meet the Gochman family and spend a winter with them in Wellington, and that was amazing as well. So that was an awesome, incredible connection.

USHJA: What does riding look like for you now? You know, however many years after receiving the grant?

Ryder Richardson: After receiving the grant, I did some pony Jumpers with my best friend, which is a pony. RR Cool Play, he's amazing. Becks. So we did the pony Jumpers a few times and we've gotten bronze medal three times. So very consistent, very good in that. But, he's been doing awesome.

And then about last year, I got kind of a younger horse, a little crazy, but he is a really good boy. His name iss Joey and he is doing awesome. We're doing the 1.20m right now, the low juniors. But our plan for this summer is to do the 1.30m, hopefully, fingers crossed. Slowly moving up, taking my time, not rushing anything.

But I would say that the most special is that pony Jumper Beckham. He probably taught me the most. He's been so amazing for me, and like I said, he's my best friend. It's so funny, me and him. I'll go into a stall and turn on like a movie on an iPad or something and we'll just watch it and we'll have so much fun. He loves just to hang out and do all those fun things. And you know, it doesn't always have to be about, "okay, I'm going to hop on you, we're going to ride, jump some fences." It's more like, "all right, we're going to spend some time together. We're going to bond, you know, we're going to do fun stuff."

USHJA: Yeah. It's important to hang out with them.

Ryder Richardson: Oh my gosh, it's very important for me too, because I can forget about all my problems and stuff and issues. And I can just be with the horses. I can forget about all that and just be in the moment, and that's been very beneficial for me too.

USHJA: Where do you hope the sport takes you in the future? Where do you kind of want to see yourself in five, 10 years down the line?

Ryder Richardson: I know it'll be with horses for sure. I have no doubt in my mind that I will be with horses. Jumping wise for my horse, Joey, I'm hoping to move up and just sort of progress slowly into that higher jumping level. I'm extremely patient with my horses and this carries over into my relationships with other riders too.

I want to be a bigger part of the community, helping more people out, making the community more, you know, inclusive and diverse and helping out people. Because I think that's a big part of what our community needs to work on is being more inclusive and, you know, being aware of certain issues and talking about them and like depression for an example, you know, I've done a lot about that.

One of my best friends, Jack, passed away from suicide and that was really tough. But I've been trying to talk about depression more and make people more aware and, you know, saying it's okay and how to get resources to talk about that stuff and, you know, get better about it.

In the community, I just want to be able to help more people and make it more inclusive and diverse. Because I think that is what we need to do to make the sport grow and. You know, just keep pushing the sport to become better. We need it. I need this sport, I need it. It's very important to me and it's helped me so much. I need this sport.

USHJA: It makes you think about how much it could help other people--as we expand our sport and welcome more people into it and make it more inclusive and diverse--how many more people can benefit from what we are already benefiting from.

Yes.

Ryder Richardson: I've started a little foundation called Joy Ryder, and it's a very, very small step into the right direction, I believe. So I'm helping kids that might not be in the best situation, but they love animals and love horses, so I'm helping them that way. And, you know, showing and riding, being with horses. I'm trying to create a change as well. So I think this foundation's really helped do that. And I have two kids already and I've seen a lot of growth too, in that they've become a lot happier.

USHJA: Stepping kind of out of the saddle, you've given me a great segue--some of your philanthropic efforts and your volunteer efforts. It's obviously important, but expanding the sport and inclusivity really touches close to home for you. Why is that so important to you?

Ryder Richardson: Because we need to keep this sport alive, and I think without doing those things, the sport will die. And that's why I think it's so important that we truly put all our efforts into making it more diverse and more inclusive to everybody. We need everybody, you know, this is a very big thing. Small steps are very important too, and it won't happen overnight, and that's okay, but as long as it's toward the right direction.

USHJA: How do you think other junior riders can get involved in that type of stuff? You're a junior, you're heavily involved in a lot of this. How would you maybe suggest or guide other juniors who maybe are passionate about this but don't know where to direct it?

Ryder Richardson: Well, firstly, just start by being kind. You know, that's a huge, huge part. We all need to be more kind to each other. Kindness. It's such a small thing, but it's such a big thing that everybody needs to work on.

I've been on a lot of committees and done stuff like that, and that's helped in learning for me too. I've learned so much being on the different committees and sports governance. And I want to do more with that too as I get older and become more a part of that. But just listening and being a part of all that, all the different committees, has helped me a lot. And I think it's been very beneficial for me as a junior too, because I can point out different things than an amateur could in the junior community. So I think that's been very helpful for me.

But kindness. Kindness is the biggest thing.

USHJA: Definitely. So you touched on it briefly, but I know mental health advocacy is really, really important to you. Why do you think it's not maybe discussed so much in this sport as it should be?

Ryder Richardson: It's a very hard thing to talk about, right? It's a sensitive subject. For me, I've seen it and been around a lot of depression and sadness and I've personally felt sad and had depression, so it's kind of been my goal to make it easier to talk about, get resources for people that are having a hard time with depression. I've had a very hard time with depression and for me, my pony, Beckham, helped me so much and I was kind of able to get out of the rut with my pony. But I'm also trying to help as many kids as possible. My best friend, Jack, who had committed suicide, there's an organization called Jack Strong and I've been a part of that helping and his parents and his family go to different places and we talk about mental health and how important it is. I've done little speeches and all that, but it is very hard to talk about and I think that's why it's not talked about enough. We kind of brush it off. I don't think, I know, it has to change because it's such a big thing and we need to be more open about it and it's just sad what can happen and we have to stop that. And it's okay not to be okay. There's nothing wrong with that. I think people think that you have to be okay. You know, you can not be okay. It's okay not to be okay.

USHJA: I think there's a stigma too, in our sport where you have to be tough to be mentally ready to do these things, but riding a horse isn't easy physically or mentally, let alone competing. You know, we focus so much on riding and training and physical, but we sometimes miss the mental health aspect of it.

Ryder Richardson: Yes. Well, every sport can be very stressful, but yeah, it's okay not to be okay.

USHJA: Staying on that route, you were awarded the USHJA Youth Leadership Award in 2021. That identifies potential future leaders in the industry and recognizes junior members for their achievements.

Then this past year, 2022, you were the USHJA nominee for the USEF Youth Sportsman Award. You were nominated for the award by USHJA, as well as the American Connemara Society. Nominees demonstrate ongoing commitment and dedication to USEF, and on our part USHJA, by promoting the sport and demonstrating sportsmanship and acting as a role model.

So what do you think really made you stand out?

Ryder Richardson: It was incredible really to be even considered. Probably my ability just to love anybody and be understanding. I'm a lover, right? I love everybody. I don't think I have a bad bone in my body, but I think my ability to show kindness and wanting to learn how to help our community and make it safer and more inclusive, I think that's what really separates me. And the best way I can describe it, it's like a burning passion, like a motivation, it's like a spark that I need to do something to help this community because they have helped me so much. They have changed my life, and now it's my turn to give back and do as much as I can to help.

USHJA: Well, to wrap up our episode, we always finish with what we call the Victory Gallop, a series of quick questions for you. So bay, gray or chestnut?

Ryder Richardson: Ooh. Oh my gosh, that's hard. I'm gonna have to go with bay.

USHJA: Good choice. What is the last thing you watched? Netflix, movie--what was it?

Ryder Richardson: I watched a TV show on Hulu called Modern Family. It's very happy, very light.

USHJA: That seems right on par. What are two things you can't get through a day at the barn without?

Ryder Richardson: A kiss from my pony and then an occasional lick on the face from them. They like to like lick my face a lot and lick my hair. It's kind of weird, but it's kind of funny.

USHJA: Do you have a hidden talent?

Ryder Richardson: I guess my hidden talent would kind of be boxing. I'm kind of into that and doing that a little bit just to stay fit. Very different compared to the riding and then the boxing, which is good.

USHJA: Definitely. What is your favorite song right now?

Ryder Richardson: My favorite song? Oh gosh, I have too many.

USHJA: We could make it broader, an artist or an album.

Ryder Richardson: Bob Marley's pretty good. I like Bob Marley.

USHJA: What is the most used app on your phone?

Ryder Richardson: Probably. Instagram or TikTok.

USHJA: That sounds about right for just about everybody we ask that question to.

And finally, describe your dream horse in three words.

Ryder Richardson: Ooh, naughty, brave and lovey.

USHJA: Lovey. That might be a new one. Brave we get a lot.

Ryder Richardson: What about naughty? Do you get naughty a lot?

USHJA: No, I don't think we've ever gotten naughty. But hey, there's nothing wrong with a little bit of spice in your horse, right?

Ryder Richardson: Exactly. It's fun.

USHJA: Well, that is all I have for you.

Ryder Richardson: Thank you so much. This was incredible. Thank you. I love USHJA.

USHJA: Thanks for tuning in to the first episode of 2023. Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss any of the episodes this year.