As an equestrian, physical fitness is a key part in becoming a great rider. Chiropractic care is undoubtedly one of the most important self-care practices an equestrian can invest in. While riding, horsemen and women must be conscious of posture, pressure release and functional movement. Today we decided to chat with Dr. Ar'neka Montford about how equestrians can best care for themselves through chiropractic care.

Dr. Ar'neka was born and raised in North Carolina in a small town called Bogue. She was a multi-athlete playing softball, track and field, basketball, volleyball, and marching band. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from North Carolina State University where she discovered her path towards Chiropractic. This journey led her to Marietta, GA where she attended Life University enrolling in the Doctorate and Masters Program. 3 months into the program she met her other half Ashley, and introduced her to chiropractic. At the completion, she worked with Life U as a Sports Chiropractor for their athletic department. At the end of that contract she was looking to move out of Georgia and believed that California was calling her name so, Ashley and her packed up their house, two dogs and drove across the country to live in California. Dr. Ar'neka is excited to bring mobile chiropractic to Northern California.

Dr. Ar'neka opened Resilient Spine Family and Sports Chiropractic in early 2020 after working under several successful chiropractors. She uses her experience with sports chiro and athletes to educate us on how horseback riding affects the body. During this episode, Dr. Ar'neka shares her journey to owning her own practice, how chiropractic care helps with riding and tips for equestrians to improve their riding.

Chiropractic tips to improve riding:

1. Since the inner thighs are a major muscle group used for riding, train the outer thighs off the horse to prevent muscle imbalance or strain on the knee.
   
2. Practice pelvic tilt: lay on floor and tuck pelvis in (upward) to practice neutral spine and improve muscle memory
   
3. Increase core strength: lay on back and put a folded towel underneath your back, engage your core forcing your back to the floor (you shouldn’t be able to remove towel)
   
4. Practice breathing exercises: deep breathing will help with core strength and tension release, take 5 deep breaths and hold for 3 seconds at each inhale/exhale
   

You can learn more about Dr. Ar'neka on her website and reach out to her on her social media pages where she posts educational videos and tutorials on how to improve your life through chiropractic care.

Website: www.resilientspine.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/resilientspine

Instagram: www.instagram.com/resilientspine

Red light, green light! It's squid games for the horse industry. When you are seeking opportunities in the horse industry where do you go? What do you need to keep in mind? Let's talk about it in this episode.

**IMPORTANT** Check out this guide to working on farms from Not Our Farm, which details questions, considerations, and things to note when working on a farm. It's not equestrian specific, but has some incredible points! https://notourfarm.org/worker-zine/

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We had the opportunity to speak with Cowgirl Chanel in Orange County, California! We discussed her role in the local horse community and her future endeavors (which we are really excited about). Keep an eye on this cowgirl, she is destined for great things!

Tune in as we discuss some do's and don'ts of the trail ride season. We share personal experiences and sound advice to help you have a safe and successful trail ride!

After discovering Kamal and Sankofa Farms via a Facebook article, hosts Abriana and Caitlin decided to talk with him about the process of acquiring land, how to impact students and the burdens of black farmers. Although not horse centric, Kamal's experience could help any future farmer and/or equestrian.

In this episode, I’m diving into a topic that’s become deeply personal and professionally exciting for me: agritourism. I’ve been studying this space for over a year now, and through my work on the board of the North Carolina Agritourism Networking Association, I’ve seen just how much untapped potential there is — especially for Black-owned farms and horse facilities.

This episode is for anyone with land, a dream, and a desire to do something different. I talk about how agritourism can be a path to sustainability, community connection, and cultural preservation. And if you think all you have to offer is riding lessons? Let’s expand that vision.

What I’m Sharing:

• What agritourism really is (and why it's more than just tours)
• Why riding isn’t the only way to engage the public
• Real ideas for how horse farms can bring in revenue creatively and consciously
• The behind-the-scenes: zoning, signage, insurance, infrastructure
• Why this model might just keep the next generation interested in our farms

Agritourism Examples I Mention:

North Carolina Agritourism Networking Association - https://nc-ana.org/

Tryon International Equestrian Center - https://www.resort.tryon.com/

Ebony Horsewomen event space - https://ebonyhorsewomen.org/

Green’s Campground Hideaway - https://www.greenscampgroundhideaway.com/

Sankofa Farms’ “Bees in the Trap” - https://www.sankofafarms.com/

What kind of agritourism ideas do you have for your current or future horse farm?

*Disclaimer: occasional adult language*

From Abercrombie, Adidas and Ariat to Zara, Compton Cowboys are putting the city of Compton and black cowboys on the map. In this episode we had the pleasure to speak with Randy Savvy, the managing member of the Compton Cowboys.

Randy speaks with us about the history of their ranch, how they manage their herd and their non-profit organization Compton Jr. Equestrians. He discusses the challenges they have faced as a family run organization, how the program has developed as well as some of the key lessons he has learned and tried to incorporate into their program.

With his background in entertainment and media, Randy used his professional skills to develop a brand that has transcended social media and infiltrated big box brands. In the post-“Old Town Road” era where the cowboy aesthetic reigns high, Randy shares his philosophy for the modern day cowboy, gaining sponsorships, and content curation as one of his passions.

Randy reminds us that this is their lifestyle and the only difference now is the attention. Their main priority is still the kids, the horses and their farm.

Website: https://www.comptoncowboys.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/comptoncowboys

IG: @comptoncowboys @comptonjrequestrians

Visit www.youbgblackequestrians.com for more information and merchandise to support this movement!

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At a Saddle Up and Read event Caitlin and Abriana went to this past weekend, they chatted with some young ladies about the book they were reading, ways to improve and they even learned some new words (EQUESTRIAN). Take a listen as these brilliant young minds discuss Cowgirl Camryn and the Great Escape!