Horse Vlog: Sisters Horsing Around

About the Vlog

Every equestrian starting out on their journey yearns for a community where they can grow and thrive: a space where they can learn and ask questions and not be judged for their missteps. But, more than anything, equestrians yearn for a place to belong.

This is exactly what Sarah and Emily Harris set out to provide through their YouTube channel, Sisters Horsing Around (SHA). It’s an educational channel that provides new horse riders the chance to learn through their experiences, as well as to bring visibility and a sense of belonging to black riders.

Emily and Sarah’s wholesome approach to learning, riding, and caring for their horses is infectious. They simply desire to share their love for horses as a means to impact people’s lives for the better.

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Key Players

Emily: “I have always wanted to try and do everything.” Emily is the older of the two Harris sisters. Her hair is curly, and she loves everything purple. She’s loved horses as long as she can remember, and got her first horse, Amazing Grace, at age 17 and her second horse, Stella, at age 21. Emily was the president of her 4-H club before they transitioned to riding in Pony Club.

At Pony club, she earned multiple USPC certifications in Western, Hunt Seat, and Gaited/Non-Trotting divisions. She now enjoys cross-training in Dressage, Hunt Seat, Show Jumping, Western Dressage, Ranch, and Trail. She loves the thrill of Show Jumping and the technicality of Huntseat, but Western riding is a core part of who she is.

“Jumping is my heart, but Western is my home.” Emily is passionate about learning and being a well-rounded horsewoman, and hopes one day to be a professional rider.

Read Emily’s “Letter to My Rookie Self”

Sarah: “Horses are beautiful creatures that God created for us to enjoy and that is such a blessing!” Sarah is the younger sister, has straight hair, and her favorite color is blue. Sarah has loved horses since she was a baby (her first word was “hoy hoy”), and wanted a horsie birthday every year!

She got her first horse, Allie, for her 8th birthday, but didn’t start riding her until 3 years later because riding made her parents nervous at first. Two years after Allie, Sarah got Genesis for her 10th birthday: a yearling Irish Cob (her favorite breed).

She was also in the local 4H club with Sarah and was the Vice President while Emily was president. Her favorite disciplines are Dressage, Show Jumping, Eventing, with a little Hunt Seat thrown in the mix.

Read Sarah’s “Letter to My Rookie Self”

“We want to reach not only the Black and other communities of color, but the wider non-equestrian world as well. Horses have had such a positive impact on our lives, and we want to share that with everyone!” – Emily Harris in the October 2020 Issue of Sidelines Magazine

10 Reasons to Subscribe

1. SHA is Rookie-Friendly: The Harris sisters learned everything they know about horses from scratch, and want to help others learn what they’ve figured out along the way without fear of judgment for being inexperienced: “[Sisters Horsing Around is] for all the sprouting horse lovers who want to strengthen their passion” – Sarah.
2. Born to Ride: Emily and Sarah were horse crazy from the beginning. Even though none of their family or friends were involved with horses, they were both obsessed from a young age. When it became clear to Sarah and Emily’s parents that they had horse-crazy girls on their hands, they jumped right in by buying them a quarter horse named Allie, who became their steady, gentle teacher.
3. Natural Role Models: Sarah and Emily saw that there was a gap on YouTube for equestrians who looked like them. With the encouragement of their parents, they decided to make an educational channel to share their passion for horses while also providing visibility to the black equestrian community. They hope that other aspiring black equestrians can see their example and feel welcome in the sport.
4. They Really Do It All: Sarah and Emily both enjoy various forms of Western and English riding, and they have certifications to match. Having done 4H and Pony Club and trained under various trainers, they are the epitome of well-rounded horsewomen. Between the two of them, they currently ride Dressage, Hunt Seat, Show Jumping, Western Dressage, Eventing, Ranch & Trail.
5. Spotlight on Black Equestrians: SHA created content specifically to spotlight black history and cross the racial divide in the sport. Check out their history of Selika Lazevski, a 19th century black equestrienne, and their video on Racial Unity.
6. Horse FAQs, Product Reviews, and Fun: The channel is a wealth of equine knowledge. With video topics ranging from equine facts and FAQ’s to riding lessons, horse play to behind-the-scenes footage of equestrian events, you’re bound to learn something new with each video. Even the product reviews play more like tutorials about saddle fit, rider safety, horse care tips and more.
7. Featured in Sidelines Magazine: Sisters Horsing Around’s story can be read in the October 2020 issue of Sidelines Magazine, a publication devoted to the people and personalities that make the horse world exciting.
8. Daily Life Vlog Series: Emily and Sarah recently started a vlog series where they share their day-to-day lives with their horses, starting with their morning routine. What started out as a humble day-in-the-life-with-horses has become one of the most popular videos on their channel! Stay tuned for more like it.
9. SHA Partners with STAND: STAND (Strengthening Thoughts And Nurturing Dreams) is a non-profit organization that aims to help youth in highly populated urban areas to gain confidence and develop positive decision-making skills through equine therapy.
10. Family is Everything: You don’t have to watch for very long to realize just how close Emily and Sarah are. They started their horse journey together and have journeyed through lessons, 4-H, Pony Club, and now the SHA YouTube channel together. It comes as no surprise that their parents have supported them in all the ups and downs of horse ownership, cheering them on at every turn.

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Horse Rookie’s Top 5 Playlist

Not sure where to start? Here are 5 videos that help give you a sense of the content and decide if this channel is right for you.

1. Types of Horses
2. Our Morning Routine
3. Crossing the Racial Divide in the Equestrian Community
4. HDR Galia Close Contact Saddle Review
5. What is Pony Club?

Sample Video

How to watch

If you’re interested in watching this channel, click below to see it on YouTube.

Watch the Vlog Return to Media Guide Shop Riding Essentials on Amazon

P.S. Enjoy this article? Trot on over to:

• Letter to My Rookie Self: Emily Harris
• Letter to My Rookie Self: Sarah Harris
• Media Guide: Young Black Equestrians Podcast
• Braided: A Herd Dynamic (Horse Rookie Diversity Initiative)
• 32 Things You Can Do Now to Calm Your Riding Nerves Forever
• When Should You Start Horse Riding Lessons
• Small Business Spotlight: The Positive Equestrian
• How to Ride and Show Horses Without a Trust Fund