In the Spotlight: Anu Joshi

Throughout each month, we’ll share submitted features on BIPOC riders within our network. It’s important that we lift up the voices and stories of underrepresented riders so as to help bring more future equestrians into the community. Remember: SEE it, share it! Do you want to be featured? Submit your story here.

Rider: Anu Joshi

About Anu:

“My name is Anu, I was born in Spain, am of Indian descent, grew up in the Midwest, and for the past 25 years horses have shaped every aspect of my life. I started riding in elementary school after persistently asking my parents for lessons. I was hooked from the first moment I sat in the saddle, and quickly asked to spend as much time at the barn and around horses as possible. I was lucky enough to have supportive parents who were happy to help me learn and grow within the sport.

Most of my childhood was spent at the barn and on the back of a horse, I can't think of a better way to grow up. About 12 years ago my family and I brought our first horse home. Achates was an off the track Thoroughbred that we adopted through CANTER, and he has been everything I could have ever asked for or been lucky enough to have in a first horse. He's brave, kind, and always willing to work hard.

Thanks to him I was able to travel and train in Florida, and continue expanding my education as a dressage rider under an S Level judge. It was an experience that shaped both of us and firmed up my belief that it is our responsibility as riders and trainers to work with our horses to bring out their very best.

After moving back home in 2017 we purchased a PRE colt named Basilio. Raising him has been a truly amazing experience. He's a talented horse who I am hoping will one day be my FEI partner. His future looks bright and I am going to do everything I can to support and encourage him as we start his career under saddle this summer.

Currently I work at an organization called Detroit Horse Power. Its mission is twofold, youth participating in our organization's after school program and summer camps get to ride and care for horses in a safe and enriching spaces, and program participants learn valuable skills that set them up for future success. As an organization we are also hoping to address the issue of vacant land within the city by building an urban equestrian center that will contribute to the city’s renewal and be a center for community events and equestrian services.

I love being a part of Detroit Horse Power's mission and working there has allowed me to continue being an advocate for equity and inclusion within the sport. Looking to the future I am hoping to one day own a small equestrian facility that I can host educational opportunities at for local riders. Access is a big part of why our sport does not thrive and I want to do my part to start eliminating that problem.”