In the Spotlight: Mari Sasano

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: Mari Sasano

About Mari: “My sister and I rode and competed in hunters for a few years when we were teenagers, partly working off lesson fees with barn chores. We have non-horsey, immigrant parents, and it was a struggle for them -- financially and culturally.

I quit riding in high school. Three years ago, when I was 44, I started riding lessons again at an eventing barn. I half-lease an OTTB, and I was planning on doing my first event in 2020, but I guess I'll have to wait! I'm really proud of eventers for being so forward-thinking about diversity in our sport.

Outside of the barn, I'm a writer and editor. I wrote about horses and my mental health a couple years ago, which you can read here.