The Rane Riding Project

The Rane Riding Project was created to give visibility to the Black equine community in Minnesota. It is inspired by my experiences volunteering with rehabilitation centers, assisted therapy non-profits, and farm-stay work exchange programs.

Black Americans have been disconnected from their identities through involuntary displacement, cultural suppression, and the erasure of ancestral history. Today, the existence of the Black American cowboy is slowly becoming known. However, it is not widely known that the term “cow boy” was a derogatory name for Black cow hands, despite making up a quarter of them. Black Americans have continually been excluded and belittled in this industry and robbed of the healing and confidence that comes from working with horses. Of the riders that do exist, space is not made for their stories to exist within a highly privatized and white-dominated endeavor.

I plan to expand my research and online platform to reach an international audience that serves Black equestrians all over the world. The expansion would involve cultural explorations that allow me to be fully immersed in these communities. This would include photography, personal interviews, on-site observations, and other forms of connection that will effectively tell their stories. There are several global examples of communities that will allow me to do this and have yet to be acknowledged.

A donation to The Rane Riding Project will support the RRP mission and goals, as well as the founder, Dominica Rane, in continuing her horsemanship. This includes:

Travel expenses (volunteer work, interviews, etc.)

Transcription software

Online platform expenses (website subscriptions, etc.)

Organized events for the Minnesota equine community

Horseback riding lessons

Attendance of the Bill Pickett Rodeo

The Rane Riding Project is currently searching for grants and additional funding. The majority of my work with horses has been paid for with my own savings. Anything is appreciated!