CHICAGO (WLS) -- A local high school senior is making Chicago Proud. There are very few people of color in the world of competitive horse riding and finances aren't the only barrier to entry. Emerson Ricketts is a senior at Jones College Prep, but next fall she'll attend Auburn University, joining the school's equestrian team.
There aren't a lot of girls like Emerson in the sport, but she's not letting anything get in her way. "I just never wanted to get off," Ricketts said. Her passion for horses began when she was just 5 years old.
"I couldn't stop talking about it and so I got to sign up for lessons," Ricketts Ricketts quickly became one with the horse. They were inseparable. "They don't judge you," Ricketts said.
"They always come out and try so hard for you. Every single day, they are the same loving animals." It became clear that riding horses was more than a hobby for Ricketts.
It was something she couldn't live without. As an equestrian, she has thrived in numerous competitions across the country, winning national titles while also breaking barriers. According to the United States Equestrian Federation, one of the major governing bodies overseeing competitive horse sports, of the organization's 447,0000 members who disclose their race, nearly 92% are white, with Black riders making up only 0.
5%. Ricketts' parents said the journey on the road hasn't always been easy. "I notice things and then we'll bring it up.
Sometimes she'll bring it up, sometimes I'll bring it up, .
