As a minority photographer, representation in the equestrian world matters deeply to me. That’s why I’m honored to continue participating in the Equestrians of Color Photography Project (EOCP), which amplifies the voices of equestrians of color who have powerful stories to share with our community.
Recently, I had the privilege of photographing Jamie Graham, an Arizona-based equestrian who has built her entire life around horses. Jamie’s journey spans three continents—from learning to ride retired racehorses in Hong Kong as a child, to navigating cultural identity as an Asian equestrian in the United States.
What struck me most about Jamie’s story was her honesty about representation. She shared how she constantly feels the weight of being the only Asian rider at her barn and at shows, feeling like she has to represent everyone who looks like her. After years of feeling self-conscious about her Asian name being announced at competitions, Jamie made the powerful decision to embrace her heritage fully—now proudly displaying her Chinese middle name on all her USDF and USEF registrations.
Jamie founded her own equestrian business in 2020 and describes being an equestrian as a core part of her identity. Her philosophy of continuous learning and her dedication to improving every day for the sake of her horse, Koda, exemplifies the passion that drives so many of us in this sport.
Her message to other equestrians of color considering joining the sport resonates: “Don’t let the fear of thinking that you don’t belong stop you from considering becoming an equestrian.” She acknowledges the challenges but emphasizes that allyship is stronger than we think when we find the right people to surround ourselves with.
You can read Jamie’s full story here on the EOCP website where you can see more of her portraits from this session.
