Our Mission

The Ethos Award recognizes individuals who advance the engagement of Black and Brown people in the world of equestrian sports.

Founded in 2022 by Roberta Wilmore & Jess Saalfield, The Ethos Award is a biannual celebration of joy and representation. In the ongoing effort to make history known, we honor the powerful, inspiring, and revolutionary leadership of Black and Brown equestrians, past and present. Our Gala is hosted at different equestrian venues across the country to support our mission of inclusivity and accessibility, and to reach a wider audience.

About the Ethos Awards

In 2020 the United States Equestrian Federation released demographic membership data that stated that less than 1% of USEF members were Black. They also stated that “Diversity and Inclusion are fundamental to US Equestrian’s Vision: To bring the joy of horse sports to as many people as possible.”

It was within that context that co-founders Roberta Wilmore and Jess Saalfield started a conversation exploring ways to celebrate individuals who advance the engagement of Black and Brown people in the world of equestrian sports. In 2022, The Ethos Award was born.

The Ethos Award Gala portrays stories that challenge perceptions about what an equestrian has been, is, and will be. Bridging communities and encouraging belonging among horse people, this event adds great engagement and joy to the sport. The Ethos Award is about recognition. It’s about pride and advancement, and about a new appreciation and expression of the sport.

This is the exciting future of a more accessible and diverse equestrian community with increased representation of, and participation by, people of color.

Our first celebration took place at the Washington International Horse Show in October 2022. We honored six equestrians from different parts of the country — Donna Cheek, Greg Harbut, Jerome Parker, Kortnee Solomon, Randy Ward, and Cheryl White — to share the bigger picture of trailblazers in this sport.

We partner with unique equine venues across the country that share our mission to change the narrative of the horse industry. Collaborating on each gala helps support our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility on a larger scale.

In 2024 The Ethos Award Gala will take place at a historic landmark, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, NY.