Horsewoman Lezlie Hiner, founder of the Work to Ride program for urban youth, shares a moment with one of her four-legged assistants. (Photo by Barbara Sherf)

By Barbara Sherf

Mt. Airy resident and horseback riding coach Lezlie Hiner was basking in the spotlight as three of her students captured the U.S. Polo Association National Interscholastic championship in 2011 and 2012. Two of the three boys competing are brothers: Kareem and Daymar Rosser. Joined by Brandon Rease, the trio made up the first African-American team to win the national event.

Kareem Rosser went on to play polo at Colorado State University, graduating in May, 2016. His younger brother, Daymar, is enrolled at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island, where he also plays polo.

Hiner isn’t just any riding instructor. She is founder of Work to Ride (WTR), a nonprofit program that uses horses and equestrian sports to engage disadvantaged urban youth in constructive activities. Launched in 1994, the program accepts male and female students, ages 7 to 18, from low-income families who can commit eight hours a week to the effort and are enrolled in school. Through participation in WTR, young people develop character and acquire a variety of life skills, including learning basic barn chores such as feeding, watering, grooming and cleaning up after horses.

“Work to Ride provides youngsters with a positive outlet for their energy and an alternative to negative ‘street’ activities,” Hiner explains. “Not only do they earn riding time [by doing chores], but they also develop skills to compete in any number of horse sports of their choosing, from polo to dressage. Self-esteem is increased through each stage of the program as participants achieve pre-set goals.”

WTR also helps participants with scholastic endeavors. The program pays fees for SAT and ACT testing and will also pay for SAT preparatory courses. WTR also helps participants with college selection and will organize college visits. In addition, the program raises money through its scholarship fund to help students pay tuition so they can graduate with as little debt as possible.

And the initiative has blossomed when it comes to equestrian sports, especially polo. “This program has gone from the kids competing on a local level to really putting some teeth into the sport of polo and just really wanting to win the national

title and going for it,” Hiner said in her office at Chamounix Stables in Fairmount

Park, which burgeons with rescued cats and dogs.

Hiner, who believes one is either a “horse person” or not, remembers her first experiences with a horse. “I have loved horses since I can remember,” she said. “I broke the springs on my first hobby horse as a kid. In high school, I got a horse for which my parents paid half of the board, and I paid the other half, working about 30 hours a week after school. After high school, I deferred college and went to work in the thoroughbred racing industry and worked at various racetracks around the country.”

Asked where she sees herself in five or 10 years, the Mt. Airy resident says she plans to be right where she is. While she has no children of her own, Hiner considers her students to be her children. “Our program is one of a kind in the U.S. Gradually, more programs similar to ours are popping up across the country, and we are the model that people use. It’s very gratifying to have others embrace the concept and mold it to their own design.”

Hiner sees herself as an agent for change. “I would say that I have always been interested in social justice, which I credit to my parents. They were not activists, but they taught us that your deeds are much more important than your words.”

Hiner, 59, does not anticipate retiring anytime soon. “The horses and kids provide constant entertainment and keep you on your toes,” she says. “I can’t imagine not having this in my life.”

WTR relies on the support of the general public for most of its operating funds and recently launched a capital campaign to build an indoor arena. To learn more, visit worktoride.net.

Barbara Sherf captures the stories of businesses and individuals. She can be reached through her web site at www.communicationspro.com or 215-990-9317. This article was reprinted, with permission, from Milestones, the monthly publication of the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging.