CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Black cowboy scene in Charlotte is one few know about. It’s here and thriving with more and more African Americans getting into horseback riding. 

Those like Angie Simmons would typically rush to get home after work, but every day she’s out tending to her horse in Charlotte.

What You Need To Know

  • Angie Simmons started Sistas With Horses four years ago after noticing there was no female saddle club in the city

  • Simmons purchased her first horse back in 2017 and had no real riding experience

  • Simmons is working to start a basic 101 horsemanship class for anyone in the city interested in wanting to ride

For 30 years, she’s worked as a nurse.

After leaving work one day, Simmons says she drove by land filled with horses and finally decided to stop and meet the man who owned them. 

“He invited us to come…you can come anytime…we’ll let you ride. We’ll let your daughter ride. Well, two months later, I was feeding all 12 of his horses,” said Simmons. “Me and my daughter were shoveling manure, and we were doing everything, and then I actually had the opportunity to buy my first horse.” 

Simmons had no horse experience. Instead, she had a passion that pushed her to this decision. She learned her mother had ridden horses and soon, Simmons became immersed in Charlotte’s Black horse riding scene. 

“I had gone to a trail ride, and I had noticed that there was Black women, a lot of Black women, horse riders, and of course, there was triple the amount of Black men,” she said. 

From there, she launched Charlotte’s first all-Black, female saddle club called Sistas with Horses. The group has been around four years and has attracted Black female riders from all over, like Marsha Thomas, who joined just a few months ago. 

“To become a part of such a group with good women that shares the same experience that I do with horses…it was a good thing,” Thomas said. 

Black cowboys date all the way back to the mid-1800s, according to the Library of Congress. In the Charlotte area, it was people like Bobby Martin Sr. and Joe Robinson who were part of the city’s original cowboy scene.

For Simmons and many others, it’s important their contributions aren’t forgotten. 

“These are stories that have never been shared,” she said. “No one talks about some of the many firsts that Black folks, men or women, have accomplished.” 

After buying her horse and starting an all-Black, female saddle club, five years have quickly flown by. Simmons is excited to continue sharing this love and history with anyone looking to ride. 

“As a child I was always raised that you share what you got,” she said. “That’s the only way people will know. So, I take my horse as an opportunity or this world as an opportunity to give back.” 

Simmons’ club also works with Charlotte youth to get them into riding. She plans to start a basic 101 horsemanship class for anyone in the city wanting to ride. 

You can find more information about the class and her saddle club here.