The next polo champion or Olympian could be a Detroiter. 

Historically, horseback riding isn’t an activity you see often in urban settings like Detroit, but the local nonprofit Detroit Horse Power is trying to change that. They are working to make events like dressage and horseback riding more accessible to all people, especially young Detroiters. 

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On Monday, Detroit Horse Power broke ground on a state-of-the-art facility in the Fenkell-Linwood community on the city’s Westside. The 14-acre site will serve as a training center and offer a summer school program. 

Founder and executive director of Detroit Horse Power David Silver and Executive Director of Hope Village Revitalization and Detroit Horse Power Board Member Jeff Jones joined The Metro on Wednesday to discuss what the new facility could mean for Detroiters. 

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation with Silver and Jones.

More headlines from The Metro on Oct. 23, 2024:

• Echoes from the Rust is a new art exhibit at the Elaine L. Jacob Gallery at Wayne State University. It’s taking a closer look at cities in the rust belt and the people who call them home. Curator Kemuel Benyehudah and artist Halima Afi Cassells joined The Metro to discuss.
• In Detroit’s 36th District Court, the largest district court in Michigan, three candidates are running for two open seats during a time when the court has seen major changes. The court entered into a bail reform agreement with the ACLU of Michigan that prohibits imposing high cash bail under most circumstances. This week, we’re speaking with the candidates to see where they stand on this agreement and how they would make Detroit’s justice system more equitable. In this episode, co-host Robyn Vincent spoke with Malaika Ramsey-Heath.
• Election Day is almost here and Michigan has become ground zero for the Harris and Trump campaigns. One Tuesday, former President Barack Obama came to Detroit to rally for Vice President Harris along with Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Eminem and Calvin Johnson. WDET Senior News Editor Quinn Klinefelter joins the show to recap the rally and talk about the election that’s 12 days away.

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In August, Eva Goodman was placed in handcuffs and a jail uniform for sleeping in a courtroom during a field trip. Goodman, 15, was visiting with a group organized by the nonprofit the Greening of Detroit. During the visit, Judge Kenneth King of the 36th District court scolded the teen for her “attitude” and behavior.

Goodman’s mother told the Free Press after the incident that their family did not have permanent housing and got in late the night before. Judge King was temporarily removed from the court docket, and his classes at Wayne State University were reassigned due to his suspension.

Since the incident, the Created Equal team has been examining through conversations how society responds to people who live in poverty.

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Dr. Rema-Vassar, a professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Wayne State University, spent 20 years working in education and studies race, gender and class implications in schools. She says King’s response to the incident in court was inappropriate.

“My adviser at UCLA used to say, ‘all behavior is functional.’ There’s a reason for all behavior. So if the baby is sleeping in the court, the human response is to figure out why,” Vassar said. “Teachers get to come in and say, ‘I haven’t had my coffee. Don’t bother me for five minutes,’ right? A judge can say, ‘I have to take a recess, I need to compose myself and come back.’ Why aren’t children allowed to do that? Why can’t children say, ‘hey, I’m tired.'”

Vassar joined the show on Tuesday to talk more about how a student’s behavior in school can be a reflection of their circumstances at home.

Guest: 

• Dr. Rema-Vassar is a professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.

Listen to Created Equal with host Stephen Henderson weekdays from 9-10 a.m. ET on 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand.