For more than 30 years, Lezlie Hiner has fiercely clung to a dream. As the founder of the nonprofit Work to Ride – which provides kids ages 7 to 18 a chance to learn about horses, care for them, ride them, and compete in polo matches for free – Hiner wanted more than just a field for “her kids” to play polo. She imagined an indoor arena where they could ride all year long, no matter the weather.

“Her kids” are not the ones you might expect to play polo. These are Philly kids – many from neighborhoods where trouble is easy to find. They are neither wealthy nor from the leafy suburbs or posh schools. For many of them, Work to Ride became their way out, their safe place, their family, their team. In 2025, the program added free transportation to its services, which boosted participation to 6

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