Hi,
I’m Shelley and I’m from Skibbereen in west Cork. I’m 16 years old and I’ve been riding horses
for as long as I can remember. I started
riding ponies at a very young age and did a good bit of showing which is
definitely where I got my competitiveness from!
My Dad and Granddad trained and raced standardbred racehorses and when I
was 12 years old I started racing them.
I got the feel for speed and from then onward, I knew I wanted to be a
jockey. I had heard about RACE from a
good few people and I knew that once I was the right age I would apply.
The
trial week was very tough but a good experience all the same. Once I found out I got on the course, I knew
it would be a big change, but I was delighted to have gotten the place. We started to get to know the routine of the
barn and the run of school and within a month we were all settled in. The most challenging part was fitness. Wayne
(our fitness coach) would always push us hard in the gym and the results would
always show in the fitness tests. In the
RACE barn, I have learned a lot about the different elements of working in a
yard as well as improving my riding too.
In
January I was sent out to Michael Halford.
At the start it was hard to settle into such a big yard, with over 100 horses,
but everyone was helpful and I soon settled in.
I am working at the yard full time now, riding 5/6 lots every day. It is a great feeling getting to ride work
with other Jockeys. They are always
helping me improve my riding and all the little tips help you to get
better. I’ll be working full time for
the summer and I hope to take out a license in a few months, while going back
to school to complete my Leaving Cert too.
I hope to get a few rides for experience and once I have my Leaving Cert
completed, I want to try my best as a jockey and with a bit of luck it’ll work
out!
Shelley was place with Michael Halford on the 22nd of January
2018
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| Riding on RACE Gallops for Family Day |
