The first few weeks have been slightly overwhelming! Since finding out I was a chosen jockey, I have been on the phone A LOT! Family life has been turned upside down and all the chat around the table is horses, riding out and fundraising. The kids are so engrossed, they are planning what they can do to help raise some money! Good news…
Team TDE (Tim Easterby) kindly agreed that they would allow me to ride out…I have ridden all my life but have never sat on a racehorse before. The kids went back to school and I also felt like a new girl on her first day! A big thank you to everyone who has been so patient so far, especially Emily who has seen me right and given me invaluable tips and instructions.
The horses have been very patient, especially Things Change, who regularly has a boisterous squeal! When asked to lead the string, I felt very apprehensive but I was reassured by Emily that it would be fine, he would dictate the pace! He did.
Every morning, I wake up with a different muscle shouting at me! I have certainly located a couple that I didn’t know I had. Currently, I feel like like a gate post but I am hoping this will pass….
I am definitely getting fitter, but there is a long way to go! On induction at Jack Berry House, I was diagnosed as “very wonky”! Listening to this, I think it’s lucky I’ve managed to stay on thus far! One thing for sure, I will work very hard to get straight!
While I am getting used to this different way of riding, I have also started fundraising. I really want to raise as much money as possible and I have plenty of ideas. These are now being collated on a wall planner… There are Mumbler Awards planned across both websites, a Ladies Lunch, suppers, tombolas, raffles and much more still at the planning stage – it is all go!
I have had a full day at York Races meeting the rest of the riders, the Macmillan team, York Races and the Jack Berry House team. So much valuable information to take on and a lot of photos taken (more than on my wedding day)! We’ve been in the paper which is quite exciting. There is no doubting it is real now….
The Just Giving page is up, so back to fundraising planning!