Turfway park race

[RipSpark]

We had our official graduation race at Turfway Park. I didn't get to post pics sooner because I left my scanner at home in GA. Finally I got the pics. I have more to scan, but didn't want to overload people with pics, lol. I had a blast. It was my first time riding there. I have my gate card and am ready to start officially riding as soon as I get a mount.

In the saddling paddock
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/RipSpark/scan0005.jpg

Being handed off to the pony and starting our warm up
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/RipSpark/scan0004.jpg

Standing up after crossing the wire
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/RipSpark/scan0006.jpg

[mare]

Beautiful!!! So happy for you. Good luck and best wishes for a successful career!

I'd love to see more pics. No worries about over load here.

[OwnedByOurHorses]

best of wishes to you in what I call a very exciting career

[Tiz]

Hey, I thought you quit school, and didn't want to ride races anymore. Changed your mind, I see.
I see that goofy grin in the last shot. Good for you, Ripspark, and good luck getting mounts.

A word of advice, words, I should say.

Have a work ethic.

Make the rounds in the morning without fail.

Keep an eye out for trainers hanging out at the end of the barn with that certain "I need a rider" look on their faces, and ask them if you can take something for them.

Be eager to gallop horses, not just work them.

Always keep your appointments.

Don't ignore small barns, they're most likely to give you a chance if you help them out.

A few small barns are better then one big one, that way if you get fired from one, you aren't completely out of work.

Always check the tack, and don't think you have to get on bad ones to get ridden.



Have fun, and be safe!

[WashingtonBay]

Terrific! Congratulations!

Oh to be young and little with GUTS! Good luck to you. :cheers:

[vicklynn]

Very cool! Ya look good girl!

[MyMia]

How exciting! Good luck to you, and too many pictures are always better than not enough!!!

[WashingtonBay]

How exciting! Good luck to you, and too many pictures are always better than not enough!!!

Agree with ^ :cool:

[Gypsy Rose]

Congrats! That's fantastic!

[Mandzanita]

Hey, I thought you quit school, and didn't want to ride races anymore. Changed your mind, I see.
I see that goofy grin in the last shot. Good for you, Ripspark, and good luck getting mounts.

A word of advice, words, I should say.

Have a work ethic.

Make the rounds in the morning without fail.

Keep an eye out for trainers hanging out at the end of the barn with that certain "I need a rider" look on their faces, and ask them if you can take something for them.

Be eager to gallop horses, not just work them.

Always keep your appointments.

Don't ignore small barns, they're most likely to give you a chance if you help them out.

A few small barns are better then one big one, that way if you get fired from one, you aren't completely out of work.

Always check the tack, and don't think you have to get on bad ones to get ridden.



Have fun, and be safe!


Sounds like some pretty sage advice!

Good luck RipSpark and thanks for posting the pics. I say post more :)

[Reinmaker]

Very cool. Congratulations!!

[Equine_Woman]

Okay, I swear I posted this so if it shows up twice, I just noticed it didn't go through!

Anyways! Congrats! If you ever ride at Lone Star be sure to let me know so I can come be your fan!! Seriously! I'll be there camera's blazing!!

[RipSpark]

Thanks so much everyone!

Thanks for the advice Tiz. I have been on salary with a barn for the past year. I am now going up to Turfway and getting on horses there and here in Lexington. It has always been my dream so all though I struggled for a bit in school it was still always my dream.

[Tiz]

With the same barn?

[RipSpark]

I still ride one filly for them, but I am going off trying to get on other horses now, since I want to start riding soon. They have been so great to me and helped me out, but if I want to start I couldn't keep that job and be going up to Turfway all the time.

[Tiz]

So they don't keep horses at Turfway. Well, maybe they have friends there that will try you out if you mention that you worked for them. I would expect that making it through Chris McCarron's school must be a huge help for you too. You look pretty little, so hopefully bug weight is no problem for you, and that helps get you rides with some. You better be fit though, because trainers tend to use bugs on route horses especially.

I keep forgetting you went to jockey school, with one of the best. I'll bet you've heard all of this, and more, there. Good luck, Ripspark. Let us know how it goes. Regularly!

[Diane of Buck's Hollow]

Awesome. Congratulations!!! Post lots of pictures and videos so we can follow your Career.

[FoxFireEMT]

Thats great Ripspark! I'm slightly jealous, always thought that would be fun to do!! So with that being said, you have to post more pictures so I can live through you!! :) That is so fantastic!! Congrats & like the others said, keep us posted regularly.

[XshadowfoxX]

that is SO COOL! Good luck and Im with the crowd- MORE pictures =]