Case Study: Ruth Inman selected for Riding A Dream Academy 3 months after first pony race

We caught up with Ruth Inman, one of the Ghyll Park Equestrian Pony Racing Academy riders who rode in her first pony race at Ascot Racecourse back in April.

Ruth is 15 and lives in Kent, around 25 miles from Ghyll Park Equestrian. She does not come from an equestrian background but wanted to be a jockey, and when she found out that Hollie Doyle came through the pony racing ranks it inspired her to want to be successful in such a male dominated world. Ruth applied for the Pony Racing Authority’s Pony Racing Academy course, and after a successful application was accepted.

Things didn’t start smoothly however, as she discovered that due to her riding abilities and fitness, as well as her asthma, she was behind the other children on the course. After long discussions with Ruth, her parents and the course leaders it was decided that she would stop the course she was on and go away and work on her riding and fitness.

Ruth’s mother, Jennifer said: “After a few weeks doing the PRA course, Ruth was struggling to keep up with the others and there were some basic things about riding that she didn’t know. Additionally, as she was nervous herself in the early days, apparently the horses would pick up on this. This was a difficult but valuable experience for Ruth’s riding ability.”

Undeterred by this setback she began training at home. Jennifer went on to say: “We ordered Ruth a wobble board and she began training intensively. A riding friend lent her a saddle, which she put on top of our piano stool and began practising her riding technique in front of the glass doors in our living room, to see her reflection. She began a regime of getting up at 5.30am. going for a run, then carrying out all the exercises in John’s (the Ghyll Park Fitness & Balance coach) circuit training. Not only did this improve her riding and fitness, it seemed to also help her asthma, too.”

Once she was reaccepted onto the course, Ruth found that she was ahead, instead of behind, her classmates.

Ruth’s dream is to become an apprentice jockey to Andrew Balding.

“I have always dreamt of becoming an apprentice jockey at Park House Stables for Andrew Balding,” she said.

“Getting a place at a pony racing academy was a dream come true. Becoming a jockey has been my biggest dream and having now taken the first step, I am motivated to continue in this pursuit.

“The academy has been an amazing experience and I am hugely grateful for having this opportunity and cannot wait to see where I go in the future.

“When I couldn’t race at Lingfield with the first group I was really upset and disappointed with myself. Being able to have had the opportunity of taking part in a race at Ascot itself was the best thing I’ve ever done in my life so far.

“I am extremely fortunate to have been on the course at Ghyll Park Equestrian where I had amazing teaching and encouragement from Sally-Ann Dale.”

Following completion of the PRA Pony Racing Academy course and racing at Ascot, Ruth was offered a residential week at the BRS by the Riding a Dream initiative. Having completed the week in May, she has now been awarded the year-long Riding a Dream Scholarship starting in August.

Ruth said: “I had a wonderful time on the residential week at BRS and I’ve learnt so much!  Being in that setting has increased my interest in racing, making me more determined in the pursuit of my dream. My favourite moment of the week was going to the National Stud where I got to meet Stradivarius himself, which was absolutely incredible!

“Having now been given the Riding a Dream Scholarship I am beyond thrilled and can’t wait to see what the coming months hold.

The PRA’s Pony Racing Academy Scheme is part of the Pony Racing Pathway, a collaboration between the Pony Racing Authority, Racing to School, The Pony Club and the BHA’s Careers in Racing, funded by The Racing Foundation. For more information about the PRA Academy, have a look on the website https://www.ponyracingauthority.co.uk/get-racing/youth-training-scheme/ and contact Lea Allen on academy@ponyracingauthority.co.uk