“Well your riding a sprinter over three furlongs, so probably slightly quicker than you will want to be going in your race” she replied.

Oh good, I thought.  Three times we had gone up the hill, each time Mambo was working slightly harder and I was loving it!  Most importantly, I wasn’t frightened by the speed, which had been a concern for me, so there was also instant reassurance that we’re still on track for the big day – 15th June.

I’m riding out about three times a week. Experience on the horses, particularly after equicizer sessions is what it’s all about, putting the theory into practice. I don’t get it right all the time but it’s slowly starting to come a bit more naturally.

I’ve spent plenty of time in racing yards in various guises, but going in as a rider is a bit different. When I was thinking about taking on the challenge I started going into Mark Walford’s on a Saturday. I was in pony club with Mark, my husband used to work for him and I knew he would keep me right.

When I was accepted into the race I knew I would have to up the riding so started going into Paul Midgley’s as he trains very close to home – I can ride at least two lots and still be at my desk for 8.30am.

Me left and Charlotte Lawson right, riding out at Paul Midgley’s

All being well, I have a horse to ride in the race, Ey Up It’s The Boss, trained in Norton by Tony Coyle, so I have been going in there to ride out and I did my first piece of “work” on him on Saturday – my first time riding work up the gallops, and I have to say it was exhilarating!  Under the careful watch of former professional jockey, Kristin Stubbs, I was instructed to join her half way up the gallop and we would be working from the two furlong pole. A little squeeze as we got there and The Boss changed his legs and we went up a gear. Wow!

I was full of questions as we rode down to the gallop and Tony reassuringly told me that the horse knew what he was doing and to just sit with him. He certainly did know what to do and I loved it. I put my stirrups up another couple of holes too, although still riding long by jockey standards, this felt about right for me.

The thing that all these three yards have in common is how wonderful the staff are with me. They all know my situation, what I’m doing and why and they are so helpful in every single way. They greet me with a smile and friendly hello, ask how things are going and point me in the right direction for tack and the horse – although I did manage to tack up and get on the wrong horse at Mark’s one day, but that’s a different story!

Little tips about how to ride a particular horse or how I can improve my position and even photos and videos are forthcoming and very welcome by me. I really feel like part of the team in every yard I have been into which is amazing considering I come and go when I please and I get to ride all the easy horses!

The fitness training continues apace, with regular sessions at Jack Berry House for strength and conditioning, plus cardio work from home.  Camilla, Charlotte L and I have got into the habit of meeting at Jack Berry House on a Monday night, when Danny sets us up with some different exercises and we go around in a circuit. You don’t think anything of it at the time, until you go to drink a cup of tea the next day and find you can’t raise the mug to your mouth because your muscles are stiff! There’s always a good team of people in, making the most of the facilities, pony riders, point-to-point jockeys and the pros if they’re not evening racing, along with some who are rehabbing.

Danny has also arranged some fitness work for us to do at home through an app that all the riders have access to, which is helpful if we can’t get into the gym and for those riders who are further away.  We can all benefit from the expertise of the staff at Jack Berry House, one way or another.

L-R Charlotte Lawson, Camilla Parsonage and me training at Jack Berry House

Former top National Hunt jockey, turned starter, Russ Garrity, who is also a jockey coach, puts us through our paces on the equicizers.  In pairs, we ride along to a race on the television while he gives us instructions and at our most recent session he only told us “elbows in” once, in our final four races! I’ll take that as a win, as I’ve always had an issue with my elbows flapping from a very young age!

The equicizer room is full of mirrors and I’ve now managed to come to terms with looking at my reflection to see if I’m doing what I should be. Straight legs, in line with the stirrup leather, heels down, flat back and elbows in. I always thought the elbows thing was about aesthetics but as Russ pointed out, you can be much stronger with your elbows in as the power comes from your shoulders.

Click here to see Camilla and Karl on the Equicizer.

Jockey training is one element of this “journey” that I am particularly enjoying. It gets a few of us together and it’s great to check in with each other to hear how we’re all getting on, comparing notes and asking for advice or offering suggestions on the different areas of this process. I hadn’t realised how much fun it would be and the camaraderie it would give. Fellow rider, Karl Avison tends to organise these training nights for us.

Karl, a farmer from Pickering, is unique in that he is the first rider to take part in the race for a second time – so it can’t be that bad! Having previously been coached by Russ, he has been instrumental in getting us together for the training nights since the beginning of January.

Karl has pledged to raise a huge amount of money, £25,000 and has got some great fundraising events coming up at Cedarbarn Farm Shop, which he runs with his wife Mandy, which seem to be selling out rather quickly! Don’t miss the Easter Egg Hunt and Train Rides on Saturday 30th March and then there is a Celebration Dinner at Cedarbarn Cafe on 12th April. More information and tickets can be booked by visiting their website.

I’ve managed to meet one of my targets – the fundraising one, following a showing of the film Champions, in the village hall, a coffee morning at home and the many donations from friends, relatives and strangers, I’ve met the £5,000 that I pledged to take part in the race, so I’ve upped the target!  Between the 12 of us, we’ve raised more than £40,000. That’s enough to fund a Macmillan Information and Support Center Manager based in a hospital, for nearly eight months! Macmillan are currently investing over £2 million to redevelop the York Cancer Care Centre and our donations could help to fund projects like this.

Sky Bet have also given me some branded riding out attire – I like to think I look like a pro, but I more likely fit the mantra “all the gear, no idea!” All the same, I’m very grateful to them and it is commented on in the yards.

My next event is a racing themed gym event at the Fit Happens Studio in Malton. Right at the very beginning when I was thinking about entering the race I approached Angela, who I have done various fitness classes with, and told her that I wanted to enter but I had a lot of weight to lose and would have to be fitter than I’ve ever been before. I had about eight weeks before the application closing date and told her that we had to see how far we could get before I would consider applying. She has been amazing! I’ve had some fitness programmes to follow, based on the (lack of) equipment that I have at home and she really set me off on the right foot.

On Sunday 17th March, St Patrick’s Day, she’s opening the gym up to people who want to come and take part in some racing themed exercises and activities. There’ll be cake (not for me!), a raffle and maybe even a bit of the black stuff! So if you’re in the Malton area, come along and get stuck in – or just buy a raffle ticket!

Next week I’m going to Charlotte Lawson’s Murder Mystery Evening at Terrington Village Hall. A sell out event, but a really fun way to raise some funds. It’s intriguing to see how people are raising money in so many different ways and quite creatively. Sometimes it’s just the simple things that have the most impact. Antonia is selling clothes on Vinted, Camilla is running a ‘Make A Loaf for Macmillan‘ breadmaking course with Side Oven Bakery on 16th March and an Open Farm Event on Saturday 6th April, sponsored by Beverley Racecourse.

There’s dog shows, pleasure rides and parties so keep your eyes peeled for fun activities to get involved in as we approach the big day on June 15th.

If you would like to donate, please visit my Just Giving page.