Welcome to my world as the oldest lady and menopausal, brain fog, female in the group of slightly bonkers gang of 12 (this year’s Jockeys in the race).

Based in Leicestershire, the home of the famous Quorn Hunt, I began my riding life as a young excitable 8-year-old. My family used to go riding at a little old shanty type farm, owned by an old Uncle or someone similar. I rode a scruffy little pony called Scooby but my most prominent memory is my Mum getting bolted off with, falling off and being dragged along with her foot in the stirrup……. scarred for life? Absolutely NOT…. on the contrary I was addicted for life!

After that a small gang of delinquent kids (aged 11) used to save our school dinner money, which, with me being bit of an ‘older’ person would have been around 50p in todays money. A bridle was subsequently thrust into my sticky, excited hands, a piebald pony was pointed out to me and I was told “that’s what your riding, Beauty, go fetch”! I’d never put a bridle on but had a rough idea…..scrambled over her face, jumped on board (I was young then) and galloped up the wall to meet the other would be cowboy/gals and Dick Turpin’s to a whizz round the fields, streams and fallen tree logs, dotted around Mazerella’s farm at that time.

Meanwhile, on a Saturday my dad would go to great lengths to try to help me learn the knack and skills needed to select a horse to win a race. From weights, ratings, reading the form guide of the horses and their trainers, even how they may or may not like that racecourse. Obviously, he should have changed his method as I can never remember him or my Grandad ever having a win worth shouting about.

I have owned nice horses in my adult life and done Hunting, Cross country, and general galloping about in places around the country.

In preparation for the race, I’m riding out 2 to 3 times a week and training to get my physical fitness to that of a 30-year-old female, not a 56 nearer 57-year-old – not an easy task believe me! However, I’m definitely getting stronger and less out of breath. I managed to do my mandatory three minutes on an Equisizer without almost falling off, exhausted.

Hence my application to apply to ride in Macmillan’s Ride Of Their Lives charity race at York Racecourse on Saturday, 15th June.

Reason 1; I lost my dad when I was 13 and my Grandad a few years later.  Then over the years the rest of my Grandparents and some very close friends and also my Stepdad too. Last Christmas I lost my father-in-law & my Mum.

Unfortunately Cancer affects us all, directly or indirectly so what better way to raise money for Macmillan and the amazing job they do but also to provide a few minutes entertainment for my friends, family and especially my Dad, Reg, Grandad, Bill and Father in law, Tom…..who loved their horse racing with a passion up there in heaven’s TV Lounge.

Reason 2; its been on my bucket list to ride in a proper horse race but I’ve never ever been anywhere near the preferred weight to ride in a flat race (too scared nowadays to even contemplate jump racing!)

Reason 3; to prove to any other female going through the Menopause, DONT LET IT CONTROL YOU – YOU CONTROL IT! Make a choice of something you have always wanted to do, train like a woman possessed, and you tell your body its limits not the other way round. I’ve got half a false knee, night and day sweats, not sure who/where I am and my temper fuse is quickly vanishing BUT yes, I’m going through the change, but I’m accepting it not fighting it. My method may not suit everyone but I believe if you don’t use it (your ability to move albeit a bit wobbly sometimes) you lose it.

That’s it….now I just have to master press ups, pull ups and squats, plus planks etc etc and the fact that I’ve to walk out wearing sexy silks on a not so sexy body in front of 20 thousand folk, get legged up and not go straight over the other side PLUS canter down to the start and not end up in Thirsk…..easy peazzie lemon squeezie…who am I kidding??? I’ve got no room to hide a hip flask so I guess I must settle for my Bachs rescue remedy spray lol. Wish me good luck my friends and I will give 150% on the day.

Donate to Gaynor’s just giving page here. Buy tickets to the raceday here.