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prepared, you have to believe in yourself. You have to be confident, and if you start question- ing yourself and get nervous, you have to learn how to ignore that and go about doing your job.
I try to make sure that my reactions are automatic, instead of having to think about it. Like when you leave the gates, you should not have to think about how you are going to leave the gates. You should know how to leave those gates. It should be an automatic reaction that you already know what you have to do to leave those gates successfully.
Q. What is a goal that you have for yourself as a jockey?
A. I would like to be the leading rider up here in Canada. That would be nice. I would also like to ride at tracks in the states.
Q. What is one of your most memorable moments in your career so far?
A. This is always such a hard question! It’s hard because the stakes are all important. You always feel on top of the world when you win a stakes race, but sometimes it’s those little races that just happen to be the best ride or you
are so happy with how your horse performed. Those can be very memorable.
Probably my most memorable was getting to ride in the John Deere Juvenile Challenge race and ride in an AQHA Challenge
race in Texas. I didn’t win, but it was an
amazing experience and I really enjoyed the opportunity.
Q. How would describe your riding style?
A. A little different than what some people like for Quarter Horses. I’m more of a hand rider than someone who’s going to use their stick a lot.
Q. Is there something about Quarter Horse racing in Canada that you would like to see change?
I would love to see Quarter Horse rac-
ing continue to grow. We have a small track up here at Ajax Downs, and there are usually about 200 horses in the circuit. It’s a ship-in track, which means you are only able to haul in and breeze your horses two days a week. I would love to see Quarter Horse racing con- tinue to grow up here and become a track that you can ride on daily.
Q. Being a jockey is very competitive. How do you feel as a woman in this male dominated industry?
A. Up here I don’t find it too bad. There
are three women up here at Ajax Downs. I do notice that there are some trainers who won’t ride me because I’m a girl or I’m not their first pick because I’m female. The trainer I do ride for, however, I have a really good connection with and our horses run really well for the team
that we are. It is difficult, but at the same time, our track is so small that we are more like a family, and we tend to look out for each other. I think if I was at a larger track I would feel the pressure a little more. But here, it might lose me a mount every now and then but it really doesn’t affect me. I’ve heard from a friend who used to ride in Louisiana who said it would be harder down in the states and I believe that.
I was very fortunate and found a trainer who wanted me to ride all of his horses all the time.
Q. What advice can you give to the young girls and women who want to become a jockey?
A. Hold your ground. When people try to push on you and try to make it harder for you, keep your chin up and stick up for yourself without losing your temper. I would also say try to find a spot where you can ride with someone who has the same or similar interests in their horses and what they want to see them do. They are more likely to put you on if you are getting along with their horses. I don’t always find that bigger outfits are the best way to break into rac- ing. It’s all about you and what you are willing to put up with and what you’re not. Myself per- sonally, I won’t ride horses that I feel are going to break down. That will actually lose me mounts when I say this horse is sore and won’t ride it. Make sure that you stick with your convictions. What you believe is what you believe, and you have to be strong enough to stand up for it.
Cassandra Jeschke and Panther Hero win the 2015 Ajax Downs Juvenile Challenge.
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THE BACKSIDE