He thinks for a moment and then says it’s like the difference

Riding a racehorse takes nerves of steel

I’m at Chiefswood Stables in the beautiful rolling hills outside Alliston, Ont., and I’m about to check “ride a racehorse” off my bucket list. And I’m nervous as hell.

canada goose outlet new york city Rob Landry, Chiefswood’s racing manager and a former Queen’s Plate winning jockey, has invited canada goose coats on sale me to the gorgeous 200 acre farm and agreed to put me up on a horse. canada goose outlet new Canada Goose online york city

canada goose jacket outlet I’ve been riding for about 20 years and have always wanted to know what it would feel like to gallop on a racehorse. I can tell you now: it feels awesome. canada goose jacket outlet

canada goose outlet black friday What’s the difference between eventing the canadian goose jacket type of equestrian riding I’ve been doing for most of Canada Goose Outlet my life and racing? canada goose outlet black friday

canada goose outlet in usa I put the question to Rob as we watch a group of two year old thoroughbreds go through their morning workout on the white fenced training oval. He thinks for a moment and then says it’s like the difference between hockey and football: “Hockey is faster paced with fewer breaks. Football is more physical.” canada goose outlet in usa

canada goose outlet uk I’d say it’s more like football to rugby or, better yet, football to golf. In both of those sports you’re wearing cleats and they involve a ball. But that’s pretty much where the similarity ends. canada goose outlet uk

canada goose outlet store In equestrian riding, you sit on a cheap Canada Goose horse, you wear boots and you need to have confidence. It’s the same in racing. But jockeys need extra strength, patience and aggression to get out on the track. Racing is a dangerous sport in which horses regularly hit 60 km/h, and it takes a different type Canada Goose Coats On Sale of rider. Canada Goose sale canada goose outlet store

While I mull over whether I’m that type, I put on a crash vest along with my usual boots, gloves and helmet for the ride, just in case.

canada goose outlet nyc For my jockey experience, I’m riding Billy, a dark bay gelding about 16 hands tall (a horse’s height is measured to its shoulder, so Billy is 1.6 metres tall at his shoulder and about two metres to the top of his head). I climb onto his back, slip my feet into the stirrups and pick up his reins. canada goose outlet nyc

Everything feels different. The stirrups are much shorter than I’m used to, so my legs are bent at almost a 90 degree angle. If you’ve never sat in a saddle before, think about the difference between sitting down in your desk chair and folding yourself up to hunch down on one of those teeny chairs they have in kindergarten rooms.

The saddle is much smaller than what I’m used to, so I feel perched precariously on his back, instead of steadily seated as I would be on an uk canada goose event horse. Sort of like going from a touring bike to a racing motorcycle, I have to throw my weight forward as we pick up a gallop instead of sitting up straight.

canada goose outlet parka The short stirrups and small, light saddle are all part of keeping the least weight possible on a horse’s back, allowing canada goose uk shop it to run faster. The short buy canada goose jacket stirrup irons also allow the jockey to be more agile, shifting his or her weight as the horse speeds up and absorbing maximum shock into the legs, instead of onto the horse’s back. canada goose outlet parka

goose outlet canada I thought the scariest part of the ride would be the speed, but it was by far Billy’s strength. I’ve ridden plenty of thoroughbreds, but this guy’s neck and shoulders were more powerful than anything I’ve felt before. goose outlet canada

canada goose outlet jackets I haven’t just sat in a sauna for an hour trying to lose weight (as jockeys sometimes do before weighing in for a race) and I hit the gym regularly, but I do not feel nearly strong enough to control this horse. I actually feel a bit like I’m strapped to a squirmy bomb. It’s similar to the feeling you get the canada goose uk black friday first time you pilot canada goose a real sports car. It’s fantastic, with a hint of fear. canada goose outlet jackets

Rob rides out on the track with me, on an ex racehorse named Markdale. Keep in mind that this is after he’s regaled me with stories about twice breaking his back, flying off high spirited horses before the race has even started and how cheap canada goose uk Beth Underhill, a famous Canadian show jumper, bet a bunch of jockeys at Woodbine she could ride a racehorse but then had the thing bolt out of control with her on its back.

At seven eighths of a mile, the track is much bigger than I expected and Canada Goose Jackets Billy shies at the sight of Star photographer Bernard Weil crouched beside the rails. I am practicing deep breathing exercises to ward off nerves. That’s one thing I am familiar with the more nervous you get, the more your horse misbehaves. It’s a vicious cycle. We walk all the way down one side and I’m starting to feel comfortable. We pick up a trot.

canada goose outlet online When we canada goose outlet start to gallop I am immediately freaking out. My butt is slapping against the saddle in a motion that I know is not correct. I feel buy canada goose jacket cheap like I don’t know what to do with my hands as Billy pulls on his canada goose clearance sale bit, clearly eager to go even faster. canada goose outlet online

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canada goose outlet shop In the middle of panic that he will just run away with me and I’ll never be seen or heard from again, I finally figure it out. “Just stand up,” Canada Goose Online my body tells me. I launch up in my stirrups, which automatically pushes my body up and forward into that “jockey stance” we’ve all seen on TV and I am able to balance off my feet Canada Goose Parka and ankles. canada goose outlet shop

I push my hands forward along Billy’s neck and let him stretch his head out. I don’t need to kick or give him the old “giddy up” for him to know he’s allowed to go faster. He does.

canada goose outlet sale And it’s over before I even know it. canada goose outlet sale

canada goose outlet store uk As we’re walking off the track Rob looks over and says “Thanks, it was fun riding with you,” with a crinkly smile. canada goose outlet store uk

canada goose outlet uk sale I grin back at him http://www.canadagoosecanadaoutlet.com and think: “I need to do this again. Faster next time.” canada goose outlet uk sale

canada goose outlet And after that, the next step would canada goose uk outlet be to gallop with other horses to get the feel of a real race. But I think I need some more practice on Billy first canada goose outlet.