Skye Bogenhuber

Even though she didn’t grow up on a farm, Skye always wanted her own horse.

When she was 19 years old, she joined her first stable and — for the first time — thought of making a career out of jockeying.

Skye believes it’s important to build a good presence with the horse’s owners and trainers and, of course, to build a relationship with the horse itself.

“You may mount some horses for the first time on race day,” she said, adding that you might get to know others really well, riding them in daily track–work and on race days.

“You can develop an affinity for some horses, which is very special.”

In the thick of things, Skye said it’s most important to feel the horse beneath you and pay attention to how it’s responding, so it can finish.

With adrenaline flowing and a lot going through her head, Skye said she doesn’t hear the spectators’ shouts while charging down the straight, but mostly hears other jockeys calling for room.

“By the time you come around the home turn, you’re trying to work out your passage into the home straight, while trying to keep your mount balanced — it’s hectic and you need to be aware of everyone around you.”

Skye participated in a Group 2 race at Caloundra (the second–highest level of horse racing) and won, on a horse she knew well.

But, she said, she’s most proud of her hometown achievements.

Skye looks up to a few jockeys (both old and new), but values the input of retired Toowoomba jockey, Ken Waller, who she called a legend.

“I always run my replays and rides by him and he’s been a real credit to my riding over the years.

“I’m blessed to work with these amazing animals and I’m lucky to have some ability to do it for a living — it never really feels like a job.”