GRASSROOTS: OLIVIA ROGERS – A FIRST RIDE PARTNERED BY A LEGEND

For many within the sport, the leap from everyday riding to a raceday saddle is a moment that quietly arrives – not with fanfare, but with an opportunity that cannot be ignored. Which was precisely the case for Olivia Rogers, whose journey to her first point-to-point ride was shaped by years in the saddle, hard work behind the scenes, and a chance that came at just the right time.

Rogers has ridden horses for many years and has taken her from Pony Club rallies to point-to-point tracks. But it wasn’t until this season, while working at the Coward family yard, that the opportunity she had long dreamed of finally came into view. “I’ve always dreamed of it,” she said, “but you never actually think you’ll be the one on the horse.”

The Path to the Saddle

Opportunities in this sport don’t just happen; they are earned. Rogers’s preparation was as earnest as her passion. She has spent countless hours at Jack Berry House, weaving gym work, simulator sessions, strength training and dedicated jockey coaching into her routine. That coaching, she explains, has been invaluable; it is a chance to hone balance, refine posture, and sharpen riding fundamentals away from the racetrack’s chaos.

“Working with the gym and simulator really helps you strip back and focus on the basics from your position, your balance,” she said. “When you’re in a race, it all happens so fast. Being able to analyse and improve your technique away from the horse makes a massive difference.”

This structured development was complemented by daily experience within a yard steeped in knowledge. With people like Cherry Coward, who herself is rich with point-to-point experience, there was always something to learn. “There’s so much experience around you every day,” Rodgers reflected. “You can’t not learn.”

A Legendary Ride

When the call came, Rogers didn’t hesitate. She was offered rides early in the season, an opportunity shaped by changes in the Coward yard when two other riders stepped away from the saddle. It was a moment she knew she had to take.

For her first ride, she partnered Ballydonagh Boy, a 12-year-old with a remarkable point-to-point record with 33 starts, with 10 wins, 9 seconds, and 8 thirds to his name, plus two hunter chase runs, including a win. A star of the yard and adored at home for his character and willingness, he proved to be the ideal partner for the big day. “He’s definitely the legend of the yard,” Rogers laughed. “A real character at home, he likes to be up front and do his own thing, but I couldn’t have been luckier for a first ride.”

Regularly riding him at home and having watched him race over the past three seasons gave her a familiarity most riders would envy. That trust proved crucial when it mattered most. “I’ve never jumped in such a big group before,” she said. “Not being able to see a fence properly is very different. But when you trust the horse underneath you, it makes all the difference.”

Mixed Open at Duncombe Park

Lined up in the Mixed Open at Duncombe Park, Rogers and Ballydonagh Boy finished sixth, in a race full of seasoned campaigners. While they didn’t quite secure the forward position, he jumped soundly throughout and carried her safely round. “We weren’t there to be competitive,” she said. “There were some very good horses in the race. We were there for me to get a safe spin round and feel what it’s like.” And that feeling was wild, thrilling, electric, which was everything Rogers hoped it would be. “It’s such a rush,” she said. “Everything happens so quickly.” Back in the yard, the reception was as warm as the ride had been exhilarating. “In our eyes, he was a winner,” she said. “He brought me home safe, and the support from everyone made it feel like we did win.”

Advice and Aspirations

Rogers’ ambitions are refreshingly grounded. She’s approaching her amateur licence with enthusiasm, but without pressure. “I’m just seeing where it goes,” she said. “I’m doing it for the love of it. You can’t really plan these things; they just fall into place.”

Rogers was asked for her advice to others dreaming of that first ride, and her response was simple: keep showing up, keep learning, and take every opportunity that comes your way. “Stick with it, especially on the hard days,” she said. “You never know who you’re speaking to or where that connection might lead.”

What makes Pointing special

What makes point-to-pointing special, Rogers believes, is not just the thrill of competition, but the sense of belonging it offers. And for Rogers, that first ride was sixth in the Mixed Open aboard a legend of the yard that will be remembered not just for the finish, but for everything that led up to it and all that lies ahead.

Because in grassroots racing, it isn’t only about winners and placings, it’s also about the people who choose to be part of the journey.