Her scene | The equestrian workout

Yours truly long dreamed of joining the ranks of female jockeys, a dream I finally let go of when I never got around to learning to ride a horse. I still thrill to see the jockeys swing up onto their mount though, and marvel at the incredible athleticism they demonstrate. Having competed as a powerlifter, I have personal experience with another male-dominated sport, and that makes me admire the women who've made a name for themselves as jockeys all the more.

I can understand, kind of, how hard it is to pilot a 1,000-pound-plus beast around a track at wind-whistling speeds, but I can only guess what it takes to develop the strength and conditioning to get there. And, the truth is, we rarely hear much about that. As an athlete, I can't help but wonder how these women train to be so strong and lean, so agile and lithe. So, I asked three riders, one early in her career, one going strong, and one retired, to share exactly what it takes them to get in the physical condition to be a successful jockey.

"We have two brains working in a race — the horse's and jockey's," says Rosemary Homeister, Jr., the fifth female jockey to ride in the Derby, and the second winningest woman jockey ever. "When a horse wants to do a thing, that's where we're going. The horses aren't cars: We don't have steering wheels or brakes, so we have to use our hands. We have to be nutritionally fit as well so we're strong, not weak. It takes a lot of stamina. Every single muscle in our body is firing at the same time. We need a lot of cardio because we need a lot of oxygen flowing. There's so much going on in that under 2 minutes that takes a lot of physical and mental strength."

So how do they get strong? That depends.

Ashley Broussard, a 21-year-old rider, hits the gym. She's proud to have added 15 pounds (topping out still shy of 100 pounds) to her 4-foot-11 frame since starting her career. "I stay in the gym all the time, but that's because I'm a littler person," she says. "I stay in the gym and try to gain muscle." Ashley alternates periods of lifting heavy weights for low reps with time spent on lighter weights with higher, rapid reps. "You have to be as fast and strong as the guys," she says. "It's hard, but we try our best, because of the danger (of racing). The weaker you are, the more dangerous it is."

Donna Barton, who retired from race riding in 1998 as the second leading female jockey in the country by money earned, also hit the weights. It was critical to be strong, she explained, especially when coming around the final turn and being in control was most crucial.

It's hard to comprehend just how physically demanding their sport is. "It (riding in a race) is like standing in a wall sitting position, squatting the whole time," Ashley explains. "Your arms (frozen in an uncomfortable position) — same way, and your core holds you up there. If you don't have the core, you don't stay stable."

For Rosemary, there's no need for the gym. "The racetrack is our gym," she says. "Our weights are the horses' mouths. You'll find that most jockeys, unless they're little — under 100 pounds — and need to add muscle, the majority do not work out with heavy weights." Every day she's walking around the barns, breezing the horses around the track, riding half-mile sprints with the horses. "They're tough; they're pulling," Rosemary says. "When a horse is tugging you, it's like pulling on a wall. We get a workout just riding."

If it sounds like a lot of work, it is. But there's good news to be had. Once you build the muscle — whether it's in the gym, or carrying bales of hay like Ashley says she grew up doing, or even riding — it's yours, Donna explained. "Even though a guy can eat a Twinkie and turn it into muscle," she says with a laugh. Once you win that hard-earned muscle, it really is easier to maintain. Donna left her intense weightlifting workouts behind, but her legacy is a fit and strong physique she rocks through a combination of fun workouts.

"As much as I love a challenging workout, and despite my earlier dreams," says Donna, "hearing from these powerhouses showed me this job isn't for everybody." "It's just a lot a lot of hard work," Ashley says. We're out there every single morning at 5 a.m. riding racehorses. It's a nonstop game. We don't get off days, ever. We don't have off-seasons."

Once a jockey, always fit

How does a retired jockey stay in phenomenal shape? Donna's routine mixes things up for fun while keeping her fit and trim.

Monday

90-minute Step/Sculpting class at Baptist East Milestone Wellness Center.

Tuesday

Run trails (3 miles) OR do a one-hour Power Yoga video.

Wednesday

90-minute Step/Sculpting class at Baptist East Milestone.

Thursday

Run trails (3-4 miles) OR do a one-hour Power Yoga video.

Friday

One-hour Pure Barre class.

Saturday

Run trails (4-5 miles) OR do a one-hour Power Yoga video.

Sunday

Day of rest, but will sometimes walk 2 miles on trails with my dog.

PHOTOS BY ALTON STRUPP

Weighty issues

We can't talk about jockeys without addressing the question of weight. Rosemary acknowledges it can be difficult for jockeys to meet their weight requirements. "Weight is a big concern," she says. "Every jock has their way of eating. Some are lucky and don't have to reduce (through water loss) and can eat anything. A lot of times riders don't eat, and that's wrong. I used to do that and starve myself before a race, and it's the wrong way to do it." After years of riding, she says, "I've learned to manage my weight and eat properly — salads, green vegetables, fruit, protein shakes. The more I eat, the less I weigh because the body is always having fuel put into it, instead of going into starvation mode and holding on to everything."