Being a jockey is no easy gig. They are a tough breed.
They risk their life and serious injury every day when they are legged up on horses weighing more than 500kg and travelling up to 70km per hour in races.
They’re universally applauded for their bravery, toughness and dedication.
It’s a demanding lifestyle and there is no easy task as promising apprentice Rosie Mahony can attest to.
The past seven months hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing for Mahony with shoulder surgery keeping her out of the saddle longer than she planned or expected.
The injury had been bubbling away below the surface for a little while, but became a major cause for concern after Mahony rode Dixie Princess in a race at Geraldton last April.
Mahony dislocated her shoulder in an 1100m maiden, but remarkably and courageously she was able to pop it back into place and continue riding.
Mahony pushed through and cast aside any pain in a few more country meetings, but despite her determination to soldier on, she succumbed to a surgeon's knife.
“It was starting to dislocate in races, they called it a partial dislocate because I could always pop it back in,” Mahony told The Races WA.
“It happened a few times and I got stood down and then within a month of being stood down I went in for surgery.
“They said it was always bound to happen as I had flexible ligaments and it was a matter of not if, but when.
"It popped out when I pulled the whip at Geraldton, but I kind of had an idea of what was going on.
“I was able to pop it back in and keep riding, but by the end of Albany (season) I was pretty cooked from the pain.”
Injuries are never ideal or a good time for jockeys. For Mahony, it interrupted a rich vein of form after she was crowned Albany’s Leading Apprentice last season.
Mahony, who optimistically thought her recovery would be swift, admitted the whole time she was on the sidelines she had itchy feet to get back to racing and horses.
“I missed the routine,” Mahony said.
“It’s such a routine industry and lifestyle.
“I was in a sling for about eight weeks and my friends took me everywhere.
“They could see I was going mad staying at home.
“A friend took me out to her horse, just to hang around horses a little bit.
“I spent a lot of time walking on the coast and two months before I got cleared to come back riding I got cleared to surf and started surfing again.
“It definitely made it a lot easier and make the time go quicker.
“But, I missed the horses mostly.”
After riding in Albany and Bunbury trials, Mahony is on track to do what she loves most.
Motivating her comeback is a return to her home track at Albany.
“The shoulder feels great and hasn’t skipped a beat,” Mahony said.
“I want to be back as soon as possible for Albany.
“It would be great if I could be back for the meeting on February 21, but if I miss that I’ll be back for the next one."
Mahony has ridden in 624 races for 68 wins and 134 places.
Her first winner came aboard The Wise One at Broome in 2021.
Julio Santarelli