After initial hesitation, Natika Riordan’s parents are now right behind her move to become a jockey, fully backing that career choice, but it wasn’t a popular decision at first.
Like most young girls from an early age, Riordan was obsessed with horses and always harboured a desire to work with equine animals in some professional capacity.
Riordan thought about being a veterinarian, but triggered by a family link to thoroughbreds and the affinity she draws from riding horses, she pivoted to pursue a racing career.
Riordan’s parents hoped she’d put those aspirations on the back burner, but what they got was stubborn, albeit admirable resistance from their determined daughter.
Despite the push back, Riordan was resolute and defiant, character traits which helped foil a well-meaning, but ultimately unsuccessful plan by her parents.
“My aunt is Donna Riordan; a trainer and she got me initially involved with horses,” Riordan said.
“I think I was about 10 when I started begging mum and dad to take me to the local riding school to get lessons.
“They were like, no, no, it’s so expensive and why don’t I try and do something else.
“Then they said you know what, you can go wake up at 3am with Donna and see if you like horses then.
“They were thinking it might knock some sense into me, but unfortunately for them it didn’t, it did the opposite.
“Every Friday night they would drop me off at Donna’s and I would wake up at 3am and help saddle up the horses.
“I think my parents had given up by that point.”
Riordan’s career trajectory is going full steam ahead and if all goes to plan, she’ll be wearing her silks in a race ride sometime next year.
The 20-year-old has been honing her skills in preparation in Racing and Wagering Western Australia’s Trackwork Rider Training Program.
A 12-month nationally accredited course, it helps participants refine their current skills and offers a pathway to apply for a jockey apprenticeship.
Riordan loves horses, but from the moment she rode fast work on a galloper, the idea that she could become a jockey has captivated her.
“I bought my first horse when I was 14 and I’ve always had one since,” Riordan said.
“It was never what am I going to do, it was always what area of horses was I going into.
“I actually thought I was too heavy to be a jockey and when I signed up for the trackwork programme it wasn’t in my thinking.
“But after riding fast work I knew it was what I wanted to do, it was just a great feeling.
“I caught the bug, I was hooked.”
Mentoring Riordan from rookie to apprentice jockey is WA Hall of Fame trainer, Neville Parnham, one of racing’s most respected and popular identities.
Father to star jockeys, Steven, Brad and Chris, Parnham continues to pass on his wealth of knowledge and experience to the next generation of apprentices.
Riordan said learning her trade under Parnham’s guidance and influence is an unbelievable educational experience that she’ll grasp with both hands.
“To be able to learn in my opinion from the best trainer in WA is very exciting,” Riordan said.
“If he’s hard on you it’s only because he wants the best for you.
“He can be tough but is very fair.
“He just wants you to succeed and wants you to be good.”
Riordan’s dreams are about to become a reality. Her tenacity, persistence and belief has driven her ambition.
“It’s sort of sunk in I could be a jockey next year,” Riordan said.
“A few years ago, I was at school and didn’t think I was going down this avenue.
“It’s so exciting and if you don’t love it, I don’t know what you are doing there.”