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YEAR 10 : English text - Ride Like a Girl: Home

 

'A horse gallops with his lungs, perseveres with his heart,

and wins with his character.'

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Introduction

Michelle Payne rode into history as the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup. She and her 100-to-1 local horse Prince of Penzance took the international racing world by surprise but hers was no overnight success story. Michelle was first put on a horse aged four. At five years old her dream was to ride in the Melbourne Cup and win it. By seven she was doing track work.

All of the ten Payne children learned to ride racehorses but Michelle has stayed the distance. She has ridden the miles, done the dawn training, fallen badly and each time got back on the horse. So when she declared that anyone who said women couldn't compete in the industry could 'get stuffed', the nation stood up and cheered.

Michelle has the audacity to believe she can succeed against all the odds. Her story is about hope triumphing over adversity, and how resilience and character made a winner.
 

Articles

Movie

Ride Like a Girl (2019)

Director: Stephen Daldry

Remember, your Clickview log in is your student email (@wonthaggisc.vic.edu.au) and your Compass password

C

ATOM Study Guide : Ride Like a Girl

Interviews

Interview with director Rachel Griffiths

(and Ride like a Girl review)

Michelle & Stevie Payne Interview

Media Resources