Rhonda Swan
Rhonda Swan is a jockey I don't know much about. I do know I have seen her ride at a bunch of the Ohio tracks and stuff and was happy to include her in our pages. I emailed her an interview and here is what was said.
FOTH: Where were you born and where did you grow up?
RS: I was born in Finaly, Ohio, but was raised in Leslie, Michigan. On a big beautiful 333 area Crop farm.
FOTH: Any brothers or sisters? Are you close with your parents and family in general?
RS: I am the only child from my mother and father, but was raised with my half sister and brother which is younger than I. I have a older step sister. I also have a much younger brother and sister on my Dads side.
FOTH: Do you have any kids of your own?
RS: I do have Three children of my own. Kirsten is 11 yrs old, Austin is 7 years, They are both from my pervious marriage. Then there is Victoria She is 3 years old. My baby. Having children in the picture put things into perspective. Because every choice you make reflects on them in some way or another.
FOTH: Why did you not end up coming to the East Coast to ride?
RS: When I was an apprentice I so much wanted to go out east. I had an agent lined up, a place to stay, etc. I was on my 6th win and September was coming up. The Timing couldn't be more right. But, I didn't go. Why? I felt guilty. For leaving my kids with someone else to take care of. Even though it was only for 3 months. So that is something I sacrifice doing. For the love of my kids.
FOTH: What type of kid were you growing up?
RS: Like I said I grew up on a crop farm, but, we had just about every type of animal at one time or another. So the nature girl is very much me.
FOTH: How did you end up riding in racing?
RS: My sister and I started out on back yard pony's. Pony's that we raised. We trained them and started showing in 4H. I always had a problem of racing my pony down our Air Strip. I would beat my sister every time. She would get mad and would say well lets change horses. So I would, I would still beat her. I always wished there were pony races at the fair because my pony good fly. She could even beat the Boy down the road he had a quarter Horse. I even test rode my moms horse when she wasn't looking. But, she found out when I tried to ride though an opening in the gate. He just about took my leg off. Anyway, It took me a while to realize that you can't race then go try to show a pleasure class. My pony didn't understand that at first. My sister and I still did very well. I just had to learn the hard way. Then our love become the Arabian Horse. We both ended up showing Class "A" doing very well and qualify for Nationals. From Kentucky to Canada. On young horses at that. Heck, I even train one of my beef calves to pull a cart. I had a hard time eating him. When it came time.
FOTH: What made you get into racing and how did you start?
RS: Just as I was offered a job breaking and Training Arabian Show Horses at the age 17, I became pregnant and married. That changed my whole life. Being very disappointed in myself I found my self very lost. And hurt, because I hurt my parents. Just to see the disappointment in there faces scared me for a very long time. Everything I knew and loved in this whole world was training my horses. I didn't want anything else but to have my horses. For the longest time I wasn't able to have horses. Wasn't able to ever ride one. I was so lost. My Husband at the time didn't want them. We couldn't really afford them either. Especially show horses. So soon after my first child was born I had been looking though the paper and found a job on a farm. It so happen to be a race horse farm With Arabian! Wow I thought I didn't even think they were around our part of the country. Standerbreds but, nothing else. I used to watch them at the fair. All of us kids would go up and just pick a favorite and watch them run. There were Arabians, Quarter Horses, I later found out that Scott was riding those races. Anyway, that is where I meant my best friend Lynn Taylor.
FOTH: How did you start off working with horses and stuff?
RS: It was at this Arab farm, where it was only her and I. We did everything from feeding to cleaning stalls, to exercising, to cooling out, to bathing, to wrapping legs, and of course we even bred mares in between. Heck, we had to find our own way up to get legged up. Most of our horse stood for about anything by the time we were done. And on the weekends we went to the track to work to see our horses run. A two hour drive one way. We would even break horses out of the Gate just with two of us there. I think we were pretty good help for $75.00 to $115.00 a week. But, we were horse crazy. The only thing our husbands didn't understand. Since neither one of them even like horses. But, in this whole time I wanted to ride so bad. I knew one day I would.
FOTH: So how did you end up from working with horses to riding them?
RS: So one day Lynn grabbed me and said lets go get some real jobs. So off to Detroit we went. 1 1/2 hour drive the other way. Got a job right a way. Galloping, for Shane Spiess. Then started poning the following year. I wanted to ride so bad. But, wanted to learn as much as I could before hand.
FOTH: What stuff did you learn while at Detroit?
RS: Ponying gave me the chance to hear the riders talk. Learn as much as I could. Sometimes, I would come back and tell the trainer, I could have rode that horse. I saw things that worked and didn't work. I was so amazed that I didn't have to tack my horse or cool him out or put him on the wheel or give him a bath.( Even though I did still do it time to time) And was paid so much more. I was in heaven. People actually paid me to just gallop there horse. But, the track is a different kind of life. It is fast pass. Money changing hands all the time. People know everything about you or think they do, etc.. It took a while to learn the lango. What it all meant exactly. You learn your people as well. And what it meant to one person may not mean the same to another.
FOTH: Have you ever had any problems while at the track or with trainers?
RS: My horses I've never had a problem with. It has been the people. There harder to deal with than the horses. My first thought of Shane was he was cold hearted. But, I learned things from him that would always stick with me. Like how to be tough. Or tougher. There were many days he would have me in tears. I would walk out of the barn just crying like a big baby. Sometime, I think he did it on purpose just to see me cry. After a while it didn't work. I became num to it. Shane and I are like father and daughter. We fought like it too. A matter of fact my kids call him Grandpa. The Urban Cowboy.
FOTH: Tell us about the day you were ready to ride.
RS: The day came when I was ready to ride. No one was going to change my mind. Shane wasn't to keen on the idea. He said, oh, you have two kids to think about. Fact was he just didn't want to loose good help. 4 years later So one day, Reed Gross said to me I'll put you on your first horse Rhonda. Come to my barn. So that is what happen. Reed took me to the Stewart's and talk to them because that was the scariest part of this whole thing. They are the boss the judge who say yes or no. If they don't like you they can tell you no. Reed, did as he said put me on good old timers, that needed a race. That would just get me around there. I rode a lot for him and he still paid me to gallop. Shane on the other hand did put me on two horses a few weeks later. That is what you learn about people. They will help you but, just to help them selves first. Then, some just can't help or only so far.
FOTH: What was a big disappointment to you?
RS: Just as I was getting started and doing well. (I had gotten rid of my husband) Most of my horses were hitting the broad. I had my own house paying my own bills. I couldn't believe it. I was living my dream. Until, Detroit close down a year later. In the mean time I was dating Scott Spieth And I found my self Pregnant once again. I was so sick. Now what? I believe things happen for a reason.
FOTH: At this point you went to Ohio right?
RS: That is when Scott and I moved to Thistledown. It was the closest track to home without going hundreds of miles. Staying in Michigan didn't seem to promising at the time. So we went where we could race two tracks if we had to. Thistledown and Mountaineer Park. The Purses were growing by the day there. Sense, that would mean going though the Court to get an ok to do so. (Joint Custody with my Ex husband.) Everything worked out great. We found a nice house. We had our little girl. We would be both riding. Starting all over. New people, New ground to break. I had forgotten what it was like to be a big nobody. You need to earn peoples respect. Sometimes it take awhile.
FOTH: Ever listen to a riders advice?
RS: Every rider had something to offer. Advice, sometimes it's overwhelming.
FOTH: Any riders you like?
RS: Some of my favorites have been: Lori Colburn: for her sweet and loving attitude. She always has something good to say. Joe Judice: for his sense of humor. He could always get me laughing so hard I would just about fall off my horse. Scott Spieth: for his mind, his heart, for teaching me patients, and telling me I have the talent when I wanted to hang it up. Rhonda Collins: for her giving attitude, I have met her only a couple of times I just love her! She is so willing to help in anyway. She was very willing to help me when I wanted to go out east. Thank you! Jane Magrell: for all her kinds words. But, letting me realize when I've had a bad day and messed up and one of the boy's have yelled at me. That they were a whole lot worst when she was starting out. Diane King: because she is 50 years old a Grandmother and still comes out to ride with us. I haven't had the pleasure to meant any superstar riders. I haven't traveled very fare. But, I believe that they all are special in one way or another.
FOTH: Any injury stories?
RS: This year I had a big wake up call. I went down on St.Patrick's Day at Mountaineer Park. (which didn't bother me much. Even though it was a 3 horse pile up.) Another on July 4th. Which hurt my back. Then we also had two good friends of our die this year. John Clark in the Jock's room. And Dan Lilly our out rider, from Cancer.
FOTH: Any last words?
RS: That in all of it. I love my horses. They are the moon and the stars. Also met a lot of great people along the way. I have friends that I will cherish for years to come. But, being number one isn't all what life is meant to be. It's what life means to you. And what you make of it. So, winning a few races here and there. Is great. For me. I may never get to win a Stake race or travel very far but, that is ok because, I am living my dream. And raising my children a long the way.