Jockey - an occupation for women?
An expression «a non-female profession» is not topical for a long time already. Here more and more girls come to practice equestrian sports. Jockey Fagilia Zaripova at 17 stated that she wanted to try her hand at show jumping and went to the Ahalteke equestrian sports complex.
- I always wanted to be engaged in something unusual, - she says. – And I decided between the club of rock-climbing "Agama" and equestrian sport. The love to horses made an impact on my final choice.
At once having started intensive trainings, the novice sportswoman displayed herself as a real "wrestler". Daily overcoming the difficulties arising on her way to success, Fagilia always strived to show the best results, after all, ahead there the 5th Asian Games of 2017 held in the capital of Turkmenistan.
In 2017 for the first time show jumping was included in the program of the Asian Games. The same year Fagilia was a part of the national team of Turkmenistan. Among five sportsmen representing our country in this sport, she became an only girl on the team. Following the results of competitions Zaripova took 4th place, with very little gap to reach the podium.
- Sometimes it happens so that there remains literally very little to reach a victory. But I try not to be upset and I do not lose my heart. Even loss stimulates a sportsman and forces to move further. It is necessary to rethink only the moment of failure and to analyse where one has made a mistake. Sometimes horsemen are called lazy sportsmen, and may be, from outside it seems that the jockey only beautifully sits on horseback, but it is far not so. First of all, the jockey is a professional sportsman who should take everything under control - from his own endurance to the breath of his horse.
The beautiful Ahalteke steed Vipeli, what is the name of Zaripova’s "teammate", - is noted for its capricious character. It happens that it becomes capricious, and does not want to carry out some elements. The sportswoman though heeds to moods of the racer, tries to keep it toned. Show jumping is a tandem of a horseman and a horse, therefore training cannot take place without full calculation of each of them.
- If you ask me whether it is necessary for a child to be engaged in this sport I undoubtedly will answer - yes! A dialogue with animals develops children’s sense of responsibility for them, cultivates love for our dumb animals. In some European horse-racing clubs children engage in this sport from the age of four, even at this age the child can learn to keep in the saddle confidently. However, performance of sports elements begins much later, therefore the Ahalteke horse complex admits into the sports sections teenagers from 12, - Fagilia says.
The sportswoman who has participated in several international tournaments in show jumping, now herself wants to train future equestrians for competitions. Looking at the girl with a fragile appearance, one feels full confidence that she will cope with the trainer's difficult work. Fagilia Zaripova has proved in practice with her example that the woman in the saddle looks not only beautiful, but also bravely.
Selbi Charyeva
