Jamaican jockey Abigail Able may be known for her composure, determination and willingness to take on a male-dominated sport, but there is much more to her story than race-day results. From the quiet rituals she shares with her horses to her ambitions of creating opportunities for young girls in racing, Able is building a career driven by purpose as much as performance. Here are five things to know about the rider who is determined to make sure she is not the last woman to break new ground in Jamaican horse racing.

1. I talk to every horse before a race.

No one may see it on television, but before a race I make sure to speak to my horse. In the paddock, I lean in and tell my mount, “We got this.” Horses can sense when someone is nervous or unsettled, so I use my voice to help keep them calm and build that connection before we head onto the track. The trainers sometimes joke that I am the “horse whisperer” of the barn, but for me it is simply part of respecting the animal and making sure we go into the race as a team.

2. My secret weapon is not the gym — it is cooking.

Staying race-ready requires discipline, especially when it comes to maintaining weight, but cooking is one of the ways I keep that discipline enjoyable. I like preparing Jamaican food with a lighter touch, and steamed fish, callaloo and boiled ground provisions are among my favourite meals. Cooking helps me stay grounded and connected to home, particularly when the pressure of racing and training starts to build. It is also a reminder that looking after myself properly is an important part of performing well on the track.

3. I want to open a riding school for girls.

My dream after racing is not only to collect trophies or celebrate personal milestones. I want to establish a programme at Caymanas Park where young Jamaican girls can learn how to ride, care for horses and work towards becoming licensed riders. Being the first female jockey to ride in the Jamaica Derby is an important step, but I see it as only the beginning. The bigger goal is to open the gate for other girls so that they do not have to be “the first” every time they enter a space that was not always designed with them in mind.

4. My long-term dream is to ride a horse I raised myself.

One day, I want to buy a mare, breed her and eventually ride her foal in the Jamaica Derby. It is a full-circle dream for me — to go from cleaning stalls and learning the basics of the sport to competing at its highest level aboard a horse I helped bring into the world. I already think about names and imagine what that moment would mean. For me, it would represent not just a race, but the culmination of years of work, patience and love for the sport.

5. I am afraid of heights — but not speed.

It may sound strange coming from a jockey, but I can ride around a turn at more than 40 miles per hour and still freeze if I have to climb a ladder to hang silks in the barn. I joke that I only like being high when the horse is doing it. On a horse, I trust my training, my instincts and the partnership I have built with my mount. Put me on a ladder, though, and that confidence disappears very quickly.