Bryony Frost is one of the greatest women jockeys of our time! She became the first female to win a Grand Race and earned several jockey titles. Her path was full of complexities and barriers that she was confidently breaking every year. In this article, we’ll tell you more about this brilliant jockey and discuss her techniques and riding style.
Early Life and Background
Frost came from a very sports family, which encouraged her interest in horse riding. Her grandfather, dad, and brother are famous figures in horse sports, and we can say that Bryony won’t let them down.
Birth and Family Background
Bryony Frost was born in April 1995 in Devon. Her father was Jimmy Frost – a retired jockey who won the Grand National race in 1989. Bryony’s grandfather was also a horse riding trainer. Frost also has a brother – Hadden Frost, a former jockey who won multiple races at the Cheltenham Festival. It’s fair to say that Bryony has almost no chance not to take up horse riding. Her first tamed animal was a donkey.
Early Interest in Horse Racing
As we mentioned above, Bryony started to learn to ride on donkeys, but they were not allowed in the tournaments. So, she decided to move to the pony. At first, she participated in competitions in Devon and even won multiple Cornwall pony racing championships. Then, Frost started thinking about larger and more important tournaments and looking for a trainer.
Influences and Role Models
The main role models of Frost were the members of her family. She usually watched the training of her grandfather and witnessed tournaments in which her father participated. Bryony was also aware that this sport is intended for men, but she couldn’t help but prove to herself and others that she, too, could be best in this.
Rise in the Horse Racing World
Bryony’s professional career started in 2017; before this, she participated in small tournaments as an amateur. Her first trainers became Rose Loxton and Paul Nicholls, and they trained at Musselburgh.
Initial Foray into Competitive Horse Racing
In 2013, when Bryone was just 18 years old, she participated in her first competition under the rules. In that year, she didn’t win anything, but two years later, in 2015, Bryony won riding Current Event, trained by Rose Loxton. In 2016, she changed the coach and started training with Paul Nicholls.
Early Achievements and Wins
During the beginning of her career, Frost won:
- Musselburgh Racecourse, 2015;
- Cheltenham Festival, 2017;
- Worcester, 2017.
In the first two tournaments, she won as an amateur jockey, but not the last one. In 2017, she turned into a professional and secured her first win as a conditional jockey in Worcester.
Major Career Achievements
The 2017-18 seasons became very successful for young jockey Bryony Frost. She has shown herself perfectly at the most famous horse races at the Cheltenham Festival and made the world notice her.
Overview of Notable Wins and Achievements
In November 2017, she rode the Present Man, trained by Nicholls, and won the Badger Beer Handicap Chase. In the same year, Bryony took first Grade 1 on Boxing Day and became the second British female jockey to win Grade 1 with obstacles. Later, together with Frodon horse, they earned victory in the Grade 3 Crest Nicholson Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. In April 2018, Frost had her first Grand National ride, in which she took fifth place.
Success in Major Racing Events (e.g., Cheltenham Festival, King George VI Chase)
Since then, Frost has participated in large tournaments and brought even more victories. She became the most successful female jockey not only in Great Britain but also in the whole world.
2019 – Bryony won the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and the British Conditional Jockey Championship title.
2020 – Earn the title of Jump Jockey of the Year at the Derby Awards.
Became the first woman to win the King George VI Race at Kempton Part with Frodon.
Obtained 175th win and turned into an all-time leading female jockey.
2021 – Won the Grade 1 Tingle Chase at Sundown.
Earn the victory for the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal.
Won the Grade 2 Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury.
In addition, Bryony Frost is a famous jockey among bettors. They often place stakes on her winning and receive huge payouts from these bets. If you want to try horse betting, choose a reliable platform, like 1xBet, and use various bonuses to increase your winning chances.
Notable Horses Ridden by Frost
Although Bryony rode on various horses, her favorite is Frodon. This horse brought Frost a victory during the Cheltenham Festival, was a reliable companion at the King George VI Race, and helped win the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase. Bryony says, “Frodon is a very strong horse that can be too noisy and likes to tank on. He’s a quick, hardy, and obedient horse that helps her win many championships.” Frost continues their partnership with Frodo for already 11 stats.
Riding Style and Strengths
Bryony Frost has already shown remarkable skill and resilience, and overcomes a lot of challenges and obstacles along the way. Bryony is a very talented person who quickly took a leading role in the horse-riding world.
Detailed Description of Her Riding Style
Frost learns very quickly and can make important decisions even under pressure. She’s good at jumping obstacles and acts carefully at the start of the race. Her main strategy is to build an emotional connection with the horse. During the training, she listens to Frodon and tries to make the ride as comfortable for him as possible.
They investigate the map together and decide which route to take is the best. Bryone tries to learn the character of her horse and notices the way he likes doing things. Also, one of her strategies is never to set goals. Bryony thinks that it’s unnecessary to predict the future and know where you’ll end up. She just prepares for the ride, listens to her horse, and shows what she is capable of.
Comparison with Other Top Jockeys
Bryony Frost is one of the greatest female jockeys of all time, but she’s not the one. In this part, we’ll make a comparison between Bryony and the other famous woman jockey – Rachael Blackmore.
Bryony Frost | Rachael Blackmore |
2051 Starts | 4408 Stats |
325 Wins (15.8%) | 565 Wins (12.8%) |
821 Places (40.0%) | 1557 Places (35.3%) |
In this table, we can see that Rachael has large victories and stats, but the thing is, she’s 6 years older than Bryony and started her career in 2011. So, for 29-year-old Frost, these results can be considered superior.
Challenges and Resilience
On her path, Bryony faced many challenges, but they didn’t only spoil her fighting spirit but also didn’t stop her from continuing to ride. Despite all the complexities, Bryony shows us that she didn’t get her titles for nothing.
Major Challenges Faced in Her Career
As one of the best female jockeys, Bryony was also bullied. Her fellow jockey, Robbie Dunne, was accused of bullying and harassing Frost last December. He sent her threatening messages and didn’t let her work peacefully. Fortunately, he was banned from horse riding for 10 months and forbidden to approach her in any way.
Stories of Resilience and Overcoming Obstacles
Horse riding is a very dangerous yet exciting sport. Almost all jockeys, at least once in their career, get injured. Bryony is no exception. In April 2022, given all the stress she had to go through, she broke her collarbone. Since that day, she hasn’t participated in any tournaments and is busy with her recovery. However, Bryony has no intention of quitting horse riding and has many plans to participate in 2024 future competitions.
Key Learning Experiences and Growth
Bryony Frost personifies concepts of strength and endurance. She wouldn’t give up, even with injuries, stress, and threatening messages. As a girl who grew up in a family of coaches and jockeys, she understands what kind of sport it is and how hard it can be. Despite the fact that Bryony doesn’t predict the outcome of tournaments, she always gives her all and goes for victory.
Personal Life and Interests
Because Bryony didn’t participate in the Cheltenham Festival last year due to her injury, she has time to spend with friends and family. In this part, we’ll tell you about her off-track interest and see what she likes besides horses.
Off-track Interests and Hobbies
Bryony is a very Devon person. He likes her hometown and returns to them every time she’s free. Frost naturally enjoys spending time with her family and prefers hiking in the countryside. She also loves playing tennis and golf. These games keep her active and elevated even during holidays.
Philanthropic Activities and Contributions
Few people know, but Bryony is an advocate for mental health awareness. She supports various organizations that help people overcome their mental problems. Moreover, Frost often donates a large amount of money from her winnings to charity and helps children. Bryony also gives advice to little girls who dream of becoming her.
Recent Performances and Current Status
Where is Bryony Frost now? Today, Bryony Frost can boast of a not-very-busy schedule. She moved to France and tried to learn French to communicate with her new team. The 2023-24 season was calm and quiet for her.
Recent Major Wins and Performances
During the 2023-24 season, Frost didn’t participate in many competitions. Yet, she won the Grade 3 Red Rum Handicap Chase at Aintree. Her coach – Paul Nicholls decided to move Bryony to France to ride his horses. She supported this decision and was appointed retained jockey in France in May 2024.
Current Standings and Future Prospects
Right now, Bryony joined Simon Munir and Isaac Souede’s racing operation in France. Nicholls said that Frost is a perfect match for Team Double Green. Bryony based herself in France to help the team reach a new level. Frost says that she’s happy to join Team Double Green and excited to have an opportunity to ride their horses.
Upcoming Races and Expectations
Frost’s last race was a hurdle-type race on 5 August 2024 on the Clairefontaine course. She finished this race in third position with the beautiful Captain du Berlais horse. This was the last of her races this season, so she’ll join the Cheltenham Festival next year. For now, she’ll reside in France to work with Team Double Green.
Impact and Legacy
With her appearance in the world of horse riding, she showed that a female jockey can also achieve great heights. The most important thing that we can tell about Bryony is that she trains a lot and never gives up.
Influence on Young and Upcoming Female Jockeys
She has given numerous presentations about advice she can give to young girls who dream about becoming jockeys. During many interviews, Frost reminds us that the most important thing is not to give up. She says, “No matter who tells you that you won’t succeed, you don’t have to listen to them. Train a lot and try to prove not to them but to yourself that you’re the best.”
Contributions to Horse Racing Beyond Riding
The main merit of Frost, apart from her contribution to horse riding, is care for old Frodon. This wonderful horse has been her best friend and partner since 2017. This collaboration helped Bryony win 12 titles and become the second women jockey in the world. Now, Frodon is retired and in need of constant care. Frost took on the responsibility of looking after him and helping him just as he helped Bryony overcome obstacles and win the first places in the course.
Legacy in the Horse Racing Community
Despite being just 29 years old, Frost has already become the leading female figure in horse riding sport. She has shown incredible endurance and effort, which has led her to this status. Newspaper headlines are full of her new victories, and male jockeys are amazed by her strong spirit. But her most important achievement is that Bryony inspired millions of young girls to take up horse riding and not be afraid of public disapproval.
Wrapping Up
Bryony Frost already has multiple titles and awards, but she won’t stop. She’ll continue to show herself in the most famous races and become even bigger in this sport. And later, perhaps, will try herself in training and grow up as a brilliant coach!