I will freely admit I am not remotely interested in horse racing, but having heard snippets of Michelle Payne's story after she won The Melbourne Cup, I was very interested in reading Life As I Know It. The youngest of eleven children, Michelle was just six months old when her mother was tragically killed in a car accident. Yet with the love of her large family, she speaks of a happy childhood and an early start in the business of horse racing.
The Payne family is a true facing family, with their father making his living as trainer. All the children were involved in the care of the horses, learning the ropes as soon as they were old enough to undertake the myriad of tasks involved. Along with her next in age brother Stevie, who has Down Syndrome, Michelle spent her early years in and around the stables, but it wasn't all work. There was plenty of time for play too and Michelle speaks fondly of her childhood, even though an outside observer might see it as unusual or even tough upbringing.
The Payne family is a true facing family, with their father making his living as trainer. All the children were involved in the care of the horses, learning the ropes as soon as they were old enough to undertake the myriad of tasks involved. Along with her next in age brother Stevie, who has Down Syndrome, Michelle spent her early years in and around the stables, but it wasn't all work. There was plenty of time for play too and Michelle speaks fondly of her childhood, even though an outside observer might see it as unusual or even tough upbringing.
The right build for a jockey, Michelle's determination for success saw her achieve many goals along the road to Melbourne Cup glory. Her story is an interesting window into the racing industry and you understand that jockeys must truly love the sport and the horses they ride as the lifestyle is not an easy one. From the constant need to keep her weight down to the ever present danger of serious race falls, Michelle battled through extraordinary obstacles to achieve her dream. What I found the most horrifying was the injuries she has suffered over the years, including many serious head knocks. The fact that she came back so many times from extensive injuries and continued to ride is quite amazing.
What I liked most about this book was the upbeat and positive tone. Some could look at Michelle's life and consider her unlucky to have lost her mother so young and a sister not too many years later. Yet she does not dwell on these tragedies, focusing instead on going forward in life and celebrating the experience of life in a large family. Her love and respect for her brother Stevie is inspiring and her general outlook on life proves that attitude really is everything.
What I liked most about this book was the upbeat and positive tone. Some could look at Michelle's life and consider her unlucky to have lost her mother so young and a sister not too many years later. Yet she does not dwell on these tragedies, focusing instead on going forward in life and celebrating the experience of life in a large family. Her love and respect for her brother Stevie is inspiring and her general outlook on life proves that attitude really is everything.
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