Kyanna Van Buuren an Irish female jockey, she may be Dutch by blood, but Ireland has claimed her as our own. Based out of John McConnell’s yard in Stamullen, County Meath, she recently has her first win out of Roscommon, aboard Irish trained Mc Connells 4-year-old ‘No Patience’.

When asked who inspires her, she graciously praised her colleague, friend, and mentor Siobhan Rutledge, who has given her invaluable guidance and support. A perfect example of women empowering and inspiring other women in the industry. Kyanna is a force in her own right and deserves every bit of success I am sure that is coming her way. 

Her start in the racing industry wouldn’t be considered standard, having not come from a racing background. Her sister was working in Gavin Cromwell’s yard at the time and when her college course in Tipperary changed, she started working in Gavin’s yard on weekends and holidays and ended up staying on with him. She had originally planned to become an interior designer, very similar to a jockey. The life of glamour, and wearing heels to work was the initial career path. On an average day now she can be found covered in horsehair and sweat, walking around in riding boots. I still reckon she’s her own kind of glamour.

On discussing previous and future rides, I asked Kyanna, how does she bond with the horses before a race? Currently, all rides she has had, she has previously sat on. This may not be the case going forward. I asked how she would adapt. In response, she said she would be asking those who work closely with the horses on a day-to-day basis to gauge how they will ride, allowing the horse to adapt to her. Very truly mentioned that each ride is only a very short time of the horse’s day. It’s over before you know it. Observing her responding to my questions, you can see she believes in herself and her abilities as well as laying trust in a team around her and the horses she backs.

Preparing for race day can be nerve-racking for everyone involved, be it the trainer, owner, groom, jockey, or the horses themselves. However, it all comes down to the start line and the finishing post. When preparing for the race, I asked were there any rituals? “the best thing to do is try not to overthink it”. Kyanna describes herself as very calm and laid back and speaking to her, you can see that in her personality.

With regards to getting started as an amateur or a professional in any sport, it’s not easy to get going. Most sports are male dominant, but equine sport seems to be more gender equal….. However, this does not always mean it is easy to get rides, whether male or female. You need skill, drive, determination, passion, and perseverance to succeed in this industry. It is a very difficult sport to get a start in. Her advice for anyone thinking of getting into racing is not to compare yourself to anyone, try not to sweat the small things and take opinions on the chin, everyone has one. To succeed in the racing industry, you need to go in with an open mind, work hard and give it a go you never know unless you try.

One of my final questions for Kyanna was where she hopes to be in five years’ time. “I hope to have a lot more rides and wins under my belt like Siobhan”. I feel like this is a very attainable and achievable goal for this rising jockey and, if anything, I think she will surpass her own expectations of how her career will progress. She has a friendly and approachable attitude and is dedicated to her sport. This young lady will strive for greatness, and I truly believe she is more than capable of achieving it. She is fresh off the back of her first Irish win and that fire has been lit.