Ride Like a Girl (ATOM Study Guide)

Ride Like a Girl (2019) directed by Rachel Griffiths is the incredible true story of Michelle Payne.

As a little girl, Michelle Payne (Teresa Palmer) dreams of the impossible: winning the Melbourne Cup – horse racing’s toughest two-mile race. The youngest of ten children, Michelle is raised by single father Paddy (Sam Neill).

She leaves school at 15 to become a jockey and after early failures she finds her feet, but a family tragedy, followed by her own near fatal horse fall all but ends the dream. But with the love of her dad and her brother Stevie, Michelle will not give up. Against all the medical advice, and the protests of her siblings, she rides on and meets the Prince of Penzance. Together they overcome impossible odds for a shot at the dream: a ride in the 2015 Melbourne Cup, at odds of 100 to 1.

The rest is history.

Curriculum Links:

This study guide to accompany Ride Like a Girl has been written for primary students in Years 5–6 and secondary students in Years 7–10. It provides information and suggestion for learning activities in:

• English
• Health and Physical Education
• Media Arts

Ride Like a Girl can also be used to support the teaching of Pastoral Care programs at Years 5–10.