Back in the Saddle: Khadijah Mellah’s Next Chapter

In 2019, Khadijah Mellah became the first British Muslim woman to win a horse race in the UK while wearing a hijab. She was just 18 when she crossed the finish line first at the Magnolia Cup—on her very first competitive ride.

It was a standout moment. Not just because of the win, but because of what it represented for access, representation, and possibility in a sport that rarely sees someone like Khadijah on the starting line.

Now, a few years on, she’s stepping back into the sport. Not to recreate the moment—but to see where it might take her next.

Life After the Magnolia Cup

After her win, Khadijah made the choice to step away from racing to study Mechanical Engineering at university. Four years later, with her degree complete, she’s decided to give it another go.

Her new video series, Back in the Saddle, offers a straightforward look at what that decision has meant in practice—from retraining to rebuilding relationships in yards, to the realities of trying to secure a ride as an amateur jockey.

“I spent all of last year working towards getting my amateur jockey license. I thought—easy peasy, I’ll get booked for a ride. Nope.”

Even with a well-known name and a win under her belt, finding opportunities hasn’t been simple. The series doesn’t frame her as a returning hero. It just shows the process: the learning, the waiting, and the parts that don’t always go to plan.

What This Chapter Is Really About

Khadijah’s return isn’t tied to a clear objective. There’s no announcement, no big statement. She’s just giving it a go—openly, and on her terms.

And maybe that’s what makes it so powerful. She’s not trying to prove a point. She’s trying to find out if racing still has a place in her life.

Through Back in the Saddle, she’s showing something that isn’t always talked about in sport: that it’s okay to not have all the answers. It’s okay to circle back to something, even if you’re not sure what the outcome will be.

Beyond the Saddle

Khadijah continues to make an impact off the track too. As co-founder of the Riding a Dream Academy, she’s helping to create more opportunities for young people from underrepresented communities to access racing—work that feels just as important as any individual result.

This next chapter might not be defined by wins or headlines—but it’s still worth watching. Because starting again, without certainty, takes more than confidence. It takes honesty.

And in that way, Khadijah’s still leading.

Words by Equitas Media – providing a platform for the voices reshaping equestrian sport.