Of all the careers available, a horse jockey is one of the least popular, and there are limited slots. On top of this, the job requires qualities that only a few people possess, and this contributes to making it more challenging to break into. The demands of the profession include the physical and educational, and like other professions, one will have to go through some steps to earn the title. So, what does it take to become a jockey? Well let’s find out.
Who is a Jockey?
Also called horse jockeys, these people are professional athletes who ride racehorses. Even though they do not throw any objects or climb any obstacles, they still need to be physically fit. Most jockeys are private contractors and are for hire, and the higher the winning records, the more money they make. The job involves working with trainers and their racehorses with basic activities like following the trainer’s instructions. They also mount the horse in the saddling paddock at the beginning of the race and bring them back to the unsaddling enclosure when the race is over. They give feedback to the horse owners and trainers on how the horse performed and if there are any issues to look out for. Other duties include the maintenance of helmets, boots, elastic girths, riding pants, goggles, and other riding equipment.
What are the Requirements?
Education: Even before you can become a Jockey, you should have a license as an apprentice. This is where you enroll in informal or schooling races as a way to gain experience. After engaging in these for a while and meeting the standard, then you will be given a professional license to ride in professional races. This avenue also helps you to build your network and meet horse owners to provide you with the opportunity to ride their racehorses. At this stage, the candidate will learn basic knowledge of horses like feeding, breathing, and breeding habits. You should be more than 18 years old to be able to enroll to become a jockey.
Physical requirements: Because of how vigorous horse racing is, the candidate will have to be athletic and have fantastic riding skills. Their weight should be about 100 to 150 pounds for them to be able to control the horse. They should also be in top-notch shape physically so that the activity does not wear them out quickly
Career Advancement
For hardworking, experienced jockeys, the future is bright, and there are a lot of opportunities available. They get more hires and can ride up to 1000 races a year. This means more income and more experience. Passionate Jockey goes as far as establishing their stables and training others to be as good as them.
On the outside, horse racing looks glamorous, but a lot of work goes into putting the show together, and most often, jockeys are involved. So, when you’re placing your free bets for Cheltenham, in March, you can appreciate the level of hard work and commitment that is required.
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jockey – Wikipedia
- https://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/7854/Jockey.html – State University
- https://careertrend.com/facts-7609953-jockey-height-weight-limits.html – Career Trend