How does someone become a jockey?

[Duer 157099]

I've always liked watching horse racing and now watching HBO's Luck got me wondering how someone gets on the path to become a jockey. Is it that they have the right physical build and so they figure it's a logical career choice, or do they start riding as young kids and just stay in it or?

Same question about a horse trainer. How does one get into such a field, aside from the obvious family connections--being born into a ranching/horse breeding family or something.

[riderinthestorm]

2. Apprenticeship programs and schools for jockeys. Or get a job with a trainer and work your way up

There are schools that can teach you how to do it. Most jockeys however, start out at the lowest levels at a training farm and work their way up.

I galloped for a trainer at his home farm but never had any desire to do it at the track but if you're good enough at exercise gallops, someone will notice and give talented riders a shot. Of course you have to have the right physique: 100 lbs is a pretty tough weight PLUS you have to be strong as all get out, and fit enough, and brave.

The guy I worked for got into training racehorses after starting out as a Quarter Horse trainer. He was sent some youngsters to break to saddle and bridle only at first. The horses were then sent on to someone else who did the actual race training. He did a good job with the youngsters they sent him so they sent him some more. He was smart and ambitious and began to study up on how to do the track training himself. A lot of it's conditioning which most horse people master anyway if they have a sport horse. Race training takes aerobic conditioning to a new level however. Great trainers have their 'secret" formulas they use - special feed mixes or supplements, their own interval and speed work, gifted exercisers who know how to push a horse or when to back down to keep the horse "fresh". Vigilance after exercise plays a big part in success: hydrotherapy, massage, chiro, accupuncture etc. etc. Everyone has their own routine.

Bottom line: if your horses consistently make money, you will go further. If they don't, you won't last long as a trainer. Family training secrets can certainly be passed along and some trainer families are generational but like anything else, some kids are good at it and some aren't.

[Duer 157099]

3. Thanks for the insight

It's one of those "paths not taken" things for me but I think I would have been really good at (training that is, not riding).

I recently watched the documentary about the "horse whisperer" and felt that I had missed my life's calling... :sigh:

[RebelOne]

4. I had a friend whose husband was a jockey.

He ran many races, but one day he was exercisng a horse and he was thrown and killed. I love horses, have owned horses, but they can be risky.

[HopeHoops]

5. Start by getting a pair of shorts.

[Major Nikon]

6. Or a pair of turntables