How does one become a jockey?

[kyle2227]

Hi there guys I am new to these forums and cnat wait to chat with you guys and get to know you all better. I was wondering how some one becomes a jockey? I am a 23(yes I know most people start much younger then that but this is some thing I really want) year old male about 5'6" (yes I know a little tall maybe to be a jockey but I'm sure there are some that tall or slightly taller) 130 pounds but I am on a diet and have been loosing about 1-2 pounds a week. I was just wondering what the best way to some day maybe get a chance to ride in a race and become a jockey. In about two weeks I am going to start taking riding lessons. The place I am getting lessons from said that had no idea how to become a jockey but they said they would start me off on beginner lessons and work me up to advanced horse riding lessons. (were not talking racing horses here just regular horses) My best guess would be to take lots of riding lessons and when I feel I am good at riding get a basic job at the track where I am near and or around horses. Then some day after I work a few months and start to get to know the trainers / jocks or whoever ask if I can practice ride a horse around the track and maybe even hopefully get a mount that way but I am not sure? Could you guys give me some hits / tell me the best way to go about this. Thanks for any information you could give me. By the way the place I will be taking lessons from is http://www.saddlevalleyfarm.com/ (http://www.saddlevalleyfarm.com/) and they offer customized lessons so I guess my first step would be to take lots of riding lessons so I can get used to the horses. What do you guys think? I have been an avid horse handicapper since I was a little kid when my grandfather used to take me to the track so this is some thing I really want and will work real hard to get it. Sincerely, Kyle

[Greyfox]

What do you guys think? I have been an avid horse handicapper since I was a little kid when my grandfather used to take me to the track so this is some thing I really want and will work real hard to get it. Sincerely, Kyle

I don't normally try to step on anyone's dreams, so if you are for real go for it.
Having said that "wakey, wakey".
You say that you've been an avid handicapper since you were a little kid.
What has taken so long for "the penny to fall" that you want to be a jockey now?
Watching horse races as a youngster that didn't cross your mind??
You asked us "What do you guys think?"
In all honesty, I'd say if you want to be a jockey start listening to music, practice your radio voice and play a lot of discs. Take a short radio course. Go to a small town and become a Disk Jockey.

[ranchwest]

Once you've ridden a running horse successfully, then think about the steps to becoming a jockey.

Riding a running horse is something I found exhilirating, but I didn't really want to do it again. I sure didn't want to do it for a living. lol

[BillW]

You could contact a forum member with the nick PurplePower (Reid). He teaches at the North American Racing Academy. Contact info is on the site.

http://nara.kctcs.edu/

[kyle2227]

Thanks for the info guys. Ill make sure I can ride a horse first before persueing this further. Greyfox I sent you a pm. I am off to bed good night guys.

[jognlope]

My advice is to ignore Grey Fox's advice and go for it!

[Greyfox]

My advice is to ignore Grey Fox's advice and go for it!

You guys can encourage Kyle222 if you want. I'd encourage him to look at realities that he will face.
First of all, is the problem of height. It goes hand and hand with weight.
For a five foot six male the following are normal limits of weight. Small


5 foot 6 "
Frame136-142 lbs.
Medium Frame139-151
Large Frame 146-164

A full listing of weights vs. heights is at:
http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/met.htm

So what it boils down to Kyle, you will likely have to be in a constant state of starvation to reach the range for an acceptable jockey at most of our tracks.

Secondly there are the realities of what jockey's must face to maintain their weights. It is a problem that racing doesn't show the public very often.
But you might want to look in on the following article about
Jockey's Dying to Make Their weights at:
http://www.nalis.gov.tt/Sport/sports_bulimicJockeysHealth.htm

These posters who tell you to keep going for it are just plain giving you bad advice and false hope. But nothing is impossible if you really want it.

[kenwoodallpromos]

My advice is to read this NIH article on dieting and anemia:
"http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ida/ida_prevention.html"
Then to buy a claimer and hire a jockey.

[tupper]

This forum might not be the best place to seek anwers to your question.

I searched "how to become a jockey" on the Internet and got many URLs. Here are the first three:
http://www.thejockey.com/before_you_start.htm
(A general overview.)

http://www.ehow.com/how_10990_become-jockey.html
(Working your way up at a track. Fairly detailed, step-by-step.)

http://www.jockeysroom.com/msg4.htm
(Seems to favor going to school.)

[LARRY GEORGE]

i thought chris mccarron had started school for jockeys in kentucky somewhere check it out

[Greyfox]

Not knowing you, but from what you've told us,
Harness Race Driving would seem like a more realistic option to consider.

[BillW]

i thought chris mccarron had started school for jockeys in kentucky somewhere check it out

See post #4 in this thread.

[kyle2227]

A little update here I weighed myself today down to 128 pounds. I think I am going to spend a few months taking weekly riding lessons then I will look into a school. Today I was real hungery so I want to cook a extra lean ground beef burger. Put it on the grill and decided to have two crackers to hold me over until the burger was done cooking. Well I had the crackers and I felt full. Wouldnt of even needed the burger but since it was already cooking I ate it any way. I don't think I will have much trouble on the eating part. I am already loosing a lot of weight and I feel great. Some days I will only have one meal the whole day and maybe one some healthy snack and I feel full dont feel hungery at all. I will look into that school in Kentucky. Thanks for all your help guys.

[kyle2227]

Hey guys I just found this:
Height
Height is less of a pre-requisite although it will govern your weight and aerodynamics in the saddle.
However, Lester Piggott was 5 ft 7 1/2 inches tall and Richard Hughes of the UK is 5ft 10 inches.

[Greyfox]

You're going to put your health at major risk. Money means nothing if you don't have your health. Stop now before you develop an eating disorder.

[kyle2227]

I totally understand where you are coming from Grey. It's going to be real tough and theres a risk I can get an eating disorder maybe even a high risk but the dream is the dream and I am willing to take the risk. Right now I am going to shoot for about 115 pounds by the time I am done riding lessons and then just keep getting it lower. Yes maybe when I am down to around 110-115 I will feel hungery all the time but this is some thing I want real bad. Bad enough to clean out the slop / crap in the stables for free when I am done riding lessons if it will get me one step closer to riding. But I will take into consideration what you are saying Grey. I will take a few lessons first and see how things are going. Heck the lessons might not even work out but this is my dream so I will try my best to try and find a way to work. Some jockeys only eat a piece of toast and thats it all day and I am willing to give it a try. I will keep you updaeted on my progress in the coming weeks Grey as soon as I start taking riding lessons.

[WJ47]

Nothing is impossible, but do things the right way, diet in a healthy manner and go to a jockey school. Go to places with horses and learn everything you can. There is a big difference in riding a thoroughbred and riding a trail horse. After you learn to ride, you can get a job exercising thoroughbreds in the morning while you practice your skills. After you start riding, you'll know if this is the right path for you.

I've ridden horses all my life. Once, I rode a thoroughbred and he almost killed me! He was a retired racehorse, a current show jumper, and high strung as the devil! :)

[Greyfox]

From:

http://horseracing.about.com/library/weekly/aa072500a.htm

"Most of us have been vaguely aware of the fact that many jockeys go to extremes to make the low weights (http://horseracing.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.horse%2Draces.net/lowell/part1.htm) assigned them but somehow it seems to get lost in the cracks just how badly these guys treat themselves so they can ride. Many live on starvation diets or develop bulimia (http://eatingdisorders.about.com/msubbulimia.htm) as a way to keep their weight down and of course they all wind up in the hot box sometimes to sweat off that extra pound or two on race day. Many are so wasted from this that you wonder how they can manage to stay aboard their mounts much less control the 1000 lb. beasts!
Most jockey's rooms have a special room just for purging or "flipping" as they call it because the practice is so common. In addition to this many spend 2-4 hours a day in the 140 degree hot box to sweat off even more weight. Others will combine this with taking laxatives or diuretics such as lasix or home-made concoctions to try and get even lighter. These practices can have grave effects on their bodies but one of the most dangerous is potassium depletion and a jockey died from that earlier this year (http://horseracing.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.horse%2Draces.net/lowell/part2.htm). Some insurance companies won't even insure jockeys after they stop riding because of all the damage the dieting did to their bodies and bones."

Also see Jockey's Racing in The Danger Zone at:
http://horseracing.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.horse%2Draces.net/lowell/part1.htm

[kyle2227]

Thanks for the information WJ47. Once I get good at the riding lessons I will look into the excercising of horses. Thanks for the information. - Wow thats pretty scary stuff Grey. I will have a read over of it all. Im still gonna take the riding lessons to see how I like it. After I have a lessons or two I will keep you guys posted on how its going. I think if you diet peoperly you won't run into some of those problems. I understand most jockeys have eating disorders but I think if I properly do my homework I can redue the risks of those things happening. I understand being a jockey is a horrible life to live. For now I am just going to give the riding lessons a go to see how I like it. If I get on a horse and say a race horse is 20x worse then this I know theres no way I am going to like it I will quit. However if I get on a horse and love it I will take more lessons.

[Pace Cap'n]

However if I get on a horse and love it I will take more lessons.

You will. Not a lot of things more fun than riding a horse, especially at speed.

[CryingForTheHorses]

Hi there guys I am new to these forums and cnat wait to chat with you guys and get to know you all better. I was wondering how some one becomes a jockey? I am a 23(yes I know most people start much younger then that but this is some thing I really want) year old male about 5'6" (yes I know a little tall maybe to be a jockey but I'm sure there are some that tall or slightly taller) 130 pounds but I am on a diet and have been loosing about 1-2 pounds a week. I was just wondering what the best way to some day maybe get a chance to ride in a race and become a jockey. In about two weeks I am going to start taking riding lessons. The place I am getting lessons from said that had no idea how to become a jockey but they said they would start me off on beginner lessons and work me up to advanced horse riding lessons. (were not talking racing horses here just regular horses) My best guess would be to take lots of riding lessons and when I feel I am good at riding get a basic job at the track where I am near and or around horses. Then some day after I work a few months and start to get to know the trainers / jocks or whoever ask if I can practice ride a horse around the track and maybe even hopefully get a mount that way but I am not sure? Could you guys give me some hits / tell me the best way to go about this. Thanks for any information you could give me. By the way the place I will be taking lessons from is http://www.saddlevalleyfarm.com/ (http://www.saddlevalleyfarm.com/) and they offer customized lessons so I guess my first step would be to take lots of riding lessons so I can get used to the horses. What do you guys think? I have been an avid horse handicapper since I was a little kid when my grandfather used to take me to the track so this is some thing I really want and will work real hard to get it. Sincerely, Kyle


My dear friend,The best way to learn is to hookup with a trainer with a large stable,Please remember you must know whats under them before you get on them.Learn how to read a horse before you learn to handle them. Knowing how to read them will make you safer around them when they do something silly. Horses are not machines and every hrse is diferent. To become a jocky you must work hard. It can be a thankless business or it can be very rewarding. If you gallop horses for a couple of years before you breeze horses,You will learn pace and know when and how to make a horse change his leads. If you try to go too far too fast you may fail in your attempt.Please remember that a jocky who knows pace will be a good rider. Yahooing out the gate will get you nowhere. I will help you with advice if you want.Watching lots of films of races,going to the gate to watch them break and most of all,Paying attention to what other jocks do.This isnt done in a matter of a couple of weeks.Dont rush as time is on your side..

[Dan Montilion]

Speaking strictly as a horseplayer, it is my opinion that most riders start with a frontal lobotomy.

[Greyfox]

Speaking strictly as a horseplayer, it is my opinion that most riders start with a frontal lobotomy.

Yes, I'd rather have a bottle in front o' me than a frontal lobotmy. :lol:

[Pace Cap'n]

Kyle--check this out--same name even...

seattlepi.nwsource.com/othersports/319191_larry09.html (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/othersports/319191_larry09.html)


"The first time I got on the back of a horse, he ran off with me. I thought I was dead," Branch said.

"It was a rush, though, and I kept on. It's worked out. There's nothing like the electricity when you break from the gate. Words can't duplicate the experience."

[jotb]

Hello Kyle:

In all reality and I hate to bust your bubble here but your weight is a serious problem for you. If you planning of becoming a jockey and ride here in North America you will need to get your weight down to about 103lbs. A jockeys career begins as an apprentice rider and you get a weight allowance of 10lbs which means for you, if a horse gets in a race at 117lbs with the weight allowance you will be riding at 107lbs. You have about 4lbs of tack which includes saddle so you need to be about 103lbs stripped. You could waive the apprentice weight but then the problem is who is going to ride an apprentice rider over a journeyman rider. A trainer will rather have the experienced jockey than someone first starting out that can't make apprentice weight. Greyfox said something about harness racing which may be a way to go for you or you can ride overseas where the scale of weights is higher. On a brighter note if you really want to ride thoroughbreds for a living you can become an exercise rider for morning work. You are not exposed like a jock but many exercise riders make a good living and help tremendously in the process of getting a horse ready for a race. If your dream is to be around the industry there is plenty of hope for you but the jockey dream maybe somewhat tough for you. Sorry.

Good luck,
Joe

[DJofSD]

Kyle,

I must agree with Greyfox about your health. You can find plenty of jobs as a rider that does not require making the weight of a competitive T'bred jockey. Find out about exercise riders. Also, consider other discplines where they don't have any weight requirements.

If you have the burning desire, you'll make it. Who knows, you might even find that training is your forte.

Good luck!