Horse Jockey?

Question

I really want to become a horse jockey when I get older, but I hear that it's an extremly dangerous sport. I've done some research on it, but does anyone here have any personal experience on being one?

Answer 1

Hi Amber,it's Philip here,you know that I'm a jockey here in Australia,yes it's a very dangerous sport to get into,but if your heart is set and your head is screwed on right you can make it.Please start of in a small stable and don't ride any crazies to start of with.Your experience will come to you as you go on with it.Hey good luck and keep in touch.
Philip..

Answer 2

Jockey female is a new lineage of old traditional families. I
know about ten women jockeys for Rockingham my farm is
next door. The facts show that danger is the real problem. All
of these women are quite starchy, irritable. The truth is if you
are a rodeo minded person and want to train horses this is a
real field of opportunities. I ride with 2 retired jockeys to show
them the cowboy ride. Totally exhilirated is how it effects them
to go all out jumping like a sweepstakes. Though you need a
no holes area, so if jockey is your idea, go for the trainers team.
The actual taming, domestication is the professional activity.
Arrow Farms Goldsox Capecod racing has tons of shows.
My advise for a female is also to chose horses for thorobred,
or top breed, and do not mix in harness or rigs. The good
starter horses would be gray mare, brown female, black male.
These tips and more on here http://www.race-horses.com
http://msn.foxsports.com/horseracing

Answer 3

Yeah, it's pretty dangerous. My dad used to be a jockey, and I saw him get dumped off a horse and dragged down the track, while breaking a horse to start from the gate. That was the last time he decided to get on a race horse. Many years later, we saw a guy he used to ride with, and the guy told him a story about how he had been pronounced dead after a fall at Remington Park, and he sat up in the back of the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Also, my uncle used to be a trainer, and he got his arm broke so bad that he had to quit.

Answer 4

Take a look at the jockey colony at Turf Paradise in Phoenix AZ. There is a strong and competetive group of female riders there and that might be a good place to look for advice as you begin your training to become a jockey.

It's true that being a jockey is an extremely dangerous occupation whether you are male or female. Here are links to a couple of unfortunate incidents that involved injuries to a female rider.

Back Injury Will Sideline Napravnik 8-12 Weeks
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/31/AR2007013101938.html?nav=rss_sports

Brinda Robbins Injured
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-s6NAhkY8brSSxoxIG77PMOGifjo-?cq=1&p=6

Be strong, stay smart and ride everyday. You can do this if it is what you really want.

Answer 5

I worked a tracks for a few years and I can tell you that it is extremely dangerous but also very rewarding. Many of the horses are barely trained and ill tempered and many of the trainers run their horses into the ground which puts the rider (needless to say the horse) into precarious positions.

If you are interested in learning the ropes you will most likely start as a stable hand and work your way up the ladder into a groom and exercise rider. You will get alot of time in the saddle as an exercise rider before you ever get the chance to race.

Good luck and if it's what you want to do, go for it.

Answer 6

Certainly! Very light... Sorry have no Information on how to get started... Look around the net for Information about a jockey school etc. Whoever said you have to be below 5''3, Haha at you... There is 6 foot Professional jockeys around...

Answer 7

start off by breaking babies (yearlings) at various farms then move to the track, walk hots for a while, try to get out to the track and watch what the riders do out there in the morning (training time) and afternoon (in races). Learn the ediquette of riding on the track in the morning. Then when you feel comfortable get up on one (hopefully one who is bomb proof, and at the end of the training day when the track is pretty empty) go for it. From there its up to you to decide if you can handle it, if you can, learn all you can in the mornings, keep your weight down (in a healthy way), and in a few years go for your license. But don't forget its the only sport in the world (that I know of) where an ambulance follows the athletes around the track.

Answer 8

I'm not a jockey, but I have lots of friends who are jockeys or have been jockeys. My boyfriend is a retired jockey. He rode for 17 years before retiring.

Answer 9

it can be dangerous as if your horse goes down the other horses can run over you,,,if they have a sulky it is even worse,,,sulky will tip and toss you on the track and other drivers can hit you,,as the horse are pretty bunched up,,otherwise i wold say it is up to you and it probably is like driving a car..you always have to be careful,,check with other jockeys for good advise,,,,good luck