Jockey
Ride horses to win races for the owners and to entertain the crowds at the racetrack and watching on television.
About the job
What it's like
You would ride horses to win races for the owners and to entertain the crowds at the racetrack and watching on television.
You’d need excellent horse riding skills and have the dedication and determination to win.
Horse trainers would employ you to ride one of their horses at race meetings. You would either race on the flat - on a race track without obstacles - or over jumps and ditches – called National Hunt racing. You’d specialise in either flat or jump racing, although you could take part in both.
You would:
Plan racing strategies with the horse owner and trainer
Take advice from the trainer on tactics to suit the horse and the track
Ride every day to exercise the horse
Ride the horse at flat or jump races at race tracks around the UK and possibly overseas
You’d need to be able to handle horses and have a good knowledge of horse care and welfare.
It’s a demanding job physically: fitness, strength and stamina are required. There are also risks of injury, for example from falls and being kicked by a horse.
Hours
You'll work around 40 hours a week, depending on the number of races you take part in.
Your working week will often involve early starts and late finishes.
Environment
Your work will be physically demanding.
As with any activity-based job, there's a risk of injury. For example, you could fall off your horse.
Travel
You'll attend races at courses throughout the UK, so you must be prepared to travel and spend time away from home.
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Top skills
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It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- observation
- cooperating
- verbal communication
- attention to detail
- concentrating
- risk taking
- making decisions
- taking responsibility
- self awareness
- resilience
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
PE (Physical education)
Skills for Work: Sport and Recreation
There are no formal qualifications to enter this job however you will need to complete a jockey apprenticeship and get a British Horseracing Authority licence to ride.
This includes a five-day residential Apprentice or Conditional Licence course and a medical at the British Racing School in Newmarket or the Northern Racing College in Doncaster.
Once the licence is awarded, an Apprentice or Conditional Jockey would complete the Apprenticeship at a trainer's yard.
To keep the licence, jockeys then need to continue their development by taking a four-day Apprentice or Conditional Continuation course and an advanced Apprentice or Conditional course.
For entry into the riding courses, most racing schools ask that the candidate have experience in riding, jumping and galloping.
Past experience as a stable hand or groom.
Find the right course for you
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