Jockey

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.

• Careers in Racing - Careers website from the British Horseracing Authority

• British Racing School - Careers advice from a Centre offering training and courses for working in horseracing

• JETS - Jockeys Employment and Training scheme - Charity that helps current and former professional jockeys plan and achieve a s

• Lantra Scotland - Training and skills for the land-based, aquaculture and environmental sector