Hello everyone l am a 19 year old girl who rides english style. All the other riders at my barn wanna jump and do dressage, and this is what the instructors teach. Other barns in my area are the same. l have been doing jumping and competing in shows, and it is fun, but l have little real interest in it. l have even less interest in dressage. What l really want is to become a jockey, though my instructor cannot train me for this. There is a racetrack in my area, and l have contacted them, but they do not train riders. l know l can hang around there and try to get a job, but l feel like l am not a good enough rider yet to be an exercise rider, and would not wanna try to get a job doing exercising riding until l feel l would be good. What things should l learn to be able to do race riding? What kind of things should l learn to do that are different from basic english riding? And where can l reach out to find some sort of trainer that l could pay to help me? Thank you very much for any advice you have.
:)
l am 5'1 and 95-100 pounds depending on my diet and fitness level.

I'd just call the racetrack or check their website for openings. l am just wondering if you even like horses. It is a very cruel industry to them. Either way, you still need to be a good rider. Anyway, l hope you are able to follow your dreams, just do not hurt any horses along the way, ok?

First off how tall r you? Height is really really important in a jockey is job, if u r about 5 foot then all u can really be is an exercise rider.

l would find a lesson barn that will give u flat lessons. Explain that u want to become a jockey but u r not strong enough. They might be willing to give u ''lessons'' that work on ur half seat & developing muscle. If not ur only option is to goto the track & find a job & hope that u learn quickly.

While u look for the job work out a lot. Work on getting a stronger back, stronger leg muscles, & balance.

You have to become good friends with a trainer,work with his horses for a while,and he needs to sponsor you, but it also depends on where u live, certain places consider it a career & actually will train you. You r going to need many more years experience working with race horses & thoroughbreds before u r able to handle them on the ground yet alone climb upon their backs, they r trained (usually) against the bit which means pulling back is not going to slow them down. You should go to a trainer & learn more about this & how they train their horses,it will better u in ur riding when u know how they r trained & how to react.
EDIT:
In most places there r no height level restrictions on jockeys,only weight,and it sounds like u r the right size. Some of the first champions, back in the day,although l can not recall who, won great races & ran far even with jockeys that were 130 pounds. ( l know l read it in a thoroughbred book called Champions which showed records & such of all the greater horses). Although l do not think they will allow it now days, there r always exceptions,and u seem small enough. At the track here u have to have a trainer sponsor so l would call the track & ask if u can meet with a trainer/owner, that is how l started l am 14 taking care of the race horses,we become such good friends l stay the night at his guest house out at his farm & since he is too old l help him & he trains me. If l loose a few pound l am going to be able to be a jockey soon too. Go out there & make some friends at the track,thats the best way to start.

go to college in kentucky!! seriously!

The first thing u need to know is as much about horses as possible. Know breeding aspects, training, how horses run under what conditions.
Get to know the industry, trainers, hot walkers, grooms, etc. Get to know other jockeys an get tips on how they got their start.
Watch ur weight. In most countries a jockey can never weigh more than 115 pounds. You have to maintain weight in order to meet weight requirements..
Most jockeys start by working in other aspects of the training process. They hot walk horses (cool them down after training) grooming & participate in exercising duties long before they actually become a jockey. They get to know the profession & decide if this is the career they want to have.
You need to go to Jockey School such as Frank Garza Jockey School in Southern California. There r also jockey schools like Chris McCarons in Kentucky..
You start by running schooling races. These r races that help u get familiarized with racing & track facilities, & prepare u to become a jockey. Often this is required before u can obtain a jockey license.
You must have a license in order to be a jockey. Most racetracks provide applications & the license is good for any racetrack within a given area. Recommendation from a trainer to jockey school is a huge plus. Good luck

Almost all of the jockeys & exercise riders that l know started at the very bottom of the racing industry. Go to a track, get a hotwalker/grooms license & work under a good trainer. If you're lucky, at the end of the race season the trainer will take u with him to his farm where u will work as groom/stable hand to the racehorses there. If u prove to be knowledgeable & experienced on the ground, then the trainer may start throwing u up on some of his horses. Some of the best exercise riders learn how to ride first at a TB farm then work their way to the track. You will need to have a trainer sponsor u as someone already stated. Once a trainer sponsors you, u will work as a bug boy (apprentice jockey) for a set period of time or until you've won an x number of races-whichever comes first. Only then will u be able to get ur jockey is license. So, for starters, the best advice anyone could give u is to start hanging around the racetrack, get a grooms license, & learn to care for & handle the racehorses on the ground then work ur way up.

First: Your go to be a groom/work at the bottom while learning EVERYTHING u can along the way.
Second: Keep working up the ladder until u get to be a jockey. . .

Really the things u will have to watch out for is the fact it can be dangerous for ur health as well as just the general factor, staying small alot of times leads jockeys to having eating disorders, If u can stay smaller & do it healthy then I'd say more power to you.

Next l can tell u the Idea l get from the jockeys is they've been doing it from a young age, 12-13 year old boys running around barns grooming/riding/getting the horses ready, sometimes even riding. So l will have to say u will be at a slight disadvantage, but if u work at it u have as good as anyone else is chance of making it.

Good luck, hope ya find what ya want.

well l think your too big

There is such thing as a jockey college. Here a website with basic info: http://youngrider.com/general-horse-articles/horse-racing-school.aspx . Here is the website for the actual college: http://nara.kctcs.edu/ . scroll all the way down and you will see the address of the college on the left hand corner. Good Luck!!

my brother & l used to muck around & try & become jockeys. our DNA said no! what we used to do was bring our stirrup leathers up short & find some where flat & straight & bare foot is best for balance. trot & stand with legs straight over the horses neck. also do some rising trot as well. this builds ur legs up. once u have warmed up, go into a canter & sit over them like jockeys do. once u feel confident with this go at a gallop. if ur horse is willing practice with the whip occasionally. good luck, its so much fun. follow ur dream!!!

There is a jockey school in Lexington, KY (North American Racing Academy). The next year of classes will start in September of next year. Try getting in touch with Chris McCarron down there. he runs the school. He is a good guy & will probably be more than willing to set up a meeting with u if u can make it down there for a visit. There is also plenty of info on them online, if u want to google it. :)

l was accepted into it 2 years in a row, & did not end up attending either year. lol. l just preferred to continue working at the track & have since opened my own Bloodstock agency & all that.

Anyway, since u do not quite have the experience to go directly to the track, this would probably be my best advice for you. Hope it helps!