Horse Jockeys

Possibly one of the most demanding self-employed jobs in the world is that of the professional jockey. You must stay fit, and light enough not to burden your steed, yet at the same time be strong enough to guide the horse through the field, against the competition.

Starting at an early age, sometimes as young as10 years old, a jockey apprentices under a stablemaster, who is hired by an owner to oversee the running of the team of horses, and the jockeys themselves. It is not a job for the faint-hearted, injuries are frequent, and can be permanently disabling or even fatal. A fall from a fast moving horse can break bones like a twig, and recoveries can be slow and painful.

There is a long standing tradition in the world of the professional jockey, where the young apprentice learns under a lead jockey, who is in turn learning more from a master jockey. The more you know, the more you are expected to impart the vital knowledge to the next up and coming line of jockeys who are less experienced. This leads to a powerful bond, a fraternity of sorts, that keeps jockeys on a fast learning curve, along with a fierce amount of competition. Jockeys are among the most sought after athletes in the world, and by working hard to understand their horses and themselves, certainly earn every penny that they make.

Not surprisingly, though, most jockeys wouldn’t trade their life for anyone else’s in the world, the freedom of being on a perfectly run horse, the thrill of hearing the cheers from the stadium as you race around the track, being one with the animal below you…truly an experience that is worth it’s weight in gold.