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Stable Staff – exploring your options
Jockey – turning professional and beyond

Stable Staff

You’re already enjoying working in a yard. Now you want to progress a little further, perhaps to become a more senior member of staff or to take up a supervisory role. If this is your aim then you have two main training options. You can take an NVQ 3 in Racehorse Care and Management or go on a Supervisory Skills Course. (See Supervisory Skills Course section below.)

Or maybe you’ve decided that working in a racing yard isn’t for you, but you would still like to work in a hands-on role with horses. Then maybe you should consider crossing over to work on a stud farm. Click here to find out how.

NVQ3 – Racehorse Care and Management (Racing Option)

This training programme takes around 18 months to complete and increases your knowledge about racehorse care and management. It is often seen as a stepping stone to greater levels of responsibility within a yard. It's also a mandatory training requirement if you are aspiring to train horses either under a permit or as a licenced racehorse Trainer.

To complete the programme, you have to spend around 5 days at one of our approved training centres to undergo coaching and sit exams. The rest of the programme is assessed on project work which you complete as part of your daily routine. This should take you around 2-3 hours a week.

The good news is that if you are under 25, the training and in some cases the accommodation is free. The course will include:

• 5 days of training (residential where appropriate)
• An emergency first aid certificate
• Technical certificate in advanced horsecare
• Further development of key skills including communication, numeracy skills, working with others and Information Technology
• You will achieve an NVQ 3 in Race Horse Care and Management - and ultimately an Advanced Apprenticeship

More detail on the NVQ 3/advanced apprenticeships can be obtained from the British Racing School, The Northern Racing College and Haddon Training Ltd.

Supervisory Skills Course

You’ve got your technical skills cracked. Maybe you’ve also completed your NVQ 3. If you're planning to manage staff or have just been promoted to a supervisory role in your yard, then the 2 day Supervisory Skills course is a must for you. You can study this course at the British Racing School.

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Jockey – Turning Professional

As an Apprentice or Conditional Jockey, you'll need to continue your development in order to maintain your licence. Having completed both your Licence and Continuation courses, you’ll need to complete an advanced Apprentice or Conditional course.

Designed to hone your skills to greater levels, this 4 day course has a similar content to the Continuation course, but at a much greater depth. A far higher level of riding skills is demanded, too. As well as covering continued fitness and nutrition, the course also introduces you to media training, including a mock press interview where you can try out your newly acquired skills. You can take this course at the British Racing School.

To have and maintain your annual licence, you’ll need to be at least 25 (27 if you’re a Conditional Jockey) and ensure you achieve 25 winners a year.

And beyond

From time to time you might need to attend some remedial training which covers the use of the whip in accordance with the British Horseracing Authority rules. You may decide to go on this course for your own development or you may be sent for an infringement of the rules. Remedial training is run at the British Racing School.

In addition, you’ll need to keep very fit. Many professional Jockeys are self-employed and hire agents and Personal Assistants so that they can concentrate on fitness and riding. Due to the nature of the job, early retirement is inevitable for Jockeys and the injury risk is high. Flat racing Jockeys are 40 on average when their careers end, and for National Hunt Jockeys the average age is just 35. Statistics show that, on average, Jump Jockeys have a fall in every 16 rides. With horses travelling at speeds of more than 30mph, flat falls can be equally serious.

If you’re a licenced Jockey and you want to extend your skills in preparation for retiring from race riding, the Jockey's Employment and Training Scheme provides support and coaching.

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