Advice please ......

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Olivia16

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I'm doing my A levels this year. The problem is I've always wanted to be a jockey from the moment I started riding. My parents aren't horsey and the idea of me even considering becoming a jockey shocks them, last week my mother told me she would disown me if I became one.They want me to be a veterinary nurse. It's not that I would hate being a veterinary nurse it's just that I don't think I would be truly happy doing anything else only working with horses:( They just don't understand the love I have for horses and racing. I've always wanted to do them proud but I think if I chose veterinary nursing I would be living their lives not the one I want. They see how happy I am when I'm out competing with my pony but all they want is for it to be my hobby not a career.

Sooo should I follow my heart or do as my parents say ??
What do you guys think ??

Thank you
Olivia :)
 
I'm looking into becoming a veterinary nurse as I've always wanted to work with horses. I'll have to do 2 years with small animals and then do a 1 year equine top up course - so i will hopefully end up working with horses!
Is this something you'd consider? Or is it specifically being a jockey?
Sorry that it's such a difficult situation for you - maybe your parents just need a bit more convincing!
 
Im inclined to say follow your heart.
BUT i know nothing about the racing industry, and how hard it is to be a jocky. I think your mother is being very unfare saying she will disown you.
Sorry not much help.
 
It's your life -follow your heart. I'm a parent and I would never have tried to influence the career paths of my children
 
OK, what happens if you're not great as a jockey?
And what happens if you get injured, what next?
 
Can't you carry on with both for a while, could you do your vet nurse training (which I think takes a few years) and at the same time start riding out for race horse trainers (I think you can ride out for them without working for them) - so you start to build up experience of race horses and building a reputation with trainers.

Then you leave both doors open, parents happy and you building you jockey CV. Once you;ve completed your vet nurse training and are qualified you could take a year out and throw yourself at the jockey thing - if it works out and you love it - perfect carry on, if not you';ve got a nice qualification to fall back on.
 
As a parent who had a similar discussion with my daughter a couple of years ago, I think Polo'sMum has the right answer. My daughter wanted to study Equine Studies with a view to being an eventer. We investigated lots of variables, for example - what if she was injured and couldn't continue; how would she manage on the little money she would earn; what woud she do when she was too old? etc. I left her to makie her own decision, I just asked her to look at it from all angles, not just the here and now, but afterwards. She is now at university studying Biomedical Science, with a view to working on research into Equine Diseases when she qualifies. She should then be earning enough money to enable to carry on with her eventing.

She investigated wages, how she would be able to afford to live away from home depending on where she worked. One of my friends son was an apprentice jockey but had to give it up, for financial reasons as well as not making the grade.

It is a hard decision to make but as long as you investigate all the pro's and con's and consider all the possible variables you should be in a position to discuss your reasoning with your parents.
 
I used to work as a secretary on one of the big racing yards in Newmarket and would exercise one of the horses every morning. Absolutely loved working in the racing industry but I'm afraid I wouldn't recommend trying to become a jockey! There are hundreds of lads and lasses in the racing yards whose dream is to be a jockey. They slog their guts out 7 days a week, riding, mucking out, grooming, taking horses racing and to the sales. They are on the yard at 5.30/6.00 every morning. Get a few hours off early afternoon then back again til 6.00/6.30 in the evening, and for very little pay. A tiny tiny minority make it as a jockey and many end up leaving the industry in their twenties to pursue something else. They have a fun time working in the racing yards, make a lot of good friends and have some fabulous times looking after some great horses, but prospects are very very limited except for the very exceptional few. Getting an apprentice jockey position is like gold dust! Better to go with Polos Mum's idea and get a good qualification under your belt. There are very few trainers who will pay someone to ride their horses unless already experienced with racehorses. If you want to work as a ladd/lass on a racing yard you have to do a course first at the Racing School.
 
Polos Mum said:
Can't you carry on with both for a while, could you do your vet nurse training (which I think takes a few years) and at the same time start riding out for race horse trainers (I think you can ride out for them without working for them) - so you start to build up experience of race horses and building a reputation with trainers.

Then you leave both doors open, parents happy and you building you jockey CV. Once you;ve completed your vet nurse training and are qualified you could take a year out and throw yourself at the jockey thing - if it works out and you love it - perfect carry on, if not you';ve got a nice qualification to fall back on.
Click to expand...

This ^^
You should be able to get some riding out in there while doing your training, then if you still want to do it, build up to it? A friend of mine work rides before he goes to his actual job and he's had a couple of race rides... good luck!
 
Could you take a gap year? I think the basic training course at british racing school is only 9 weeks. Or could you train as a jockey and have it as your part time/weekend job whilst you're studying to be a vet nurse? I know what you mean about wanting to work with horses but it's hard work, so perhaps it's best getting the grades and qualifications first, you can always work with horses afterwards for a while, but you'll already have the qualifications if you change your mind
 
Always follow your heart:D

Just do your a levels, and start building up your experience with racing yards as a part time job and perhaps study becoming an equine vet. Then, if you ever injure yourself or decide for a change, you'll have an amazing set of qualifications behind you to adapt to any job you want.
Also I don't know a lot about racing but if you have that sort of background perhaps you'll stand out against other applicants if competitions tough!

Your parents are only looking out for you in their own way, but don't let them stop you. I'm sure when they realise this is it, they'll support you no matter what. Good luck!:D x
 
I know you say you've thought about it but have you? IT's all very well when you're 18 and don't have to run a house/car/pay bills. What will you do if your job is impossible due to pain/injury that is not fixable and what will you fall back on? Why not pursue vet nursing and ride out at weekends? Have you done any riding out for racehorse training?
 
SusieT said:
OK, what happens if you're not great as a jockey?
And what happens if you get injured, what next?
Click to expand...

See, she's going to have done her A-levels. I don't think it's then unreasonable to move into an equestrian job. My sister stuck out her A-levels (and hated every second, and skived to ride when she could!) and got 3 reasonable grades. She's now working almost exclusively as a rider. If she is injured, she has something to fall back on.

In the end, you're young and stupid once. Best to get the horsey stuff out of your system (or fall properly for it, and stick it out!) while you're young so you don't waste those years, I reckon. You can go to uni, do OU courses, retrain, when you're older if you need to...

Have you checked out the Newmarket racing courses they hold? Every person who completes will get a job at the end, so could be the perfect way of getting into racing?
 
I say follow your heart. Slogging your guts out working ridiculous hours for low pay is definitely a young persons thing. So if you're going to try it, try it now. Starting on the bottom rung on the career ladder like this, if you're in your 30s or 40s with children/credit cards/rent to pay, doesn't really work (unless you have family or a partner who will support you financially). But if on thinking about it further, becoming a professional jockey doesn't look promising, what about keeping racing for a hobby? Assuming you plan to be a horse owner, why not own a racehorse? I think you can train and ride them in races yourself, in certain circumstances.
 
Olivia I suggest that you do both!

A jockeys career can be a short one - and if you are not a successful jockey you won't get the ride's.

Train as a vet nurse then go and do you jockey apprenticeship - if you don't make the grade you'll have your vet nursing career to fall back on.
 
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