Expert: Stephanie Frost - 5/14/2006

Question
hi there,

I am interested in getting into the horse racing profession as a jockey or groomer.  However, I can't seem to find any information regarding any schools or programs online.  Mainly just horse jumping schools and summer camps.  Also, do you have any info regarding how long it takes to train and the cost of becoming a jockey or groomer.  Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you

Answer
Johnny,

There are a couple of different avenues to becoming a groom or a rider.  The first question would be how much horse experience do you have with already?  If you ride well to begin with, often you can go to a training farm  and they will let you ride young horses and show you the ropes until you have enough experience to be comfortable riding tougher mounts.  Once you can exersize anything that they can throw at you, and you're really fit, you can start raising your irons up and learning to race ride.  As far as being a groom, if you already know the basics, it isn't hard to find a Thoroughbred farm to give you a shot.  Also, a lot of training stables at the track will let you start out as a hotwalker (someone who walks the horses cool after exersize), and let you graduate up to grooming.  These are a couple of good ways to get experience and get paid, too.

Another way to go, and probably the best way, if you have the resources, is to attend one of the fine equine programs at either the University of Kentucky or the University of Arizona.  There is also a jockey school operated by Frank Garza out in California, and Chris McCarron is planning on opening one in Lexington, Kentucky soon.  I don't know anything about these schools personally, but I have heard wonderful things abouth the programs at both Universities.  Going that route would also give you a huge boost towards being a trainer or farm manager as well.  A college education is always a good idea, and what could be better for the horse lover than combining a college degree with a horse education as well?
Here are a couple of links to check out:
University Of Arizona - http://ag.arizona.edu/rtip/

University of Kentucky -
http://inside.cbpa.louisville.edu/eip/

Frank Garza's Jockey School -  www.frankgarzajockeyschool.com/

Good Luck!
Stephanie Frost
www.alchemybloodstock.com