Excersize Jockey?

Just a bit curious. I've been seriousl considering changing my interests from the reined cowhorse industry into something differant.

So, one of the choices I have been considering would be an excersize jockey. I don't want to race horses for a living, so a track jockey is out of the picture.

I just want a little bit of information about it. Could it be a full time job for me in the future? I still want to compete independently, but the thing is I'm only interested in competing and not breeding, training, or giving any lessons. Although once my competition life is over I would have full intentions of b
Putting my heart into a breeding program.

Anyway, I know absolutely nothing about this. How would I get started? What exactly would I be responsible for, besides the obvious excersize of the horse?

Clueless me, help appreciated ^^
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Here in Aussie you can do a course in trackriding which helps you learn all the fine points. Im currently doing it right now.
Not sure where you live, might have to do some research to find out if there is any courses.

You don't need a course to actual trackride but it helped me since I was just a general dressage rider.

You can be a trackrider as part of a stable so you only end up riding the horses the trainer has, or a freelance, but found out jockeys mianly only do freelance.

Hate to say it, but you may have to start at the botton.
Most trackriders I know are still stablehands, so you might be stuck down the bottom rung until they are confident with you or a job has been open.

You have to exercise the horse to exaclty what the trainer wants.
That includes: slow work
Fast work eg 3/4s, evens
Barrier jumps

You may be also required to tack up horses and untack and cool them off.

Hoped I helped.
Feel free to ask more? =]]

Trust me when I say, if you want to eat everyday; then go to college. You will make little to no money if you want to be an exercise jockey. Most of the time they don't get paid because it's the people who want to be a jockey that need to start at the very bottom.

I don't think that's true.

I know plently of stables paying up heaps to their staff.
You just have to be at the right stable.

You need to be reliable, have experince (and yes, we all have to start somewhere) and be a risk taker.

I think if you love the job, you wouldnt really care what you are being paid.

The tracks I know of around here, NY, barely pay you the minimum, if that. It's all under the table.

Unfortunately, in the real world you have to care about what you're paid so you can pay your bills and feed yourself. And working for minimum wage or less your whole life won't get you alot.

I want to be involved in the racing industry. Directly after I posted this I had another idea for the future, but that doesn't apply to this forum.

Like I said, I still want to compete on my own so I presume the minimum wage would be just fine. I just want to know if between being a jockey, my own horses, and a decent job.

I don't know. I probably won't pursue this. It was just another of my interests outside the reined cowhorse industry.
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Here in Texas you get $20 for a breeze at the track, $25 for a difficult ride. If you ride at a private track you get $10 a ride (can vary according to the trainer). At the track you ride around 10 horses a morning, someone brings the horse to you, saddled and ready to go. When you are done they take it away for you and someone else brings the next one. You will need to be able to ride very solidly in a racing pad (have you tried this before?), supply your own back protector and have a track work licence.

Work is not hard to find if you are good at handling racehorses (I only ride TB's so don't know what the Arab or QH racing circuit is like). You must be able to follow each trainers instructions and time your sectionals (e.e. Furlong times). It can be fun (hard work though) and you can make some money but I wouldn't consider it a long term career opportunity unless you plan to continue and get your jockey licence.

Thanks Sarahver, I knew you had some experience ad I was waiting for your reply ^^

Yes, I've tried the racing pads and such. There are little play days at a track south of me (Track no longer used. It's basically turned into a circular arena. ) and sometimes I'll take a horse down there to play. They aren't TB's, but I've taken my Appendix mare (She is off the track.) and ran her before. Took a bit if hunting for me to get the tack though. I ended up buying an old ratty set off ny trainer and restoring everything on it.
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No problemo, happy to help of course! It is good that you have access to a racing pad to practice in, however be prepared that the horses you will be working will be unfamiliar to you, and in most cases quite 'hot'. You will need to be able to ride all sorts of bad behaviour in pretty much a bareback pad with your stirrups 6-8 holes shorter than you would ususally ride!

Im a trackrider and I earn a decent wage. I don't freelance, I ride for a stable. Its very rewarding work. And good trackriders are highly valued over here, as a good trackrider knows the horses better than even the trainer does
Freelance riders make a fortune over here as good trackriders are always in demand.
Though you do have to be incredibly fit, as if you're too unfit, one lap of the track at a trot in a pad will have you buggered!