The Need
JETS was set up in 1995 to help current and former British jockeys plan and achieve a secure future.

Early retirement is inevitable for jockeys and the injury risk is high: National Hunt jockeys are 30 on average when their careers end, and flat  jockeys are not far behind at 33. Statistics also show that, on average, jump jockeys experience a fall every 16 rides and, with horses travelling at speeds of more than 30mph, flat falls can be equally serious.

What We Do
JETS offers jockeys career coaching, to make them aware of their strengths, attributes and transferable skills from race riding. It holds group training sessions in IT and media broadcast skills. Jockeys also benefit from grants to take up individual training courses. Over the years, they have retrained across a wide range of skills and occupations including gas fitting, horticulture, fitness instruction, photography, furniture restoration, accounting and sports coaching.

Click here to see the variety of second career choices made by JETS candidates over the years.

A Global Service
British jockeys have one of best support networks available to them in the world.  JETS is an internationally renowned service assisting employers across the globe and British jockeys wherever they are in the world.  The Scheme operates from the Professional Jockeys Association offices in Newbury.

The Team

Lisa Delany is JETS Manager and Career Coach. Lisa joined JETS in October 2002 from Kingston Maurward College, Dorset, where she was a Lecturer in Equine Studies and was responsible for developing training courses and the careers of students of all ages. She has a broad range of commercial experience and has a keen interest in horse racing. In April 2004, Lisa achieved the European Coaching Foundation Diploma.

Sandy Thwaites works on a freelance basis and is responsible for the Business Management, Promotions and Press Office for JETS. She is also Editor of the JETS bi-monthly newsletter, The JETS Journal.

How we are funded
A non-profit making organisation, JETS is co-funded by deductions from jockeys' prize money and by the charity, The Injured Jockeys Fund. Jockeys pay into the Scheme and we hope that they will make the most of it.

Eligibility
JETS is funded by a contribution of all jockeys' prize money percentages since 1995, with additional support from The Injured Jockeys Fund. Therefore JETS' support is available only to jockeys who have been licensed during that time (and have therefore made contributions to the Scheme during their race riding careers) or who are IJF beneficiaries.

You should qualify for assistance IF you are:

	A currently licensed professional jockey (flat, jump, apprentice or conditional). There are also general guidelines within these categories which relate to the number of rides and/or years you have held a licence (since 1995)
	A former professional jockey who has retired since 1995 and fulfil the above race riding criteria
	A beneficiary of The Injured Jockeys Fund. Injured Jockeys Fund beneficiaries must be referred to JETS by their IJF Almoner.

If you are not eligible for The Scheme you can still access our services on a fee-paying basis. Please contact us direct for further details on how this operates.

Jets is unable to support jockeys who have been disqualified (warned off) by The British  Horseracing Authority.  However, once any ban periods have been served, eligibility will be re-opened.