JETS: JOCKEYS EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SCHEME

Mark Nicholls

Paul Robson

Steven Harrison

Gino Carenza

Darren Biggs

Alan Munro

Richard Forristal

Victoria Behan
combining study & parenting

Ben Swarbrick

Richard Quinn

David Howard

Liam Cooper

TRAINING COURSES
Remember, it pays to acquire additional skills whilst you are still riding. Training can be delivered part-time, on-line or in short-bursts during injury time.

JETS can put together a training action plan for you, helping to identify training courses to suit you and provide training grants towards the cost of those courses.

see quicklinks opposite for the different types of training available.

KEY SKILLS
Key skills, particularly media and computer skills, are essential – not only for the future – but will also make you a jockey who communicates better and operates more efficiently in today’s media-driven, fast-moving world.

Media
More and more jockeys are appreciating the need to be able to communicate well and build up their media skills – both in order to survive under today's media spotlight and to approach and give value to any sponsors.” (Kevin Darley, PJA).

JETS regularly holds media training days around the country – designed exclusively for jockeys. These are available to jockeys of either code and other qualified JETS candidates. Fees are heavily subsidised for qualifying candidates. Dates of forthcoming media courses are posted on this website, advertised in the JETS Journal and sent by text to all jockeys. Or, register your interest now by emailing or calling Lisa Now

Computer & IT skills
In today's world you need these for virtually everything you might want to do – from studying the form as a jockey to business reporting and administration. There is a wealth of computer training available delivered in all sorts of formats and places, so you can fit it easily around quiet or injury times. JETS can help select the right course for you.

BUSINESS SKILLS
Many jockeys opt to run their own businesses. Business, financial and marketing planning are all crucial to the success of any business.

To help self-employed JETS candidates get their business management and marketing planning right from the outset, introductory business development and marketing coaching sessions are available from professionals in these fields. Call JETS for more details and/or click here to read how one JETS candidate (Clare Bryan) has benefited from business development coaching.

SPECIFIC TRAINING COURSES can be vocational, involve study or build on your existing racing/equine knowledge.

To see how JETS Training assistance could help you, read on to see how other jockeys are taking , or have taken, advantage of this service.

see quicklinks opposite for the different examples of jockeys who have undertaken training with JETS.

SPECIFIC TRAINING COURSES

Mark Nicolls
Race riding Career:	Amateur 1998-2002; NH Jockey (2002-8) with over 800 rides and 34 winners
Age at Retirement:	26
Training Undertaken:	Helicopter Pilot Training programme: FAA PPL HELICOPTER (American) passed JAA PPL HELICOPTER (European) passed Full time ground school student (8 months) - required over 600 hours in classroom and home study to pass 14 JAR ATPL exams (Passed all on first attempt with average of 94%). FAA CPL ground exams - also passed. As at Summer 2010 – Mark was working on putting in the required flying hours to take the commercial pilots course(CPL)
Motivation:	Two very serious head injuries enforced retirement from race riding for Mark and he has since demonstrated real commitment to his new chosen career as a commercial helicopter pilot, requiring significant personal investment in his training.
JETS’ Candidate Assistance:	Mark’s PPL qualifications were self-funded and he also received JETS’ career coaching and a JETS training grant (along with back-up support from The Injured Jockeys Fund).
Jockey Comment:	“I have always been fascinated by helicopters and it’s my ambition to fly the ‘boys’ in the weighing room about, or perhaps work for a racehorse owner who needs a pilot who understands the sport. I owe a big thank you to Lisa at JETS and Claire at the Injured Jockeys Fund for backing my decision to go for this difficult choice of training and being so supportive.”

Paul Robson
Race riding Career:	Conditional jockey (2000 – 2005) 59 careers wins from over 600 rides
Age at Retirement:	22
Training Undertaken:	Joinery
Motivation:	To find a career path after injury forced his retirement from the saddle
JETS’ Candidate Assistance:	Identifying suitable training and part-funding given through a JETS training grant.
Jockey Comment:	I was really numb when I was advised to give up race riding. In looking for a new career I wanted something that gave me the same energy and enthusiasm. It took me a few month to realise that joinery is want I wanted to do and I soon realised it came naturally to me.

Steven Harrison
Race riding Career:	Apprentice (1997-2006) having over 150 rides
Age at Retirement:	27
Training Undertaken:	Tree surgery and landscaping courses
Motivation:	To find a job working outdoors hat would enable him to earn a good living
JETS’ Candidate Assistance:	Career coaching and training course grants
Jockey Comment:	“Giving up racing was a heart-breaking decision to make but you need to stop kidding yourself and look forwards.”

Gino Carenza
Race riding Career:	NH Jockey (2003-6) with over 50 rides and 50 winners
Age at Retirement:	24
Training Undertaken:	JETS Career Coaching and NVQ training/apprenticeship in Carpentry and Joinery
Motivation:	Gino found himself in the situation of getting fewer rides and struggling with his weight. He had an idea of what he wanted to do but didn’t know how to make it happen.
JETS’ Candidate Assistance:	Career Coaching, training plan nd training grants
Jockey Comment:	“JETS help was invaluable in the whole process. Yes, I do miss race riding and it’s probably why I haven’t sat on a horse since; but I’m really glad I made my career move when I did and I’ve found that the camaraderie with the team out on site is much the same as the ‘craic’ of the weighing room.”

Darren Biggs
Race riding Career:	Apprentice/Flat (1987-1999) with 213 wins
Age at Retirement:	31
Training Undertaken:	Scaffolding
Motivation:	To establish his own building company
JETS’ Candidate Assistance:	Identifying suitable training and part-funding given through a JETS training grant.
Jockey Comment:	"This is proof that JETS was there when I needed them."

Alan Munro
Race riding Career:	Derby winning Flat jockey
Training Undertaken:	Languages - Mandarin
Motivation:	To make best use of injury time and build language skills for an international career
JETS’ Candidate Assistance:	Training grants
Jockey Comment:	Learning a new language is something I've always wanted to do, and to be able to take the course in Shanghai was a wonderful opportunity and made it a lot easier. It was a highlight in what otherwise could have been a very bad time for me during my enforced absence from race riding in Britain.”

Richard Forristal
Race riding Career:	Conditional (1999-2003) with 1500 rides and over 70 winners
Age at Retirement:	27
Training Undertaken:	IT training, English Leaving Certificate, Introduction to Journalism, 3 year degree in Journalism and a one year post-graduate diploma in Education (University of Cork)
Motivation:	Richard did not have to retire but instead made a firm choice to leave race riding and is keeping his solid teaching qualifications in reserve, whilst developing a career as a freelance racing journalist
JETS’ Candidate Assistance:	Career Coaching; training grants and a JETS Scholarship
Jockey Comment:	“Both the JETS and IJF were a huge support throughout. The financial assistance meant that I could take on only as much journalistic work as I felt I could handle whilst still studying. I can say for certain that this helped me to focus on getting the most out of my time at college and I know I would have struggled through it all without the help I received.”

Victoria Behan
Race riding Career:	Apprentice based with Dandy Nicholls (2005 – 2007) 13 career wins from 98 rides
Age at Retirement:	22
Training Undertaken:	BSc Hons Degree in Equine Science (Bishop Burton College)
Motivation:	To gain further qualifications alongside caring for her young child so that she can build a secure future for her family.
JETS’ Candidate Assistance:	Scholarship
Jockey Comment:	“My first college assessment was a bit hairy but I am gradually getting used to studying again and still keep my hand in riding out a couple of days a week.”

Ben Swarbrick
Race riding Career:	Apprentice/Flat Jockey (2002 – 2007) 66 career wins from over 1,000 rides
Age at Retirement:	22
Training Undertaken:	Access to Higher Education’course; BSc in Psychology (Leeds University)
Motivation:	To give himself a more rounded lifestyle and work towards developing a new career
JETS’ Candidate Assistance:	Training grant and Scholarship
Jockey Comment:	“Occupational Sports Psychology really appealed to me. I am hoping it will combine my racing knowledge with a new skills set. However, without JETS’ financial help, it would be nigh on impossible for me to contemplate this new opportunity.”

Richard Quinn
Race riding Career:	Flat Jockey
Training Undertaken:	Intelligent Horsemanship ; LGV Driver Training, Computer skills
Motivation:	Investment in a range of skills where I could run a business dealing with peoples’ problem horses and be self-sufficient doing it.
JETS’ Candidate Assistance:	Career Coaching; training plans and training grants
Jockey Comment:	“Every day I race ride now, it’s a bonus and you never know when it’s going to end. Knowing that I have those skills to put in place for the future, gives me great peace-of-mind.”

David Howard
Race riding Career:	Former conditional for the Pipe yard (2000 – 2003) 5 career winners from 99 rides
Age at Retirement:	25
Training Undertaken:	3 year BSc Hons degree course in Equine Business Management
Motivation:	To gain a formal qualification and to regain a focus in racing and equestrianism after a number of years working outside in various business/management roles.
JETS’ Candidate Assistance:	Scholarship
Jockey Comment:	“The course is mentally stimulating and it should open lots of doors for me in the future. Qualifying for a JETS Scholarship and IJF support has been a huge help because it will significantly reduce the burden of any student loan debts.”

Liam Cooper
Race riding Career:	NH Jockey (1996-2004)
Age at Retirement:	25
Training Undertaken:	NVQ in Racehorse Management; Farrier Apprenticeship
Motivation:	To build an alternative career in racing following recurrent injuries
JETS’ Candidate Assistance:	Career Coaching and training grants, JETS Scholarship
Jockey Comment:	"I am loving my Apprenticeship. My retirement was very hard to take at the time, however you have to look at the long term."