| No one knows who first tamed the horse and trained | | | | locked in place. A jockey holds the reins in each hand |
| it to be ridden by man. But for thousands of years, the | | | | on the side of the horses neck about six inches apart |
| horse was man's best means of transportation. Every | | | | like forming a horse shoe ten inches up from the |
| man wanted to learn how to ride well and the most | | | | horses withers. |
| prestigious horseman was the jockey's who rode | | | | A jockey legs have tremendous strength for when |
| racehorses. | | | | leaving the paddock many will be standing flat footed |
| Horsemanship has become almost entirely a sport | | | | on the ground then spring to the top of their mount |
| aside from hunting on horseback and horsemanship | | | | without assistance. This height is about 14 to16 hands |
| for the mounted police forces. The style of riding at | | | | high. A hand is how a horse's height is measured. |
| today's race horse tracks is called the "monkey | | | | Many jockeys' start riding in their teen years up to their |
| crouch." It got its start in 1897 by an American jockey | | | | fifty's provided injury doesn't hinder them. I would not |
| named Todd Sloan. Up until that time when racing | | | | take that statement lightly, because records show that |
| horses, riders rode straight up. Much skill is needed to | | | | injury does shorten approximately 50% of all jockey's |
| be a racehorse jockey that none riders take for | | | | careers. |
| granted. | | | | Most jockeys just have a lot of plain horse sense |
| The saddle on the back of a racehorse is not much | | | | because many grew up in a family of a horse world; |
| bigger than a bicycle seat! That's because it's not | | | | for instance a horse ranch, riding stables or show |
| meant to be set in. The saddle is merely a place to | | | | horses. So by the time they hit the horse racing scene, |
| hold the stirrups in place. The jockey holds his balance | | | | they already have 15 years of being exposed to |
| in the stirrups by his left foot tilted forward a little with | | | | horses behind them. A jockey's professionalism in his |
| toes slightly tilted inward. The right foot is slightly tilted | | | | art, is that of a champion ice skater, ballot dancer or |
| backwards with toes slightly inward. This way you're | | | | black belt martial arts. |