Description

This qualification reflects the role of independently employed persons who are responsible for organising their own work.

A jockey is an independent professional sportsperson licensed by thoroughbred racing industry authorities to compete in industry-regulated competition. The jockey contracts riding services on a daily basis to owners and trainers. A jockey possesses the highest level of race riding and horse handling skills, which require application of problem solving skills to unpredictable problems. As some of a jockey's income is derived from percentages of prize money, the jockey must compete with peers to obtain the best mounts. This requires marketing and communication skills and the ability to operate autonomously in the choice of mounts, trainers and venues.

A jockey is required to exhibit a high degree of decision-making skill during races, to exercise judgement when choosing mounts and to have an ability to assess form and discriminate between mounts. The communication of performance and fitness of the horse to trainers and owners at the end of a race is a critical part of the jockey's role. This requires in-depth understanding of anatomy, physiology and health of the horse applied in the context of a competitive environment.

The occupation of jockey is one of a few where there is an absolute restriction on the weight of the participant, a requirement for a high degree of physical fitness and a constant reliance on performance to obtain income.

It is also an occupation where non-adherence to rules or poor performance can result in fines or suspensions from riding. Consequently, knowledge of rules and legal procedures is essential and the ability to defend reputation and livelihood in stewards' inquiries is an important requirement for a jockey. As racing is conducted at a wide range of local, national and international venues, a jockey is required to identify, analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources.