Horse racing is an exciting and thrilling sport that has been around for centuries. From the Kentucky Derby to The Preakness Stakes, passionate fans attending events often bet on their favorite contestants in hopes of ending up as the top winner. Those who participate in horse racing also get to experience top-notch entertainment with beautiful horses, dramatic finishes, and high levels of competition. But have you ever wondered what it takes to become a jockey?
Being a successful jockey requires the highest level of physical fitness and strength, which is why regular fitness classes can greatly benefit riders. Top sprint races like the King’s Stand Stakes, which you can learn more about at britishracecourses.org, test the skill and determination of horse and jockey alike. Joining the right classes will help strengthen your body while building skills like agility, balance, and coordination, all of which are essential to becoming an accomplished jockey.
Read on to learn more about how taking as little as one class per week can improve your riding abilities significantly!
Improved Cardiovascular Fitness
When it comes to being a jockey, many people don’t believe just how much exercise is required and just how fit you have to be to successfully be a jockey. Many people believe that since a jockey is just riding a horse, the horse is doing all the work and the jockey is simply guiding it while sitting on top. This is not the case.
One of the primary benefits of doing fitness classes as a jockey is improving your cardiovascular fitness. Jockeys need to have incredibly strong hearts to be able to race at high speeds for extended periods of time.
A fitness class that includes cardiovascular exercises such as running, biking, or even rowing can drastically help to improve a jockey’s cardiovascular fitness and therefore reduce the risk of any future heart problems.
Stronger Muscles
When it comes to being a jockey, being as small and as light as possible is one of the main goals. However, reaching these goals should not mean that you become frail in the process. Jockeys still need to have strong muscles to hold themselves on their horses and control them effectively.
Another great benefit of fitness classes for jockeys is that they can improve their muscle strength. Jockeys need to have strong muscles to be able to control their horses during a race. A fitness class that involves some kind of strength training exercises, including weightlifting, can be beneficial for jockeys to build stronger muscles and improve their racing performance.
Increased Flexibility
Something that may take you by surprise is that jockeys need to be flexible above all else. Fitness classes can help improve an athlete’s flexibility. Their flexibility is important when it comes to sitting on a saddle for long periods, which can lead to tight muscles.
A flexibility class that includes stretching and mobility exercises can help to loosen your muscles and improve your range of motion. This can therefore lead to better racing performance and reduce the risk of injuries.
Improved Balance
Balance plays a big role when it comes to being a jockey and riding a horse. Jockeys need to have a good balance to stay atop their horses during a race, especially for extended periods. Another great benefit of fitness classes for jockeys is that they can improve your balance drastically.
A fitness class that makes use of balance training exercises can help a jockey to improve their balance and prevent them from falling off their horse during a race.
Weight Control
Last but not least, the final benefit of fitness classes for jockeys is that they can help them to control and maintain their weight. When it comes to being a jockey, weight plays a very particular role and jockeys must weigh a certain amount to be eligible to race. This means that they may need to lose weight if they are over the limit.
A fitness class that includes aerobics or running exercises is a great way to help jockeys burn calories and lose weight safely. All of this, in addition to a healthy diet, is a great way to maintain a great racing weight.
