JUMP START YOUR EQUINE CAREER

Please click the button below for full details of the 2020 equine industry training schedule.

• All of the training courses detailed are completely free to access, however you must register beforehand. 
  
  
• If you would like to register please contact RACE directly at [email protected] or call 045-522468 to speak to Lisa O’Brien, you can also contact Sandra Hughes on 087 3781739.
  
  
• All training courses are fully funded by CARE and hosted by the Racing Academy & Centre of Education (RACE), Dublin Road, Kildare Town.

Are you interested in becoming an exercise rider? CARE, in conjunction with RACE, are running an Exercise Rider Training Course which will kick off in summer 2020.

The summer programme is open to anyone who may have an interest in working as an exercise rider, those who successfully complete the course will be assisted in finding employment in racing yards.

The course will run from Monday morning to Saturday lunchtime and will include all stable yard routine such as mucking out, tacking up, riding lots, grooming, and all other daily activities of a racing yard. All riders will receive fitness training and coaching on simulators during the course and there are 12 places available on the course. All places are fully funded by CARE. 

Entry Criteria:

Candidates must be over 18 years of age and will have to pass a suitability assessment in RACE, Kildare Town. The upper weight limit is 11-00 stone (69.8kg). If you are interested in providing an application please complete the application form which is available to download here, completed application forms can be submitted by e-mail to [email protected] or by post to: Exercise Rider Course, RACE, Curragh House, Dublin Road, Kildare Town

If you are a licensed trainer and are interested nominating an individual, or in employing one of the students who successfully complete the summer course, please contact RACE on 045 522468

In 2020 CARE are funding twelve Junior Academy days throughout the year. These training days are open to ALL under 16s, from experienced pony race riders through to riders with no experience of racing. 

Riders are grouped by their age and experience so that everyone is of a similar level of ability. Activities for each day are planned around each level of experience and we aim to make these days a lot of fun.

Places are limited to 10 riders per Academy day, registrations are accepted for these courses all year around, so if you would like to register for future Junior Academy days please download the registration form (available here) on this page and return it to RACE, Curragh House, Dublin Road, Kildare Town. 

Sample Course: Level 3 Junior Academy:

Practical Training on Race-Riding Position, Skills and Tactics

• 1^st Lot – Tack Up and Warm-up in Indoor School, ride out 1^st lot on RACE gallops with RACE Instructor
• 2^nd Lot – Tack-up  and Warm-up in Indoor School, Ride out on RACE gallops with RACE Instructors
  Video recording of riding for later review
• Review of video recordings of 2^nd Lot with RACE Instructors
• Individual Simulator Lesson with RACE Instructors

Understanding & Training in Health & Fitness for Professional Jockeys

• Fitness education session with RACE Strength & Conditioning Coac
• Gym work-out to teaching you about how to get fit and stay fit for race-riding
• Food & Nutrition class with RACE Sports Dietitian – how to and why eat a balanced diet to maintain a healthy body and mind
  
  

Questions and Answers with Senior Jockey(s)

• We arrange for Senior jockeys to talk to riders about what it takes to become a professional jockey and about their own experiences.

Sample Course: Level 1 Junior Academy:

Introduction to racing and race-riding skills

• Demonstration of skills needed to ride racehorses with confidence, including tacking up racehorses, position and the importance of good hands.
• 1-to-1 simulator lessons with RACE instructors.
  
  

Understanding & Training in Health & Fitness for Professional Jockey

• A fun fitness class with RACE Strength & Conditioning Coach explaining the basics of a how elite jockeys train
• Food & Nutrition class with RACE Sports Dietitian – you are never to young to learn good habits around healthy eating.
  
  

Questions and Answers with Senior Jockey(s)

• We arrange for Senior jockeys to talk to riders about what it takes to become a professional jockey and about their own experiences.

This 1-day course is for Amateur Riders who currently hold an A1 category licence, but who may to upgrade to an A3 licence. 

The course has been designed to provide A1 licence holders with intensive schooling training over obstacles, simulator coaching, and an introduction to the fitness levels and training required for for optimum race-riding. The course will include a video analysis session.

There are eight courses scheduled throughout 2019 and numbers are restricted to 6 riders per day, places are offered on a first-come-first-served basis. To register your name for this course email [email protected] or call 045-522468 to speak to Lisa O’Brien.

Course Schedule:

09:00:    Registration & Briefing at RACE barn – report ready to ride
09:15:    Tack Up 1st Lot – onto walker
09:35:    Information & Practical session on fitness, stretching & warm-up before riding
10:05:    1st Lot – RACE Indoor School – video recording (poles & hurdles)
11:15:      2nd Lot – RACE Indoor School & Gallops (hurdles & fences)
12:45:    Lunch
13:45:    Video review of morning training
14:30:    Simulator training
15:45:    Finish

For more details check out the Racing Academy website by clicking here.

Delivered by leading amateur rider, Derek O'Connor, who has ridden over 1,300 point-to-point winners 

This course is for any Qualified Rider who holds an A3 licence and who would like to improve their technical and tactical riding skills, and to understand the importance of fitness and race-riding preparation. This course is has proven to be very popular and restricted to just 6 riders per course. Early registration is advised and you can register an interest for future courses if scheduled courses are full.

This course is run over one day from 8:00am to 4:30pm and will include the following:

- Students will ride 3 lots in total, 2 in RACE and 1 on the Curragh schooling grounds

- Video review of two lots

- A simulator training session

- 1 fitness information and practical session

- Lunch is also included

Three days have been scheduled for February and May:

- February 15th 2020

- February 29th 2020

- May 16th 2020

- Autumn Schedule TBC

 The dates will be posted here as soon as they are confirmed..

To register for this course please contact [email protected] and provide the following details:

Name
Email Address
Contact number
Address
The date you were issued with a Qualified Riders Licence (this course is restricted to current holders of a QR Licence)
Number of rides (point-to-points & on the track)
Number of winners

For more details check out the Racing Academy website by clicking here.