Lower Body
The legs and lower‐body strength is vital to a riders’ fitness and crucial to the balance needed to be a successful jockey.
It is tested by facing away from the wall in a sitting position with the person leaning on a gym exercise ball. They then need to do 20 squat repetitions, rolling the ball up and down the wall with their back pressed against it.
Holding a 5kg weight to their chest, jockeys will then be asked to hold the sitting position for as long as possible. If they hold it for two minutes that is a 100 per cent pass with one minute counting as 50 per cent.
The legs get a further examination with a wobble cushion exercise. The budding race‐riders have to stand on two wobble cushions – one under each foot – with their knees bent and arms out in front of them.
Holding the position for four minutes counts as a 100 per cent pass. If they can last for two minutes it is a 50 per cent pass.