The next hurdle – Female jockeys, motherhood and the horse racing industry.

Research Overview

• This study explores the experiences of female jockeys in Ireland and the UK regarding the challenges of balancing motherhood with their professional horse racing careers.
• It aims to provide insight into the unique stressors they face and highlights the need for better support and safeguarding policies from industry governing bodies.

Background and Rationale

• Feminist sport research emphasizes understanding the unique challenges female athletes face to promote fairness and increased participation in women’s sports.
• Female jockeys in horse racing face distinct pressures related to their profession, but how motherhood impacts their career has received little attention.
• Decisions like starting a family are deeply personal but influenced by professional performance concerns, requiring support tailored to these complexities.
• Sport psychologists and governing bodies currently lack sufficient frameworks to address personal, performance, and career transition issues linked to motherhood among jockeys.

Research Objective and Methodology

• The study aimed to understand the perspectives of female jockeys on combining motherhood with competitive horse racing.
• It employed a constructivist-interpretivist approach, focusing on how participants construct meaning through their experiences.
• Ten female jockeys from Ireland and the UK were interviewed using semi-structured interviews, allowing for open-ended and flexible responses.
• Data from these interviews were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, which involved identifying key themes through iterative reflection on the interview content.

Key Findings: Three Major Themes

• Racing and Motherhood: Participants expressed concerns about how pregnancy and motherhood affect their ability to compete, including timing family planning around the demanding racing schedule and the risk of career interruptions.
• Injury and Motherhood: Jockeys highlighted the physical risks inherent in racing that become more complex when factoring in pregnancy and parenting, including the fear of injury impacting both their career and family life.
• Lacking Role Models: Many jockeys noted a scarcity of established female figures in the industry who have successfully balanced motherhood and racing, leading to feelings of isolation and uncertainty about best practices.

Implications and Recommendations

• The findings illuminate the multifaceted challenges faced by female jockeys juggling motherhood and their athletic career.
• There is a clear need for robust safeguarding frameworks created by relevant governing bodies in horse racing to protect the welfare of female jockeys both as athletes and mothers.
• Support mechanisms should be more nuanced, including tailored advice on managing pregnancy, returning to competition post-motherhood, and dealing with injury risks in this context.
• Developing mentorship opportunities and highlighting role models within the sport can help reduce feelings of isolation and improve guidance for aspiring female jockey mothers.
• Ultimately, the research advocates for recognition and accommodation of female jockeys’ unique circumstances to promote their well-being and career longevity.