Psychological preparation in equestrian sports is no less important than physical training or technical skills. In a world of high speeds and split-second decisions, mental stability often determines the outcome of a race. Interestingly, even in completely different fields, such as gambling or online entertainment like pay by mobile casino not on gamstop, the ability to control emotions and act calmly plays a key role — and this principle translates directly to sports, where every moment can be decisive.

The psychological stress of being a jockey

Being a jockey isn’t just about riding a horse well, it’s also about the constant psychological pressure that athletes feel from their first training sessions to the moment they cross the finish line.

High level of responsibility for the result

A jockey is responsible not only for their own actions, but also for the safety and performance of their partner — the horse. A mistake in riding can cost not only the victory, but also the health of both participants. In addition, during major races, the trainer, horse owner, and the entire team that worked on the preparation expect maximum results from the jockey. This burden of responsibility forces the athlete to always be in top psychological shape.

Balance between adrenaline and composure

During a race, the jockey experiences a real adrenaline rush. The heart beats faster, every movement of the horse is felt more sharply, and the speed of decision-making increases significantly. However, an excess of emotions can lead to reckless maneuvers. Therefore, one of the main challenges for a jockey is to keep a cool head while controlling a powerful charge of energy and excitement.

Competition and pressure from the public, trainers, and horse owners 

Big sports are always competitive, but in equestrian sports, it’s often extra intense. Every race isn’t just a battle against your rivals, but also a test in front of spectators who are there for the show. There’s extra pressure from the ambitions of trainers and horse owners who invest a lot in training. All this creates an emotional environment where any weakness can cost victory.

Mental preparation before competitions

Before big races, jockeys pay special attention to their psychological attitude, as this is what helps them stay focused and perform to the best of their ability when victory is at stake.

1. Many jockeys “run” the race in their heads before they even enter the racetrack. They imagine the start, every turn, the horse’s behavior, and even possible unexpected situations. This visualization helps them form a plan of action and work out their reactions to various scenarios. When a difficult moment arises during a real race, the athlete already has a “mental map” that allows them to act quickly and confidently.

2. Motivation for a jockey is not just a desire to win, but a deep inner understanding of why they are at the starting line. Some are inspired by the desire to break their own records, others by the desire to bring victory to their team or honor traditions. Before a competition, a jockey may repeat key mantras to themselves: “I am confident in myself and my horse,” “We work as one.” These internal formulas create a sense of control and readiness.

3. Before the start, a jockey’s stress level can be very high. To avoid shaking hands, muscle tension, and excessive excitement, athletes use special breathing exercises: deep breaths through the nose, slow exhalations through the mouth, rhythmic breathing while counting. Some practice short meditation sessions, focusing on body sensations and peace of mind.

Working with emotions and fears

A jockey’s psychological stability does not arise on its own — it is the result of systematic work on emotions, the ability to overcome fears and keep oneself under control in any circumstances.

In equestrian sports, falls and technical errors are a reality that even the most experienced athletes face. Fear of these situations can subtly influence decision-making and even riding style, causing jockeys to act too cautiously.

To overcome this barrier, jockeys work on recognizing risks and accepting them as an integral part of the sport. Constant training, repetition of difficult maneuvers, and positive attitudes help build confidence. Competitions often take place in difficult weather conditions or under unpredictable circumstances.

A sudden deviation from strategy, aggressive actions by opponents, or team mistakes can cause severe irritation. However, any emotional reaction during a race can reduce concentration. Jockeys learn to quickly “extinguish” negativity through short breathing exercises, shifting their attention to technique, and controlling their riding rhythm.

In modern equestrian sports, working with a psychologist has become as much a part of training as physical training. The specialist helps the jockey develop individual techniques for relieving tension, fosters positive thinking, and trains stress resistance. The psychologist also helps to work with the “effect of past failures” — situations when failures from previous starts prevent you from believing in your own abilities.

Preparation on the day of the competition

The day of the start is the moment when all the weeks or even months of preparation come together. It is important not only to be physically ready, but also to set your mind and emotions in the right place.

Many jockeys have their own “lucky” rituals that help them get into the right state of mind. This could be a special breakfast, listening to your favorite music, a specific warm-up routine, or even a short walk with your horse. Such habits create a sense of stability and control, reducing anxiety before the start.

On the day of the competition, it is easy to give in to the temptation to watch your competitors: to evaluate their form, tactics, and behavior. However, experienced jockeys know that paying too much attention to others distracts from the main thing — their own strategy. They focus on their plan, technique, and interaction with the horse, leaving the analysis of their opponents to their coaches and team.

The “zone” or flow is the moment when the jockey is fully focused, their movements become automatic, and their sense of time disappears. To enter this state, athletes use various methods: breathing exercises, visualizing the first seconds of the race, repeating key instructions, or taking a few moments of silence before entering the racetrack. This allows them to “turn off” unnecessary thoughts and act with maximum precision and confidence.

Conclusion

Psychological preparation in equestrian sports is not just an addition to physical training, but the foundation on which a jockey’s successful performance is built. The ability to control emotions, overcome fears, tune in to the right mood, and concentrate at critical moments is no less important than technical skills.

Victory often begins long before the starting signal — in the athlete’s mind, in their confidence, in carefully rehearsed mental rituals. That is why champions pay considerable attention to developing psychological resilience, as it helps them withstand pressure, make quick and correct decisions, and maintain maximum efficiency even in the most difficult circumstances.

Jockeys are some of the most highly honed athletes in any sport since horse racing is a fast-paced, high-stakes event. There is a lot of hard work, strict discipline, and careful planning that goes into every winning ride. The life of a jockey is anything but glamorous. They have to get up early, stick to strict diets, stay mentally focused, and have little free time, all to stay competitive on race day. Fans may only see a few minutes of activity on the track, but the truth is that it’s a full-time job.

The Early Hours: Discipline at Dawn
Most jockeys are already in the saddle as the sun rises. They need to do morning gallops every day to keep fresh and get to know each horse’s unique traits. Riding out at a training yard helps jockeys get to know the horses they’ll be riding in the future and keep in touch with their trainers. These early-morning activities are not only good for your body, but they are also very important for tactical observation.

Weight Watchers: It’s not only about being fit
One of the hardest things about becoming a jockey is keeping your weight down. A lot of people need to maintain their weight below 54 kg (119 lbs), and some need to ride even lighter. That includes keeping a close eye on your calories and using saunas or hot baths often to lose water weight before a weigh-in.
Meals are short, frequently high in protein, and water intake is carefully controlled, even on race day. It’s a way of life that is almost austere, but the physical pressure keeps on. Even relaxing needs to be thought out properly for people who like to treat themselves every now and then, whether it’s by going out to eat at nice restaurants or looking for casino signup bonuses in their free time.

Race Day Routine: Focus and Intensity
Everything is timed and focused once you get to the track. After they check in, the jockeys meet with their trainers to talk about how to ride each horse, taking into account the horse’s skill, the condition of the track, and the other horses. Next comes the weigh-in, where riders have to show that they are within the limits.
After putting on their silks and doing the last warm-up, they go to the parade ring. This is where the mind game starts. Before the gate opens, it’s important to picture success and soothe your anxiety.

After the Race: Time to Rest and Think
The day isn’t over yet, even after the last furlong. Jockeys have to weigh in again to make sure they are within the rules, talk to trainers, and often get back on the horse for another ride. After the last race, people start to focus on getting better.
The routine includes stretching, gentle exercise, and relaxing the mind. Some people watch video footage of their performance, while others use their limited free time to meet up with family or find lighter ways to have fun, always keeping an eye on the ride for the next day.

A life of giving up things, driven by passion
Being a jockey isn’t for the weak of heart. It requires physical discipline, mental strength, and the ability to handle stress, which often means making mistakes. But those that make it to the top can get a lot of rewards: respect, a lot of money, and a special position in sports history.
Jockeys live in the moment, always one gallop away from greatness, whether they are trying to win championships or just trying to get to work on time.

Regardless of the horse racing discipline, the quality of the race, and the location, we all know that the best jockeys can make a difference to a race outcome. While some aspects of strategy may differ depending on where the jockey rides, the qualities that the best jockeys have – tactical genius, patience, fearlessness – tend to be universal.

In the US, that’s certainly no different. There’s some massive money out there on the US circuit, so it’s no surprise to see some of the biggest names in the world head out there to try their luck.

Below, we will list six of the best riders in the US right now. The kind of names that have popped up on horse betting cards across 2025 and delivered for trainers, owners, and bettors alike. To clarify, we have compiled this list based on jockeys who have achieved success, as measured by earnings and strike rates, in 2025, using data up to July 2025. So, apologies to any big names missing from the list.

1. Flavien Prat

Flavien Prat is very much a Frenchman, but he has been such a consistent fixture on the US racing scene since moving out full-time that he’s close to becoming an all-American sports hero. Prat currently ranks first in North America for earnings, with over $19 million in 2025, and boasts a strong 25% win rate from 625 starts. He has handled elite mounts in all three Triple Crown races, winning the Kentucky Derby in 2019 and the Preakness Stakes in 2021. He’s also earned a coveted Eclipse Award (for Outstanding Jockey in 2024), marking the high-water point of a decorated and ascending career.

2. Irad Ortiz Jr.

Second in earnings on the leaderboard with over $17.7 million in 2025, Irad Ortiz Jr. logs a win percentage of around 21％ from more than 820 rides. A perennial power in NYRA circuits (Belmont, Saratoga, Aqueduct), he’s regularly seen aboard graded stakes contenders and is a familiar face in Triple Crown entries. He’s won the Belmont Stakes twice, the Breeders’ Cup Classic twice, and far too many Grade 1s to list here.

3. José Ortiz

José Ortiz, Irad’s younger brother, is also riding high this season, with $16 million+ in purse earnings and a sharp 24 % win rate across 750+ starts. Since joining the U.S. scene in 2012, he’s collected major race wins, notably the 2017 Belmont and 2022 Preakness, and an Eclipse Award (2017). His hot streak continues into 2025, and he and his older brother look like they have plenty more years left at the top of US racing.

4. Luis Saez

Luis Saez is fourth on the earnings board in 2025 with $15.4 million and an 18 % win rate from nearly 860 mounts. A veteran of high-stakes companies, Saez combines consistency and poise under pressure, frequently partnering with top horses in the biggest graded races across the country. Saez has over 3500 winners and counting.

5. Manuel “Manny” Franco

Manny Franco, fifth in the standings with over $10.3 million and a solid 19% win rate from 659 starts, is a familiar figure on NYRA tracks. A regular at the Kentucky Derby, Franco’s tactical speed, especially in early pace-making, makes him a trusted choice for trainers and owners in big graded races. He has yet to taste glory in the Kentucky Derby, though. He will be a popular figure at Churchill Downs if he can capture a Derby win before he retires.

6. Brian Hernandez Jr.

Though slightly off the earnings leaderboard, Brian Hernandez Jr. remains a top-tier rider. He has firmly established himself among the elite with 2,500+ career wins, including a historic 2024 season when winning both the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby on successive days. His aggressive riding style, especially in classic and major stakes events, makes him always worth watching.

In July, 2023, jockey Adrian Heskin announced that he would be returning to his native Ireland to continue his riding career. Born in Kilworth, Co. Cork on April 22, 1992, Heskin rode his first winner, Mystical Breeze, trained by Michael Hourigan, at Naas in March, 2009. He rode his first winner on British soil, Turf War, also trained by Hourigan, at Ffos Las three months later and, towards the end of the 2009/10 season, completed a notable double for the Co. Limerick handler on New Story in the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase at Cheltenham and Church Island in the bet365 Gold Cup Chase at Sandown Park.

More recently, Heskin was appointed stable jockey to Gloucestershire trainer Tom George in September, 2016 and, the following year, was contracted to ride for leading National Hunt owner Max McNeil. Indeed, he enjoyed his most successful season in Britain, numerically and financially, in 2016/17, with 54 winners and over £800,000 in prize money. Victory for The Worlds End, in the familiar colours of the McNeill family – blue and white hoops, burgundy sleeves – in the Grade 1 Doom Bar Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April, 2017 was his seasonal highlight.

In his next five seasons, Heskin rode 38, 16, 39, 32 and 32 winners in Britain, but in 2022/23 his seasonal tally fell to 20 and, in 2023/24, so far, thios tally fell further. In May, 2023, McNeill announced that he would reducing the number of horses he owned and, consequently, would no longer be retaining Heskin. Reflecting on his decision to return home, Heskin said, ‘The plan for me and my wife Danielle was always to come back to Ireland and, without the certainty of a secure job in England for the coming campaign, it just brought that forward.’

In May 2024 Heskin called time on his riding career. A career that saw him become the youngest winner at the Cheltenham Festival (ages 17 at the time) and left little unanswered in terms of ability and achievement.

“I’m very proud of my career and achieved far more than I could have imagined as a kid. I rode for the best of trainers on both sides of the Irish Sea and some fantastic owners along the way. Of course, some amazing horses too.