Jump Girls-Female Jockey's Unique Stressors and Coping Strategies

Abstract

Purpose: Horse racing is one of the only sports in the world where males and females complete alongside each other, however female jockeys represent a small minority with the horse racing community. Insight into the unique stressors female jockeys encounter may provide sport science specialists and researchers with a greater awareness of the influencing aspects towards their stressors and specific supports they need. The primary aim of this study was to explore the unique stressors and coping strategies of female jockeys. Design: Semi-structured interviewed were conducted with ten female jockeys. Findings: The results found distinctive female stressors, such as a perceived limited timeframe for careers, lack of momentum, lack of control over their career and males being chosen over females to race ride. Bespoke female coping strategies were also identified, such as social support, wellbeing strategies and reflection on stressful experiences. No single coping strategy was identified. Practical implications: A valuable recommendation should be to interpret new data into applied, bespoke, best practice guidelines, and thus educate jockeys and service providers to enable, educate and support female jockeys to cope with performance and environmental stressors. Originality/value: This study fills a significant gap in the existing literature. Research relating to female jockeys is incredibly limited.