When you apply for a licence for the first time, you must complete a Medical Questionnaire and submit to a Physical Examination with an IHRB Doctor. Before you make an appointment to attend the IHRB Doctor, you must ensure your own family G.P. has completed section B of the Medical Questionnaire.
Please click on the following link to download an Application form and Medical Questionnaire:
www.ihrb.ie/5-jockeys
Please note renewal applicants do not need to have a Physical Examination unless you are a:
- Professional National Hunt jockey or Qualified Rider Category ‘C’ and over 35 years of age.
- Qualified Rider Category A or B and over 45 years of age
- Professional Flat jockey and over 40 years of age
Apprentice Jockeys applying for a licence for the first time must also obtain a Minimum Riding Weight (MRW) before a licence is issued. Once an application is received, you will be given details of how to obtain a Minimum Riding Weight. It is a six-week procedure and must be completed before a licence is issued and therefore Trainers should apply well in advance of when they hope to start giving riding opportunities to Apprentices. For more detail, please see below:
Regulation 20
Procedures for setting minimum riding weights for new Apprentices.
Establishing minimum riding weights for first time applicants
(i) Baseline Information
Each Apprentice shall be required to follow these procedures
Testing will take place at a location approved by the Medical Officer.
The Apprentice will be required to attend, in a hydrated state (USG ≤ 1.020) to a pre-arranged morning testing session. Urine Specific Gravity will be measured using a Reichert TS 400 Refractometer. Skinfold calipers will be used to determine percentage (%) body fat. Body weight will be measured on a calibrated scale as used on the racecourse.
(ii) Target Minimum Weight Determined
Following the Testing a Target Minimum Weight will be determined for each Apprentice based on a minimum body fat level of 6% for males and 12% for females in a fully hydrated state (USG ≤ 1.020).
(iii) Target Minimum Weight
Following the establishment of the Apprentice’s Target Minimum Weight each Apprentice will be required to meet with the IHRB Dietician to receive a full nutritional consultation to include an individualised meal plan and a making weight strategy. Exercise advice will also be provided. Each Apprentice will be required to attend one follow-up consultation with the Dietician to review progress before the Minimum Riding Weight is set. Each apprentice will be required to try to achieve their Target Minimum Weight within 6 weeks from the date of the initial consultation.
(iv) Setting Individual Minimum Weight (6 weeks later)
The Apprentice will return 6 weeks after their initial consultation for retesting in a hydrated state (USG ≤ 1.020). Skinfold testing will be repeated, and body weight will be taken. The Apprentice will return for a second time in a hydrated state not less than 24 hours later to get body weight measured again. Mean body weight for both weigh ins will be used to set the individual Minimum Riding Weight.
At the end of this period an individual Minimum Riding Weight for the Apprentice will be set by the Medical Officer.
(v) The Stewards, on receiving such a report from the Clerk of the Scales, may refer an Apprentice to the Medical Officer for consideration of a review of that Apprentice’s Minimum Riding Weight.
(vi) The Medical Officer shall have discretion to set a new Minimum Riding Weight for an Apprentice, if in the opinion of the Medical Officer there are concerns about the health or physical condition of that Apprentice, subject to the right of appeal of that Apprentice to the Appeals Body.
(vii) (a) Apprentices may make application at monthly intervals to the Medical Officer to review their Minimum Riding Weight.
Apprentices must present themselves to be weighed in to the Medical Officer or his designated deputy in a fully hydrated state (USG ≤ 1.020).
(b) A Minimum Riding Weight may be approved by the Medical Officer for an Apprentice who was licensed in another racing jurisdiction and who was unavailable to complete the Jockeys Educational Course within the current or previous licensing year pending the completion by that Apprentice of the next available Jockey’s Educational Course.
(viii) Individual Minimum Riding Weights will be reviewed before 31st December each year or earlier at the discretion of the Medical Officer.
Additional Information:
Rule 124
(xi) As and from 1st June 2014 a person applying for an Apprentice Jockey’s Licence for the first time must obtain a Minimum Riding Weight set by the Medical Officer following testing carried out in accordance with the provisions of Regulation R20.
(xii)(b) the Medical Officer has approved a Minimum Riding Weight for that person under the provisions of Rule 154(vii)(b).
Rule 154
(i) As and from 1st June 2014 an Apprentice licensed in Ireland shall not be permitted to ride in any race until a Minimum Riding Weight has been approved for that Apprentice by the Medical Officer.
(ii) As and from 1st June 2014 each Apprentice’s Minimum Riding Weight shall be approved by the Medical Officer and published in the Irish Racing Calendar, following completion of the Jockeys Educational Course or set by the Medical Officer following testing carried out in accordance with Regulation R20.
(iii) Where an Apprentice weighs in or weighs out for a race one or more pounds overweight a report of such overweight shall be made by the Clerk of the Scales to the Medical Officer.
(iv) Following two such reports within a 60-day period from the Clerk of the Scales of overweight carried by an Apprentice, the Medical Officer may review that Apprentice’s Minimum Riding Weight and/or refer that Apprentice to the IHRB Dietician for a
consultation and advice but the Apprentice shall be permitted to continue to ride.
(v) The Stewards, on receiving such a report from the Clerk of the Scales, may refer an Apprentice to the Medical Officer for consideration of a review of that Apprentice’s Minimum Riding Weight.
(vi) The Medical Officer shall have discretion to set a new Minimum Riding Weight for an Apprentice, if in the opinion of the Medical Officer there are concerns about the health or physical condition of that Apprentice, subject to the right of appeal of that Apprentice to the Appeals Body.
(vii) (a) Apprentices may make application at monthly intervals to the Medical Officer to review their Minimum Riding Weight.
Apprentices must present themselves to be weighed in to the Medical Officer or his designated deputy in a fully hydrated state (USG ≤ 1.020).
(b) A Minimum Riding Weight may be approved by the Medical Officer for an Apprentice who was licensed in another racing jurisdiction and who was unavailable to complete the Jockeys Educational Course within the current or previous licensing year pending the completion by that Apprentice of the next available Jockey’s Educational Course.
(viii) Individual Minimum Riding Weights will be reviewed before 31st December each year or earlier at the discretion of the Medical Officer.
