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

Feminist sport researchers examine the unique experiences of female athletes as crucial in promoting women's sport participation and parity in opportunities (Lebel et al., 2021). Insight into the unique stressors encountered by female jockeys in Ireland (Irl) and the United Kingdom (UK) may provide sport scientists, practitioners and policy makers with a greater awareness of the specific supports they need (Losty & Sreenivas, 2023). Deeply personal and complex decisions for female athletes, such as starting a family, can be shaped by various professional performance factors. The impact of becoming a mother while competing in sport and horseracing has had limited consideration, when sport psychologists and relevant governing bodies are required to assist athletes with personal, performance and transition issues. So, it is crucial that the field is responsive to the needs of jockeys who either have children or are contemplating pregnancy and parenthood (Losty & Sreenivas, 2023; Lebel et al., 2021). Using a constructivist-interpretivist approach, the current research explored the thoughts of 10 female jockeys in Irl and the UK about their prospect of combining motherhood and horseracing. Analysing their responses to a semi-structured interview using a reflexive thematic analysis identified three major themes: Racing and motherhood, Injury and motherhood, and Lacking role models. These themes project the concerns of female jockeys in Irl and the UK, and the complexities of navigating their career and starting a family, highlighting the need for robust safeguarding frameworks from relevant governing bodies and a more nuanced support for female jockeys.