My son who is 17, is interested in becoming a racehorse jockey but I want for him to have a traditional profession. Anybody know if there is the possibility of being a part-time jockey?

I may be an odd one here but why not just let him? He has the rest of his life to have a profession and only a short time to be young and free. If he's happy, isn't that all that matters? I'd let him do the jockey thing.

I'm sure he could be a part-time jockey, but it will still require a full time commitment. Being a jockey is serious business and he will have to diet and exercise alot to be a decent one. Perhaps find some local small time jockeys to talk to him about the realities of being a jockey and what is really needed to make a success of it. And I agree, if he can make a go of it and make enough to support himself, why not do it? He will make lots of connections in the racing world for later on.

I really don't see why he can't do this. I dated a jockey once, and he earned money other than just through race wins. He had just gone professional, just ran his first professional race and was out celebrating when I met him.

He worked for the stables, for the guy who owned the horse he raced. The guy had a bunch of horses and jockeys. So he had a real job too.

Being a jockey can be physically very demanding though. For thoroughbreds the most weight they're permited to carry is around 60kg, including the saddle. Some people just, literally, grown out of it.