HORSE Racing Ireland’s educational and training division, equuip, has launched a jockey coaching programme which will see five qualified jockey coaches provide mentoring and specialised skills coaching across a range of subject areas to support and enhance the career development of all licensed jockeys.

Nina Carberry has been appointed to coach the Meath and North regions, Paddy Flood and Niall McCullagh will oversee the East and Midlands, Robbie Moran is assigned to the South with Derek O’Connor acting as the Western region coach.

Barry Geraghty, former champion jockey and qualified life coach, will support the newly appointed jockey coaches and sit on the jockey pathway as jockey liaison coach. The programme’s design reflects his vast knowledge and experience of the sport, ensuring relevance and practical benefits to the jockeys.

Reaffirming equuip’s and the IHRB’s commitment to continuing professional development (CPD), the jockey coaches will play a key role within the existing jockey pathway scheme, working closely with the appointed sports psychologist, dietitian, strength and conditioning coach, physiotherapist and career transition coach.

Funded by equuip, the jockey coaches will be involved in the implementation of CPD, endorsing a structured framework for athlete and personal development.

Every claiming professional, conditional, and apprentice jockey will be required to obtain a minimum of five sessions with their jockey coach per year, in addition to five CPD points obtained from engagement with any of the jockey pathway services, attendance at equuip/IHRB educational webinars or any other educational work they may be undertaking.

Professional riders will be required to obtain five points throughout the year and all CPD opportunities will also be available to qualified riders.

The HRI equuip/IHRB accredited coaches completed a six-month course, overseen by former Coaching Ireland Coach and Coach Educator Liam Moggan.

The coaches also took part in a workshop with Sport Psychologist Dr Ciara Losty and a site visit to Cian O’Connor’s high-performance coaching centre Karlswood in Co Meath.

The training included a high-performance coaching day with Yogi Breisner along with eight weeks of on-the-job training where each candidate was assigned a number of conditional and apprentice jockeys to coach.

Carol Nolan, director of people and equuip at HRI, said: “The jockey coaching programme underscores the importance Horse Racing Ireland places on the welfare and progression of its professional athletes.

By investing in sound coaching practices and providing structure to continuing professional development, HRI’s equuip aims to create a conducive environment for jockeys to flourish in their careers, promoting excellence, resilience and longevity within the sport.”

Emma McDonald, Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board’s licensing, education and training manager, commented: “The IHRB welcomes the launch of this jockey coaching programme. It is another major enhancement to the jockey pathway scheme and signals further collaboration between HRI equuip and the IHRB.

“The five new jockey coaches bring a huge level of experience which will greatly benefit claiming riders, who will be required to engage in at least five sessions annually with their coach to support their development as a jockey, and any other licenced riders who wish to use the service.”

Liam Moggan, coach educator, said: “A wonderful, caring group of experienced jockeys have committed themselves to helping and supporting the next generation of riders. This group have completed a rigorous course to improve their coaching skills.

“It is a historic moment in the on-going process of educating and training jockeys in Ireland. Through HRI’s equuip, jockeys are lucky to have such a delightful group on board.”