At 5’4 & 125lbs am I too big to be a jockey? If so, what is the average size of jockeys? Could I still exercise horses?
Thanks 
You could still be an exercise rider at that weight, but you’d have to take off a few pounds to make jockey weight, downright scary I think. I am near your height and when I was galloping I averaged around 118, decided I would try to make weight at 112. Let me tell ya, it ain’t easy and I felt like hell.
Good luck to you! Galloping is a great thrill!
You’re in the mid/lower end of weight for height unless you have a very light skeletal structure. If you’re comfortable right now (ie you’re not starving yourself or overeating to maintiain 125–I’m 5’4" and I would basically have to stop eating to get to 120, and as one doctor put it, he’d hate to live with me while I tried!) I would not try and get down to 112–125, you wouldn’t even be able to make higher weights like the Derby with your tack and you couldnt’ ride babies at all.
You’re about perfect for galloping, though.
What they said! I have a friend (male) who weighs about 140ish and is one of the best gallop boys I’ve seen. 
It’s pretty insane how little jockeys have to weigh to make riding weight, JC should really up the weights 10 lbs or so…
[QUOTE=danceronice;5015074]
You’re in the mid/lower end of weight for height unless you have a very light skeletal structure. If you’re comfortable right now (ie you’re not starving yourself or overeating to maintiain 125–I’m 5’4" and I would basically have to stop eating to get to 120, and as one doctor put it, he’d hate to live with me while I tried!) I would not try and get down to 112–125, you wouldn’t even be able to make higher weights like the Derby with your tack and you couldnt’ ride babies at all.
You’re about perfect for galloping, though.[/QUOTE]
And even more would have to come off to meet the apprentice allowances. Definitely a good size/weight for an exercise rider.
I’m 5’2 and averaged 115 with a bit more bone throughout high school. unfortunately college gave me a few pounds to add to my frame 
so i’m over that now but it was my dream to be galloping horses every morning.
jump jockeys weigh more
If you ride steeplechase, hurdles, timber, you’d be okay.
Of course you can exercise horses. My best gallop boy was 5’8" and 145lbs.
I’m 5ft flat and when I was exercising I maintained 105 - 110 and that was pushing it. I just couldn’t maintain the 95 lbs of high school and not be a zombie B*tch.
If you could get your weight down to 110 lbs, you’d be OK a a jockey, but you might have a little bit of a tough time because you can take off so much weight as a double bug and sometimes that’s the only way these new kids get rides. As an exercise rider, you’d be perfect. That’s more of a subjective thing. I’m 5’10 to 5’11 on a good day and keep my weight between 130 and 134. I’ve never had anyone say anything to me about it except that I look goofy on the small 2 year olds because of my long legs. I work horses with no problems. We keep it to 5f or less when I’m working because for the longer distances, it’s a smidge too much weight, but that doesn’t bug me. I’m not going to look like skeletor to try to work horses longer.
Most of the standardbred drivers are in the 140-160lb range.
You could be a Quarter Horse jockey. Most races are written for horses to carry 123 to 126 pounds.
Before you even think about losing weight see the documentary shown recently called “Jockeys” on Passionate Eye.
Take up some of the other suggestions.
[QUOTE=juliet;5015408]
If you ride steeplechase, hurdles, timber, you’d be okay.[/QUOTE]
125 is a bit light for timber. Jocks end up carrying too much lead to make the timber weights. It’s a great weight for the lighter weight hurdles, ie. maidens and 3 y/o’s.
