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This is a question for some of you more wise than myself that i’ve been meaning to ask since a discussion i had with a racing pal over xmas last year but didn’t want to sound stupid but hey what’s the harm?
My question is what does “hands” mean in reference to a jockey and how they ride. The question arose in my mind when discussing a specific jockey that rides for Gordon Elliott who my pal claimed had no hands yet i would’ve had that jockeys main attributes as being what i had previous felt “good hands” meant.
I would’ve previously had it in my mind that a jockey with the ability to get a normally keen horse to settle and travel smoothly and also the ability to let a horse move through the gears by using his hands rather than going from travelling smoothly to almost straight away getting right into the drive as being someone with good hands
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The jockey in question is Keith Donoghoe if anyone’s wondering and i’d rate his main attributes as settling horses,getting them jumping well(particularly over a fence) and letting them move through the gears steadily rather than going from 0-100. He actually reminds me somewhat of Paul Carberry.
Any answers appreciated as long as they’re not calling me a complete fool
I’d say you pretty much have it. It’s mostly used when a jock can easily settle difficult horses, but I’d say it’s any unforced communication through the reins. And I’d guess that even that is just a term for it to try to give it some physical explanation. In essence it’s an intangible power of communication with a horse which cannot be physically demonstrated.
McCoy was heavy handed
I can remember when Denman threw him off…..
Blackbeard to conquer the World
I agree with your take on it, Fran. ‘Good hands’ is a compliment used quite loosely and I’m sure not everyone who says it completely knows what they mean! Generally I’d say those jockeys are tidy and get horses travelling and jumping efficiently. I think it’s an organisation thing too – you see plenty of jockeys who fiddle around and get into a tangle with the reins and the whip in a finish or over a fence.
I think Noel Fehily is one of the best ‘hands’ jockeys at the moment. It’s rare to see a horse pulling too hard for him. He is efficient with his body movements and, unlike Carberry, he doesn’t frustrate you by being too statuesque when it’s time to get moving – he gradually winds a horse up. No shame in not having that sort of natural ability though – Tony McCoy was champion for all those years by being a bully and a mid-race horse psychologist. One of my current favourite jumps jockeys is Jamie Bargary, who lacks in style but makes it up with brute force and energy.
I find it hard to get a grip on Keith O’Donoghue’s ability since his main duties seem to be plugging the Elliott non-triers out the back and getting them home safely. He does that well and gives a good education to novices, which does suggest he is the kind of jockey you’re describing. When he does get a rare opportunity on a live one, he seems to do the job well enough. Definitely seems to model himself on Carberry with that ‘bum in the air’ style!
It’s a fascinating subject. I suspect the good hands thing has an awful lot to do with confidence. A horse (and probably many other animals) will sense and react to somebody who has a deep confidence in his or her ability. Nothing brash; the opposite, I’d say – a quiet assurance. Piggott would be the classic example in this case.
I’ve seen it from time to time in a roomful of people who react immediately to someone who has that undefinable ‘presence’ entering the room. That person need not say anything or do anything – others sense profound self-confidence and react to it.
There’ll be jocks who don’t necessarily agree with that approach. McCoy openly admits he would bully a horse into winning by his constant urging “Come on! Come on! You can do this! You know you can! You’ve done it before! Keep going! Come on!”
It takes all sorts.
Good thread.
I agree about Noel Fehily and I’ve tried hard to think who my best “hands” jockey was… probably the late Brian Taylor who showed it exceptionally with two year olds
Jimmy Lindley’s the man you want, he’s an expert on jockeys hands.
Carberry over jumps and Spencer on the flat for me but then again, could you say the likes of Frankie, Moore or McCoy haven’t got “good” hands.
Apparently George Duffield had bad hands, he was hopeless at settling a horse.
Brian Hughes is another jockey who seems able to get a horse to jump and travel into a race without any discernible effort.
Brian Hughes perhaps a bit of a Carberry though – has the great hands at the expense of his timing and strength in a finish.
Brian Hughes perhaps a bit of a Carberry though – has the great hands at the expense of his timing and strength in a finish.
Agree completely.
To be fair to Carberry and those who take his approach (in my day it was the likes of David Goulding and, often, Paul Kelleway; Harry Wragg on the flat), there’s a strong belief among some jocks that switching a horse off completely saves so much energy that it beats the hell out of good hands, seeing a stride, being a horse whisperer or any other edge you can think of.
This can be a very deeply held conviction. Goulding (Ekbalco would be the best-known horse he rode), if I remember correctly, said his belief that his way was best had cost him dear in rides.
More than one way to skin a cat.
BTW, when Kelleway was struggling as a trainer, which was most of the time, he said this, “I’m usually first out on the gallops with four horses for first lot when 80 of Cumani’s come over the hill, 90 of Gosden’s over another, and 100 of Cecil’s over another. I know how General Custer felt.”
Loved watching David Goulding riding, wasn’t he known as “gypsy” for some reason, Steeplechasing?
Richard Hughes always struck me as a jockey with good hands, very good at settling a horse. Over the jumps John Francome didn’t have just good hands, he had good everything. Probably because of his show-jumping background he always looked as if he was part of the horse, not just a rider sat on top of the horse.
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