Former jockey Ryan Hatch wins career award in recognition of new West Midlands training role

Former Jump Jockey Ryan Hatch (30) has won a prestigious career development award in recognition of the work he’s done this year as a Training Instructor with the West Midlands based RMF Group.  He received his £2000 IJF Progress Award at the JETS Richard Davis Awards, recently hosted at Warwick Racecourse, which celebrate the achievements of former jockeys in their second careers.

The two-time Grade 1 Cheltenham Festival winning jockey was forced to retire from racing due to injury in 2017 and was recruited in January 2023 as part of a pioneering new initiative funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) aimed at providing unemployed people in the area access to an Equine Management Training Course. 

The WMCA has invested £500,000 of its devolved Adult Education Budget to develop and run this innovative programme - the first training course of its type in the West Midlands. To date, Ryan and his colleague, former jockey Dominic Elsworth, have engaged over 100 learners in the course, with learners then successfully gaining employment with reputable industry-employers.  Ryan has also delivered two courses in HMP prisons. 

Ryan Hatch receives his Richard Davis Award from the Davis Family and Siobhan Watson from the Injured Jockeys Fund at Warwick Racecourse L-R: Siobhan Watson (IJF), Stephen Davis, Ann Davis, Ryan Hatch, Richard Davis

With the support of JETS (Jockeys Education & Training Scheme), he has thrived in the role where he has been able to share his passion for horses with students, many of whom have never worked with horses before.  He has shown great enthusiasm for his new role, which is so different to what he’s done before and is now carrying out a Level 3 Vocational Achievement qualification in order to improve further.

Ryan said: “Whilst this role is so different from anything I’ve done before, I have found it extremely rewarding.   With the support of JETS and the team at RMF, I have really grown in confidence and seen that my students have too.  I’m pleased to play a part in attracting future racing staff from diverse backgrounds who have never had the resources or help to be able to get involved in a career in the equine industry, a career that gave me my greatest moments and could give any of my trainees theirs too.”

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and Chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority, said: “Many congratulations to Ryan on this achievement. It’s great to see that his hard work, determination, and passion for the sport has been recognised in this way.

“By providing funding towards this rather special equine management training course delivered by RMF group, we’ve been able to play our part in providing support.

“This RMF programme offers specialist training for local people who might not otherwise get this opportunity – helping participants to gain the niche skills required to access employment within the horse racing industry and further boost their career prospects in the months and years ahead.”

Ray McGee, CEO, RMF Group said: “I have been so impressed with Ryan’s progress in this role.  His willingness to share his passion and knowledge of horses to people from diverse backgrounds has been noticeable and contributed to many of our students being inspired to go on and find employment in the equine industry.”

JETS manager, Lisa Delany, said: “The team at JETS and the Injured Jockeys Fund are so proud of what Ryan has achieved in his role at RMF.  He suffered a serious injury which ended his riding career, so we are delighted that Ryan has found a second career which he really enjoys and that he’s doing so well in.”

JETS first hosted the Richard Davis Awards in 1997 in memory of jockey Richard Davis who had started planning for his future before he tragically lost his life in a race fall in 1996.  The annual awards highlight the career development of both former jockeys and current jockeys and showcase the services provided by JETS to help jockeys prepare for their futures in order to secure a successful transition from riding.

ENDS

For further enquiries please contact Kate Struthers: kate@jets-uk.org or call 07980 661003.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. A Full profile and film about Ryan and the other Richard Davis Award winners can be found on the JETS website: http://www.jets-uk.org/richard-davis-awards/about-the-awards/
   
   
2. JETS is jointly funded from jockeys’ own prize money contributions and The Injured Jockeys Fund.  It continues to experience a high level of demand for its services and now typically issues over £80,000 in training grants and scholarships annually.  Since its inception in 1995, jockeys and the IJF have together invested well over £3.2 million in the scheme which has helped over 1000 current and former jockeys with career advice and training in new skills and assisted over 430 individuals in gaining employment after race-riding.   jets-uk.org.