Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports former jockey Aidan Coleman has spoken about his new found training career following retirement but claims that he is now fitter than he ever was as a jockey!
The Corkman has reflected on his recent retirement as a jockey admitting he that he is now getting more comfortable with his decision to retire, spoke about the individual nature of his former career and his advice for upcoming jockeys and the importance of Sport Psychology in performance.
Aidan also discusses the famous faces from across the world in sport involved in racing including Sir Alex Ferguson, Harry Redknapp and Tyson Fury and gave us some of his football takes explaining his support for Spurs and Ireland's connection with Celtic.
New Career
Training With Fergal
I’ve really enjoyed it. He's got a great team; he's got some really nice horses. They're running very well, which is great. I really appreciate Fergal giving me the opportunity. I didn't have loads of offers really when I retired, and he was the first one. It really suits me, and it fits well. I still have time to do other stuff, if the right stuff comes along.
I'm kind of looking to maybe try and see if there's anything else I can do alongside it. But for now, it's really good to be involved in the team again. At the same time, I'd like to have a few other bits on the go alongside it.
Fitter Than Ever Before!
I don't know! If I knew I'd go and do it. It's kind of hard to when you don't know, find something. That’s why it's very good that I've got Fergal. There’s peace of mind, and I'm busy every day, and I'm really into my fitness now as well. I ride out my three or four, help out with other stuff, then I go to the gym.
I try to do about three or four walks a week, too, for about five or six miles. I’m fitter than I was probably when I was riding. A few months ago, I got up to about 12 and a half stone, but I didn't like it. I'm really happy being active.
Retirement Reflections
Retirement Reflections
Yeah. I'm probably more used to it now, or more comfortable with it now, but I'm still not really sure what's next as such. I've got the peace of mind that I am doing something every day, and I am useful to someone, and I am working and all that, so it all helps.
I don’t know what I’ll be doing in five years. If being with Fergal is one of them, I'd be very happy with that. I really enjoy it there. I just like to think there might be a little bit more I can do as well.
Individual Nature Of Being A Jockey
Yeah. It’s very hard. Our sport is so individual and so probably unique that the everyday person probably couldn't envisage what it takes. When it does end, especially unexpectedly, it is very, very alien. It is probably impossible to prepare for because when you're a jockey, that is your identity, and that's everything you are.
There's no preparing for what's next, whether you are planning retirement or not. It's such a different way of life that it's very hard to prepare for.
My Advice
The main bit of advice I would give is enjoy it because it is literally the best days of your life, and don't take it for granted. That would be the main piece of advice I'd give them. I still have to work. The money I made when I was riding was invested in properties, and I have a bit of money in the bank.
I’d advise those jockeys that are riding and are doing well to understand that you won't always do well and financially, they should have some sort of plan for what's next. But mainly it would be just to enjoy it. Because when it's going well, it is such a thrill. It would be a shame to not enjoy it.
You don't want to be buying fast cars. Don't be getting a new car every week. That is literally financial suicide. It is a short career, but when you literally risk your life working, you should enjoy your money as well. It is an absolute guarantee that you are going to end up in an ambulance several times in your career. David Maxwell explained it well when he announced his retirement this month.
Professional jockeys expect a fall every 20 rides. They expect a minor injury every 60 rides. And every 200 rides, they expect to break something. So, here’s the job description. If the riding fee is roughly £200, every £4,000 you’re going to fall off the ladder; every £12,000 I am going to kick you until you get a nasty bit of bruising; and every £40,000 I am going to come round your house with a baseball bat and break your arm!
Sports Psychology
Sports Psychology
Everyone was talking about Evan Ferguson two years ago. Probably, there’s not much on the fitness side in terms of following what jockeys do, but on the mental health side, there definitely is. Michael Caulfield, who used to be the CEO of the Professional Jockeys’ Association, retrained and is now one of sport’s top psychologists. He’s a lovely man. I went on a couple of walks with him with his dog for a chat after I retired. He is brilliant at what he does. He’s now working with Brentford. It was his idea to install a number of benches at the club’s training ground as well as in the local community, to give players, coaches and staff a safe, confidential place to talk.
He often uses jockeys as a reference point. The benches at the facility have had a significant impact on the players who have used them as a space to pause and have meaningful conversations with Michael, or simply to sit and reflect in peace. He said the players have really gotten behind it. I can see why they would. Sport in general, whether you've got a football, cricket bat, rugby ball or a horse underneath you, it's still sport. It's still winning and losing, isn't it? And competing. But the principle is always the same.
There's an element of danger in all those sports. But for jockeys, it's probably a little bit more exaggerated. There are many variables. We’re individuals, but dependent on a horse beneath you. You could ride really well, but your horse might not be fast enough, and you get no reward for it, or you could ride really badly, but your horse is fast enough, and you win. So, it's hard to keep an even perspective at all when you're riding.
The older you get, the better you deal with all that kind of stuff. When you're young, every loser is a disaster, and every winner is the best thing ever. But you kind of need to find the middle ground and don't get too high and don't get too low.
Famous Owners
Not Riding For Sir Alex Ferguson: Famous Owners
I don't think I ever rode for him. But he loves his racing. Hitman, named after Ricky Hatton, won the Old Roan at the weekend. He is owned by Sir Alex and Ged Mason, who were friends of the boxer. And the prize money was donated to the Ricky Hatton Foundation.
Racing is actually not short of big names. The Royal Family, Harry Redknapp, Alex Ferguson, Tony Bloom, who owns Brighton now coming in. Some of the Brighton footballers have horses as well. And Michael Owen has had his own training establishment for two decades. Tyson Fury also owns a horse, Big Gypsy King, which won at Chelmsford not so long ago.
Football Takes
Spurs Supporter: Bring Back Harry Kane!
I'm a Spurs fan, so I've had a funny relationship with football! Obviously, he is one of the league's highest leading scorers. There’s talk of him coming back to the Premier League to try to break Alan Shearer's record. I would like him back, yeah. He’s a proven goal-scorer. We've got a trophy finally behind us, thanks to Ange! Hopefully, we won’t have to wait as long for the next one. Harry will always be up there.
He's an out-and-out goal scorer, and he always will be. If he does lose a yard of pace or whatever, his instincts will always be useful to a team.
Celtic’s Irish Connection
Of course, being Irish, you support Celtic over Rangers. I’m not an expert on Scottish football, but I have a bit of a soft spot for Celtic. Every Irish person probably has. I just thought that was a very strange appointment, Ange going to Forest.
I suppose he would be a good fit. I don't follow the Scottish league that much. But Celtic and Rangers have dominated for years; it seems like ever since Sir Alex Ferguson left Aberdeen. Now Hearts are doing well.
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