Reading read the email exchange on a website for jockeys, and choose the correct answer a, b or c. i am writing to ask you an important question. how do i become a jockey? i’m 16, 1m 56 and 49 kg. i've stayed this height and weight for a few years now so i don’t think i’ll get much bigger, if at all. i have ridden horses all my life. i don't mind working my way up. tina sander i’m afraid i have to tell you that there is no real career path. this can be an advantage as it means you will succeed if you’re good, but it also means it’s difficult to find out what’s required. here are some of the most obvious requirements to help you. first, school! you don’t have to have any academic qualifications to be a jockey. however, you must have athletic ability and a lot of common sense. the next thing is your weight. everybody knows that jockeys don’t weigh much and, ideally, you should weigh no more than 52.5 kg – that’s about 116lbs. some people find it very difficult to stay light, and you do have to watch what you eat. jockeys often eat no more than a piece of toast and a few cups of tea during the day. that isn’t a lot of food when you work very hard all day – and it’s a very long day too. now, your height isn’t as important, although obviously if you’re taller, you may weigh more, and it can affect how you sit in the saddle. but there are some quite tall jockeys – one english rider is 1.7 m. you’re 16, so you are legally allowed to race in competitions. you can also join an apprentice school or a trainer at 16. in some countries, like spain, you can start racing as an amateur at the age of 14. you didn’t say where you lived, so check out what your local rules are. finally, and this is very important obviously, you must be a horse person. read the email exchange on a website for jockeys, and choose the correct answer a, b or c.