From the outside looking in, it’s hard to understand. From the inside looking out, it’s hard to explain, mental health needs spoken about, not brushed under yesterday’s poor results.

Almost two-thirds of professional Irish jockey were found to be suffering depression, a shock intensive study has found. That’s a very worrying statistics to say the least.

Horse racing generally has more lows than highs, conclusively It’s a losing sport, you get beaten a lot more than you win, ultimately at some stage in any jockeys or trainers careers they start to question everything, ‘Am I doing it right?’, ‘Am I good enough?

It’s impossible to stay on top of your game all the time, the odds don’t always favour you. When your winning your in-demand however when you losing nobody seems to want to know you however its worth remembering form is temporary, class is permanent.

The mental state of any jockey or trainer is a fragile thing and it needs talked about, a big part of getting better is through acceptance and acceptance alone.

Everyone loves getting a winner, they wouldn’t be involved in the industry if that wasn’t the case however the demanding lifestyle is very overwhelming to say the least.

Basically, starting work when they wake up and then finishing when they’re ready for bed, it doesn’t leave much time for anything in between. Financial pressure, contrary to what people envisage the horse racing industry may be called the sport of kings however the pivotal people behind the scenes don’t get to see too much of the cash.

Working all the hours given to them, with not a lot of money on offer can be discouraging but unfortunately that’s the nature off the beast. A feeling of isolation is widespread in the industry, when all you do is deal with horses, seemingly getting nothing in return. It can be a very sad and lonely place, but when you feel like you’re losing the will to carry on, it’s best to talk to people around you.

Don’t suffer in silence, your friends and colleagues can make a massive difference to your circumstances, giving you a fresh outlook on how to move forward. It’s a disorder, not a decision. There is no need to be ashamed, seeking help is not weak.

There are trained industry specialists out there, who can speak to you confidentially, ultimately endeavouring to keep you focused on the positives in your life.

Only when we’re low, can we learn to appreciate the precious moments of feeling better, always remembering, there is no rainbow without the rain.