The monkey crouch

Jockeys used to ride with longer stirrups and a more upright position in the saddle. At the turn of the 20th century American jockey Tod Sloane developed a new technique, known as the ‘monkey crouch’. By shortening his stirrups and crouching low and forward over his mount’s neck, Sloane produced much faster race times. Scientific analysis has found that the monkey crouch enables horses to run up to six per cent faster. Today, this style is used universally by jockeys.