JAMIE Parkes is only just beginning to learn his trade as a young jockey, but it's not exactly his first experience of horses.
"Dad once rescued two Shetland ponies when I was younger," he chuckles.
"I can't remember too much about them, but I know one of them was called Tallulah."
Horses are now a much more serious subject for the Parkes family, given they are an essential part of this immensely likeable teenager's career plan.
He is training to be a jockey at the Northern Racing College in Doncaster, something he had never envisaged given his dream was to become a professional footballer.
Having joined Notts County when he was ten, everything appeared to be going to plan and he was soon identified as a bright prospect.
But four years later there was a problem. At 6st 10lb and 4ft 11in, a foot shorter than his team-mates, Parkes was told he was too small and was subsequently released.
Rather than just discard him from the pack, Notts County's academy head Mick Leonard suggested his size would benefit the world of horse racing and contacted the college.
"I've wanted to play football all my life," says Parkes.
"I had been at the club for four years when I was told that, although I was good enough, it was just my size that was the real problem.
"I was absolutely gutted because it was all I ever dreamed about and I was in bits.
"But then Mick Leonard said, 'I have got something that might interest you but I don't want to just tell you about it over the phone'.
"So I went to see him and he said, 'have you ever thought about becoming a jockey?'.
"People have said it to me in the past as a joke, but no – I'd never thought about it seriously.
"I went away and thought about it and my family were saying it was a good opportunity for me, so I decided to give it a go.
"There was an opportunity to at the Northern Racing College in Doncaster, so after taking riding lessons at my mum's friend's stables at Sherwood Pines, I have been up there to get to know the place and I've loved every minute of it."
Notts played an integral part in Parkes' move given all 92 clubs have an obligation to ensure all youngsters who are released have a career plan in accordance with the Elite Player Performance Plan.
And it is a testament to Parkes' character that he is not bitter about being denied his dream on the basis of his size.
Instead, the 14-year-old, who turns 15 next month, is an extremely mature and level-headed young man who is desperate to be a success in his new sport.
He is now watching racing channels on TV and a lucrative trip to Doncaster races, which earned him a cool £70 – that he says is still in his wallet – has only intensified his ambitions.
"Whatever I do in life I want to be the best at it, even if I was a bin man," says Parkes, who is from Ravenhead, Nottingham.
"I wanted to be the best at football but that wasn't to be.
"Now it's horse racing that I really want to be good at.
"Everybody has been really supportive, from all my friends and my family.
"So too, have Notts, who were absolutely brilliant with me because they could easily have discarded me.
"But they looked after me and made sure that I was going to be all right.
"They were my life, but they taught me discipline and respect, even just little things like making sure your shirt is tucked in.
"It's only going to help me in horse racing because it requires great discipline too.
"I get a real buzz out of riding these horses. There are so many similarities in the training; fitness levels, dedication, that sort of thing.
"I want to prove people that I can do this and I've loved every minute of it so far."
Having swapped the studs for stirrups, Parkes, who will train to be a jockey full-time when he leaves school at the end of next term, says his love of football won't diminish.
In fact, this remarkable young man is already making waves as a manger of a disabled team at Blidworth Welfare.
"I love that team," he says. "There are children from all kinds of ages, from ten to 16.
"To see them all running round with a big smile on their face is so rewarding, in fact it's the best thing ever."
So does he want to be the next Jose Mourinho or become the next AP McCoy?
"That's simple," he says with authority. "Although I really love my football, I would have to say being a jockey."
