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How Do I Become a Racehorse Trainer?

Patti Kate
Patti Kate

To become a racehorse trainer, you will need to familiarize yourself with horses, including care and requirements. You need to become knowledgeable on all aspects of horses, including general health issues, training, and grooming. Learn about horses firsthand by taking jobs at stables or racetracks. To become a racehorse trainer, you should also take some business courses, as this career will require good business management skills.

A career a racehorse trainer might require courses at a racing school. Even if not required, it is a good idea to complete a course in racehorse management. These classes generally will cover safety issues and racetrack dangers to prepare you for emergencies involving horses and jockeys.

An aspiring racehorse trainer must know the basics of horse care.
An aspiring racehorse trainer must know the basics of horse care.

If you want to become a racehorse trainer, you'll need to know the basics of horse care. This includes feeding, grooming, and exercise. Knowing how to treat minor illnesses or injuries will be useful as well, and in most cases mandatory. The best way to learn this is through hands-on experience, but research can also be valuable to anyone who wants to become a racehorse trainer.

One to two years of apprenticeship is recommended before pursuing a career as a professional racehorse trainer.
One to two years of apprenticeship is recommended before pursuing a career as a professional racehorse trainer.

Visit your local library and read as many books as you can find on horses and racehorse training. Read biographies of famous racehorse trainers to learn how they got their start. Watch videos and movies that are dedicated to horses and their care. Check the Internet for articles and information on horse racing.

It helps to work with licensed, professional racehorse trainers. A minimum of one to two years of this type of apprenticeship is recommended before pursuing your career as a professional racehorse trainer. Before you can become a racehorse trainer, you will also need to acquire a license. You most likely will also need to pass a background check.

Racehorse trainer should have firsthand experience with horses and racing.
Racehorse trainer should have firsthand experience with horses and racing.

Knowledge is very important, but don't overlook your riding skills. Take riding lessons from a qualified professional to keep you riding technique sharp. Once you're certain you have the skills and knowledge to become a racehorse trainer, concentrate on building a complete, impressive resume and cover letter that will help land a job as a racehorse trainer.

Discussion Comments

browncoat

@croydon - It is quite expensive to work with horses for most people, there is no way around that. Lessons cost money and so many young people want to work with horses that even volunteer jobs are quickly taken.

I've heard of a couple of people who got into working with horses as adults, rather than as horse-mad children, but usually it seems to happen because they are wealthy enough to afford their own horses, or they know other people who are.

croydon

@pastanaga - There are often unions or other organizations for each area that horse trainers or potential horse trainers can join, and they will also have a lot of information about how someone can get into the industry.

Racehorse trainers tend to be fairly elite, however and I think you have to either get born into the right family, or work extremely hard to get into that kind of career. Becoming a horse trainer in general is also difficult but more doable for the average person.

pastanaga

It's possible you might have to look fairly widely in order to find work in this field. Racehorses and the jobs surrounding them tend to be concentrated in particular areas and you have to go to where the horses are.

You might also have to take on jobs like stable assistant or even just volunteering with horses or other livestock for a while to gain the kinds of references that you'll need to get a foot into the door of racehorse trainers.

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    • An aspiring racehorse trainer must know the basics of horse care.
      By: Rita Kochmarjova
      An aspiring racehorse trainer must know the basics of horse care.
    • One to two years of apprenticeship is recommended before pursuing a career as a professional racehorse trainer.
      By: Alexia Khruscheva
      One to two years of apprenticeship is recommended before pursuing a career as a professional racehorse trainer.
    • Racehorse trainer should have firsthand experience with horses and racing.
      By: Mikhail Pogosov
      Racehorse trainer should have firsthand experience with horses and racing.
    • Feeding and grooming is a part of horse training.
      By: CofkoCof
      Feeding and grooming is a part of horse training.