Racehorse trainer

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• specialist courses run by professional bodies

Entry requirements:

Entry requirements:

Apprenticeship

You can work towards this role by doing a senior equine groom advanced apprenticeship.

This will usually take at least 18 months to complete.

Entry requirements:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Work

You could work at a racing stables as a groom, a rider or instructor. You would then move on to become an assistant trainer before applying for the full trainer's licence.

As an assistant trainer, you could do a 3-day course at The British Racing School or National Horseracing College, which includes:

• staff management
• handicapping
• media training
• health and safety
• racing welfare
• licensing

OtherRoutes

If you have a lot of experience in a stables, you could complete the Level 3 Diploma in Work Based Racehorse Care and the trainer's pre-licence preparation course.

You could then apply for a trainer's licence from the British Horseracing Authority.

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Skills:

• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work on your own
• knowledge of training and the ability to design courses
• customer service skills
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• thinking and reasoning skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to create the best conditions for learning or teaching new things
• the ability to teach pupils how to do something
• knowledge of psychology
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
• the ability to learn through your work
• administration skills
• knowledge of English language
• physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
• concentration skills
• the ability to work well with your hands

What you'll do:

Racehorse trainers run stables, manage staff, look after horses' training and welfare, and prepare them for races.

In your day-to-day duties you could:

• work out daily training and exercise routines
• plan feeding programmes for each horse
• monitor horses’ development
• talk to staff and vets about any problems
• supervise stable staff
• manage preparations and travel for race days
• keep racehorse owners up to date with their horses’ progress
• deal with administrative work like training records, wages and payments

Location : You could work at a riding stable, in an office or at a race track.
Environment : Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers.

Salary:

Starter : variable
Experienced : variable

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

45 - 47 hours a week

Working Pattern is early mornings flexibly

Career Path:

With experience you could become a specialist racing consultant, trainer instructor, bloodstock agent or thoroughbred breeder.