Job Description

Racehorse Trainers supervise the daily care of horses in their stables, they will be responsible for seeing that the horses receive proper care, nutrition, veterinary attention and exercise. Trainers are responsible for planning workouts, monitoring their condition to enable them to be entered into appropriate races, advising the jockey on race strategy, supervising stable employees, scheduling routine services such as farrier visits, and obtaining veterinary care when necessary. They will need to liaise with owners keeping them up to date with progress and race options.

Entry Requirements

You can get into this job through:

Apprenticeship

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

This will usually take at least 18 months to complete. You'll do on-the-job training and spend time with a college or training provider.

There are no set entry requirements but it may help you to get in if you have 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship.

Click here to search for an apprenticeship.

Work

You could start 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.

British Racing School have courses to complete for Trainers. 

Career Tips

You must gain a trainer’s licence issued by the British Horseracing Authority.

To apply for a licence you’ll need to meet the criteria.

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

Career Path and Progression

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

Related careers you may be interested in:

• Animal care worker
• Veterinary nurse
• Pet behaviour counsellor

Required Skills

• You will need to be a confident leader who is able to communicate effectively with stable staff and owners
• You will need to be very organised and able to make decisions
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to work on your own
• good team player

Salary Range

£15,000 to £45,000