How do you become a Racehorse Trainer – Racehorse trainers manage racing stables, oversee horse training and care, and prepare horses for races. Training for this position begins with a senior equine groom’s advanced apprenticeship and working to become a fully-fledged trainer by studying and working in other trainers’ yards as a training assistant is one of the more typical routes that trainers align themselves with. Typically, this will take at least 18 months to complete. Schooling is not essential to becoming a horse trainer, but those interested may enroll in specialized courses such as horsemanship, facility administration, equine behavior, animal ethics, and nutrition. Many trainers begin their careers at the stables of a licensed trainer, washing and grooming the horses.
A prospective trainer has to apply for a training license with their business plan, letters from previous employers, character references, letters from two prospective owners who will give you horses, and confirmation that eight to ten horses are coming to their Yard as well as a lease for the Yard.
It will stand them in good stead to have worked with a licenced trainer for two or three years before HRA inspectors visit the incumbent trainer to screen the prospective trainer and confirm they are competent for beginning instruction. The procedure effectively displays all the elements of what the prospective trainer will be encountering as a fully-fledged trainer
The Personal Characteristics of a Horse Trainer are Varied but will include the essentials as pointed out below.
- A strong desire for horses.
- A trainer will have to exercise patience in their care for the horses and the employees in their stable.
- They have to be capable of dealing with the job’s physical demands.
- They also would have to take pleasure in the outdoors.
- Excellent communication abilities are essential as most countries have a dedicated channel for horse racing which will entail the trainers being featured when they have horses running on a Raceday.
The Different Phases of the Horse in the Trainers Yard
- The Yearling
A horse is born and reared on the Stud Farm for the first eighteen months of its life. There, it will enjoy life, learn to run, and ideally become a great racehorse capable of competing in world-renowned race days such as The Breeders Cup or Royal Ascot Racedays.
The yearling will be taught leading skills, taking long walks, joining the older horses and riders on trail rides, and learning grooming procedures in preparation for when the horse travels from the Stud Farm to the training yard of the owner‘s selected trainer.
Once an owner has put their horse with their preferred trainer, the trainer will gradually bring it to its racing peak via daily gallops at the trainer’s training grounds. When the trainer decides that the horse is ready to run in a race, it will be educated in entering the starting stalls. The horse must “pass a beginning stall test” to be certified and get its starting stall certificate.
- Entering a Race with a Horse
Once the horse has been certified and obtained its starting stall certificate, the trainer will pick what sort of race the horse will run in, depending on how it has been doing in the morning gallops.
Because the horse has never been raced, its first appearance will be in a race for Maidens (horses who have never won a race), and the trainer will have to pick the distance to enter the horse over. If the horse has shown itself forward in its morning gallops, it is always preferable to enter the horse over a shorter distance for its first run, which is often an 800-1000 meter race.
- Entering More Races for the Horse
As the horse gains racing experience, the trainer will begin to notice all of the horse’s quirks, will observe how much the horse is improving in the morning gallops, and will decide whether the horse is ready to compete in more demanding races or whether the horse needs more time to mature before starting to improve.
The trainer will also be able to determine, based on the races the horse has raced in and where it has finished in those races, which distances would be more suitable for the horse, how the horse prefers to race and which equipment is most suited to each horse in the Yard
Essential Qualities of a Horse Trainer
For many, training horses may be a challenging but rewarding experience. However, to be a good horse trainer, you must possess the six qualities listed below.
- Patience
Horse training is a lengthy and steady process. Good horse trainers are patient with both themselves and their animals.
- Self-discipline
The timing, the emotion you transmit to your horse, and your posture in the saddle all need superb self-control.
- Drive
Good horse trainers are never content with their expertise and always looking to learn more. This inner passion is known as drive, a necessary attribute for every horse trainer.
- Instinct
When it comes to horse training, instinct is everything. Spending quality time with the horses in their stable, they acquire an instinct as to what to learn and what to listen for when it comes to the equine athletes in their care.
- Comprehension
A skilled horse trainer is well-versed in equine behavior and psychology. They must understand the nuances of each horse in their care. To train horses, they must have outstanding horsemanship skills and a thorough grasp of the horse.
- Passion
Ultimately, horse training cannot be done only for monetary gain. A job as a trainer is both rigorous and exhausting. Ultimately, your love of horses will make the job worthwhile and get you up in the morning. To be a horse trainer, you must first and foremost love horses.
The Trainer – The Love for the Horse
When admitting a horse into his training yard, a trainer will evaluate various things. However, if the owner bringing him a horse is a long-time client and has previously purchased horses for the trainer, the trainer will be more ready to take the horse than if the owner is new to him.
Every horse has peculiarities and oddities, but every owner and trainer wants to possess their remarkable Equine Athlete. As the trainer arranges the horse’s path, each horse must acquire its starting stall certificate, win its maiden race, and be entered into the appropriate races. However, if the horse’s trainer believes it is good enough to compete at the highest level, the determining factor as to whether the horse achieves its peak ambitions is the trainer’s dedication.