What Does A Horse Trainer Do?

Parimatch UK Editorial Team |

14/12/22
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Horse trainers have a job doing what we think is simply a fanciful hobby. It sounds like a lush lifestyle – but what does a horse trainer actually do? A horse trainer needs to be knowledgeable about a horse’s anatomy and behaviour, as well as nutritional requirements to keep them in tip top condition for racing. Not only that, but a successful trainer needs the skills to be looking after between 150-200 horses at any one time, so there definitely isn’t a lot of room for horsing around.

At Parimatch, we’ve done a little digging around to see what these elusive figures get up to. Horse trainers are involved in:

  • Introducing the horses to new equipment (saddles, reins, etc), especially young horses
  • Identifying any health problems
  • Identifying any problems to do with the horse’s living conditions
  • Developing training regimens and exercise routines
  • Monitoring a horse’s diet
  • Recommending treatments for injuries or muscle strain
  • Gaining a horse’s trust and working alongside the jockey
  • Tracking a horse’s training progress and reporting back to the owner

A racehorse trainer will have to ride horses and prepare them for the type of racing they’ll be competing in. Trainers are also in charge of teaching apprentice jockeys and managing stable staff, (like barn managers and groomers) all to ensure the wellbeing of the horses under their care. Most trainers will also have to be able to rear horses that will go and compete in all types of equestrian disciplines: dressage, eventing, jumping, flatracing, and vaulting.

How Much Does A Horse Trainer Get Paid? Turning Horses into Cash Cows

The salary of a horse trainer can vary depending on experience, success, and the type of contract they have. The national average for a Horse Trainer is a salary of around £28,323 per year in the UK according to glassdoor. 

That might not seem like a lot, and might not even be enough to cover a designer 3 piece suit to don at the races, but the real money for horse trainers lies in the prize money a horse will make if they win a race. For example, according to the British Horseracing Authority, one of the most successful trainers, Charlie Appleby, is currently training 135 horses for flat racing, which have won a total amount of £6,208,801.87 in Prize Money. Another top trainer, Willie Mullins has reeled in cash by training 88 winning horses for the Cheltenham Festival.

Not only does the money flow through the trainers, but a horse with a good trainer can be a good option to bet on, it can be a good idea to research trainers before making a bet on horse racing.

Different Horse Trainer Methods

There are two main methods racehorse trainers use: traditional training and natural horsemanship. 

First up, what is natural horsemanship? Also known as horse whispering, this method is more about being in tune with a horse’s mood and behaviour. In general, animal trainers must be aware of how they are communicating to animals through their body language. The natural method requires more patience when it comes to horse handling. 

The traditional horse racing method can be thought of as stricter. In the past, some methods were used to train horses that were quite cruel, pushing the horse to fear the trainer and getting the horse to do exactly what was needed of them. Nowadays, more positive reinforcement methods are applied, by rewarding a horse’s good behaviour, instead of making them feel stressed. 

Can Horse Training Be Dangerous?

There is always a certain risk factor when working with powerful animals, so yes, training horses can be dangerous. Racehorse trainers will have to work on any problem behaviour a horse has, for example biting or kicking, and get them used to being ridden and to human physical contact, which is a big task in itself. 

Some horses can also be very resistant and aren’t used to having a rider and a saddle on them. Horses in this situation can react unpredictably, and so it’s up to the trainer and assistant trainers to get the horse fit for riding purposes. 

Do Horse Trainers Own The Horses?

Many trainers often do own and train their own horses, but racehorse owners will normally task a specific trainer to look after their horses and get them ready for a day at the races. 

The horse racing industry is very interesting in terms of all the stakeholders involved in a racehorse’s life. The owner hires both a trainer and a rider, and trainers may also own horses, but a jockey cannot own a racehorse that they’ll use for competitions, as this creates a conflict of interest. 

How Does A Person Get Into The Field Of Horse Training?

If you’re looking to become a racehorse trainer, you’ll need to have a strong passion for these animals and an education to go with it. Some universities and colleges offer 4-year programs on equine science and equine management. 

Not only will you need an education, but you’ll need to work your way up the ranks probably as well, gaining knowledge on the job. Some trainers start with an apprenticeship in the stables before they can fully take on the reins of running the whole stable itself. All in all, trainers work with a wide set of skills, from handling people, managing day to day tasks, communicating with owners, and dealing with the horses themselves. 

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