| Jobs in the Horse Racing Industry By Susan Farmer Jobs in the Horse Racing Industry Do you think you might want to work in the horse racing industry? Well, here are a lot of jobs in horse racing that might interest you. Hot Walker : A person who walks horses to cool them down right after they have run a race or worked out. You share their victories. Outrider: This one would be fun. You would ride the horse that accompanies the race horses to the gate, which means you would be right in the heart of the action. Horse Identifier: You check the lip of the racehorse as the horse enters the paddock area to make sure that the correct horse is running in the race. You keep things honest! Groom: a racehorse has a personal groomer. You take care of the bathing, combing, brushing and care of one or more horses in the stable. Jockey: You can't get more exciting than this. You ride the fastest horses on the planet. With the wind in your face riding one of the most magnificent animals on the earth, you would indeed be a lucky person. This job does have its dangers! Apprentice: The horse racing industry realizes that being a jockey isn't always easy, so they give a new rider certain advantages. For example, a new rider gets weight allowances until they have a certain amount of winners. Agent: Some jockeys have agents, whose job it is to work with horse owners and trainers and line up horses to ride in races. So, if you like the art of negotiation and the excitement of associating with the elite in the horseracing crowd, this is the job for you. Clocker: Person who gets up early and times the morning workouts. Very important information to provide. Flagman: Person who drops the flag in front of the gate. This is the official start of the race and a very important job. Exercise Rider: Many jockeys start with this job. It is a good way to get to know trainers who might eventually offer to let you race one or more of their horses as a jockey. It is important to do exactly as you are instructed to earn the trust of your trainer. Barn Foreman: Supervises grooms and stable hands to make sure the tasks assigned to them are done correctly and on time. Bloodstock Agent: Here is an exciting job. You represent the owners who wish to purchase horses at sales such as yearling or two year old sales in knowing pedigrees, conformation, racing history, and a complete understanding of the horseracing marketplace. Farrier or Blacksmith is a job that pays well. After all, what is more important in a race than a horse's hoof? This is a physically and mentally demanding job. You must have a strong understanding of a horse's anatomy, shoeing technology, especially shoe racing technology, and a love for horses. Race Horse Nutrition Specialist or Equine Feed/Nutrition Specialist: You are in charge of the diet for race horses which can be very important in a race horse's career. This is what gives that horse the energy and strength to win races! About.com writes "The best way to get started on an equine job search is by networking. Ask everyone and anyone you know, in the horse world, whether they need help. It could mean mucking stalls for a few hours a day at one barn, while riding horses that need a workout at another, or spending night shifts on the foal watch in the spring and early summer. All those connections you make along the way can lead to full-time employment or enough part-time positions to earn a living. Working at the track isn't like a traditional job. Your busiest days are often weekends and holidays and you may spend quite a bit of time on the road. Keep in mind other places to check for equine jobs are the actual tracks. Go here to find links for the different tracks: Tvg.com Drf.com Also here are a couple of links for equine job postings: http://www.yardandgroom.com/jobs/job.aspx?id=10131 Kind Regards, Susan Farmer |