How to Become a Horse Trainer
Horse training is a complicated process, and it takes an experienced professional to do it properly. But if you want to become a horse trainer, here’s what you need to know:
First, you need to find out if there are any local schools or colleges that offer courses in horse training. Most reputable places will require certification before allowing you to work with horses. The good news is that most of these can be done online. You’ll also want to make sure that any school offers some sort of internship program so that you can get some hands-on experience in the field.
Once you’ve completed your coursework, it’s time to find an employer who will hire you as an apprentice or junior trainer. Many people start out working for someone else who already has a stable of horses they train regularly. This gives them more hands-on experience than they would get from simply training one or two horses on their own property. Once they have enough experience under their belt, many aspiring trainers move on from this kind of job setting toward starting their own business or becoming employed by larger farms where there are more opportunities for advancement within the organization as well
How To Become Horse Trainer
Horse trainers play a vital role in the well-being of a horse by using patience and empathy to recognize a horse’s needs while establishing a connection through training and riding. Determining what a horse trainer does and how to become one may help you decide if it’s the right career for you. In this article, we discuss the roles and duties of a horse trainer and provide the steps to become one.
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What is a horse trainer?
A horse trainer is a professional who instructs and prepares horses for racing, riding, showing or policing. This involves working with horses to help them adapt to human contact, respond to commands, communicate with the rider and control behavioral issues. Horse trainers focus on the horse’s exercise, nutrition, relationship with their rider and their overall well-being. Horse trainers also teach riders how to work with the horses.
Related: 15 Popular Careers With Horses
What does a horse trainer do?
A few other horse trainer duties include:
- Helping horses adapt to wearing riding equipment, like saddles and bridles
- Teaching horses various exercises
- Assisting in horse grooming procedures
- Analyzing horse behaviors and recognizing behavioral problems like kicking or biting
- Training to prevent behavioral problems
- Rewarding horses when they follow commands
- Preparing horses to ride on several types of terrain, like dirt, gravel or mud
- Aiding with waste management and stable maintenance
Related: Jobs Training Animals: Your Career Guide
Salary for horse trainers
Though Indeed does not have a salary for horse trainers, here are the salaries for related jobs:
- Average base salary in the U.S. for stable hands: $12.00 per hour
- Average base salary in the U.S. for horse groomers: $12.08 per hour
- Average base salary in the U.S. for animal trainers: $13.21 per hour
- Average base salary in the U.S. for dog trainers: $14.84 per hour
Related: 11 Highest-Paid Equine Careers
Where do horse trainers work?
Horse trainers work in several places, including:
- Private stable: This is where a horse trainer may work for a private company or family to tend to their horses, maintain the stable or work to acclimate the horse to its owner.
- Public stable: A horse trainer may work at a public stable to teach riding lessons, lead group riding sessions or maintain the stables.
- Horse breeder: A horse trainer working for a horse breeder may train horses for competitions, using show jumping or barrel racing techniques.
- Large ranches: Horse trainers that work on ranches teach horses how to herd farm animals.
Related: 15 Highest Paying Jobs for Animal Lovers
Types of horse training
Horse trainers teach several types of training, including:
- Dressage: This training involves teaching a horse to perform predetermined movements to a command, usually training with one rider so that the horse and rider become familiar with the movements. This training teaches the horse balance, precision and obedience while becoming comfortable with a rider.
- Cutting: This is a western style of training where a trainer teaches a horse to herd livestock accurately and safely.
- Barrel racing: This is a rodeo event that requires the horse to follow a precise course around preset barrels, which helps with the horse’s balance and speed.
- Trail riding: This training allows the horse to walk along trials. It helps the horse become comfortable at a trotting pace.
- Show jumping: This is when a trainer teaches a horse to jump over fences set at various heights, which can help with their coordination.
Related: How To Become a Great Equine Therapist
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How to become a horse trainer
Here are five important steps to becoming a horse trainer:
1. Graduate from high school or earn a GED
High school teaches some of the soft skills used in horse training. Verbal communication is an important skill to possess as a horse trainer because you communicate with assistant trainers, barn managers, riders or supervisors. Science classes may give you important information about horse anatomy. In addition, some schools offer farming-based education where you can learn about the breeding and caring for farm animals.
2. Gain experience with horses
Before becoming a horse trainer, you must have prior experience working with horses so that you’re comfortable around horses and have experience riding, grooming and caring for them. It benefits you to have experience with different types of horses, too, as you progress in your experience, like young or mature and small or large horses.
In order to gain the confidence to train horses, you must ride often so that you have a strong background in riding. Having extensive experience in riding may make you feel more comfortable around horses, which helps the horse feels more comfortable, too. Learning to ride properly also helps you to train riders so they become confident and effective at riding, too.
A great way to familiarize yourself with horses and meet other horse trainers is to join an equestrian club, which is often free or requires a small membership fee.
3. Complete an apprenticeship
An apprenticeship is a great way to familiarize yourself with the daily operations of horse training. During an apprenticeship, you may perform stable maintenance, groom horses, feed horses or exercise the horses around the complex.
To find an apprenticeship, check to find local stables that need an assistant horse trainer, apprentice or intern.
Related: 11 Apprenticeship Benefits
4. Consider completing an equine studies program
Though many stables do not require for you to complete an equine studies program, this education can provide you a more thorough understanding of horse care and required training skills. Some colleges offer equine programs that include courses on horsemanship, horse anatomy and physiology, facility management, horse behavior, animal ethics and welfare, horse nutrition and disease. Also, many programs offer training with live horses.
Check online to see if any colleges offer equine programs that are a good fit for you. When searching, consider the amount of hands-on experience you get with animals.
Related: 19 Degrees You Can Get to Work With Animals
5. Apply to jobs
Build a strong resume that showcases why you are a good fit for a horse trainer job. Because prior experience with horses is essential in horse training, be sure to include your apprenticeship and list the stables that you have experience at. Include specific horses that you worked with successfully in the past to distinguish yourself from other candidates.
