Horse Trainer

Taylor Zwanzig

Responsibilities

• Get horses accustomed to equipment (reins and harnesses).

• Teach horses to respond to commands.

• Develop exercise programs and condition horses.

• Show riders how to handle horses.

• Feed, water, and groom horses.

Elaine’s Likes/Dislikes

-Likes:• Working out side• Being around the animals• Physical aspect of the work• Helping riders to improve riding and training skills• Feels like that’s rewarding to her-Dislikes:• Working during the winter• Few of the indoor arenas are heated• Business decreases drastically• Summers are often 16-hour days, 7 days/week• A very competitive business = always upgrading skills and knowledge• But it’s a lot of work and can be very expensive to constantly be upgrading.-Advice:• “I think the best advice I can give for somebody pursuing this career is that you really

need to be passionate about the work, as it’s not going to make you rich.

You need to get a lot of experience working with perhaps other trainers, competitive experience, working with riders and horses of all different types to really know that this is something that you want to do.

And again it’s a great occupation for people who want to follow the dream of working with horses and being your own boss.”

Steve’s Likes/Dislikes

-Likes:• Wide variety of horses and ponies• Non-stop pace of everyday, “Time really flies”• Positive feedback from the horses and their owners-Dislikes:• Seasonal weather, (cold in the winter and the really summer days)• Injuries and illnesses some horses experience through work and training,

“It can be discouraging”.• Not having enough hours in the day-Advice:• “You really have to love being a horse trainer. There are long hours. You’ve

got to be very motivated to work endlessly. And you’ve got to want to do it so bad that, if you could, you’d do it for free.”

Biggest Challenges/Disadvantages

-Elaine:• “Working in a cold winter climate is a challenge. Horse training happens

year round and most stables are not heated.

It is physically demanding work. Although it keeps me in excellent shape, I am always working my core muscles. Whether I am sitting on a horse, or directing a horse and rider, my body is constantly undergoing some type of resistance training. “

-Steve:• “Because of the financial and physical demands of the sport, client

turnover is always a challenge. Also, working with large, powerful animals can be dangerous. “

Stability of the Workplace

• You’ve always got to be on your feet, if there’s a change that has to be made then you have to adapt.

Skills

Instructing — Teaching others how to do something.

Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative

solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Learning Strategies — Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate

for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future

problem-solving and decision-making.

Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the

points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to

choose the most appropriate one.

Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make

improvements or take corrective action.

Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Useful Background/Job Experiences

• There are no formal education requirements for breaking into this career, but it’s essential to get as much experience with horses as possible (volunteer work, part-time work, or summer jobs).

• Many horse trainers start off as grooms or stable cleaners.

• After a number of years of obtaining relevant experience, find an opportunity to learn from an established horse trainer. (some private horse schools and stables offer clinics or apprenticeships programs.)

• Aspiring trainers may choose to attain formal education related to the horse industry. (Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in equine studies.)

• Some schools offer shorter certificate programs that might take a year or less to complete.

• Although a college degree or certificate can be helpful in attracting clients when you first start out, formal education cannot substitute for hands-on experience.

Upward Mobility

LEVEL 1: Volunteer Stable WorkerEARNINGS

• UnpaidREQUIREMENTS

• Interest in working with horsesRESPONSIBILITIES

• Working as a helper in a stable; feeding and watering horses; cleaning the stable; obtaining as much experience with horses as possible; observing and helping horse trainers at the stable as much as possible.

LEVEL 2: GroomEARNINGS

• Minimum wage to $15 an hourREQUIREMENTS

• Prior experience working with horses • Preferably a high school diploma • Possibly enrolled in an equine studies or other horse-related programs

RESPONSIBILITIES• Working in a stable• Grooming, feeding, watering, and exercising horses• Cleaning the stable• Observing and helping horse trainers at the stable as much as possible.

…Continued…LEVEL 3: Horse TrainerEARNINGS

• $18,000-$30,000 (annually)REQUIREMENTS

• Many years of experience working with horses • Completion of an apprenticeship or clinic led by experienced trainer (preferable) • Possibly a degree or certificate in equine studies or a related field

RESPONSIBILITIES• Employed at a private stable• Getting horses accustomed to equipment• Training horses to respond to commands• Exercising and conditioning horses • Training riders (such as jockeys, show riders, or recreational riders) to work with horses• Possibly seeking out appropriate races or competitions for horses to compete in.

LEVEL 4: Self-Employed Horse TrainerEARNINGS

• $25,000-$50,000 (annually)REQUIREMENTS

• At least 5 years of experience as a salaried horse trainer • Established reputation • Solid base of clients

RESPONSIBILITIES• Running own stable• Training horses; boarding horses• Promoting the business• Supervising employees such as stable workers, grooms, riding instructors, and other horse trainers

Earnings

• $18,000-$52,000 (private stables)

• $25-$100 per/hour (freelance trainers)

• Earnings for self-employed trainers depends on the amount of work they

get

Educational Requirements

Main Education Level:• Bachelor’s Degree or Associate’s Degree usually needed

Major Coursework:• There are no formal education requirements for breaking into this career. 

However, it’s essential to get as much experience with horses as possible. 

• SVP (Specific Vocational Preparation) Range: (4.0 to < 6.0)

I would like to go to either Meredith Manor International Equestrian College (Waverly, WV) or Post University (Waterbury, CT).

They both offer Equestrian/Equine Studies, which is what I want to major in.

The required and elective courses I would take for Equestrian/Equine Studies will vary depending on the institutors, but some of them I will most likely experience are:

• Introduction to Equine Studies

• Equine Nutrition

• Management

• Rider Instruction Training

Training CertificationLEVEL ONE:• Completion of Training I - II with a minimum 3.0 GPA; no more than 7 absences or observations

in any one quarter in Training• 30 hours of logged training time on campus during the regular course of study (will be

documented in the student’s training log book)• Satisfactory completion of a written and practical examination• Upon completion of these requirements, the student will receive Level One Training

Certification.LEVEL TWO:• Meet all requirements for Level One Training Certification• Completion of Training I – IV with a minimum 3.0 GPA; no more than 7 absences or observations

in any one quarter in Training• 80 hours of logged training time on campus during the regular course of study (will be

documented in the student’s training log book)• Satisfactory completion of a written and practical examination• Upon completion of these requirements, the student will receive Level Two Training Certification.LEVEL THREE:• Meet all requirements for Level Two Training Certification• Completion of Training I –VI with a minimum 3.0 GPA; no more than 7 absences or observations

in any one quarter in Training• 150 hours of logged training time completed on campus during the regular course of study (will

be documented in the student’s training log book)• Satisfactory completion of a written and practical examination• Upon completion of these requirements, the student will receive Level Three Training

Certification.

Licensure Requirements

• You are not required to have a license to train horses in Illinois.

Rate Of Expected Growth

Employment in Illinois:(2008)-620(2018)-730

• Percent Change: +18%

• Job Openings: 20

Total Employed Nationally: 10,600-184,280

• Projected Job Openings (2010-2020): 5,900

Personality Traits

• Integrity

• Dependability

• Self Control

• Adaptability/Flexibility

• Persistence

• Attention to Detail

Credentials???• I’m not exactly sure what their credentials are due to

their interviews not mentioning them, but I do know that Elaine and Steve both started riding and competing horses at a young age.

• Elaine went to equestrian college after she completed high school and then moved to England for more training.

• Steve grew up on a family farm and his training occurred on the job. He ran the family business for 10 years and then found an opportunity near by and has been managing this privately owed facility ever since.