List of Equine Jobs

Many individuals fall in love with horses as young children and dream of working in the equine field. While many move on and outgrow these dreams, some indeed establish successful careers in the horse industry. Equine jobs, such as grooming, training and racing, require the ability to work well with both horses and people.

  1. Groom

    • A groom, as described by the Horse Hats equestrian website, keeps horses clean by bathing and brushing them. Also called stable hands, grooms prepare horses to be ridden, by saddling and bridling them, and remove the riding equipment once the rider is finished. Paid by the hour, grooms also travel to horse shows, maintain the stalls that horses live in and feed and water the animals. Those employed as stable hands must provide superior care for horses and work long hours.

    Farrier

    • The occupation of a farrier is very important in the equine business, according to the Horse Hats website. Farriers inspect, trim and fit horse hooves as well as make and fit horseshoes for the animals. A risky job due to having to handle the legs and hooves of horses, farriers must have a high understanding of horse anatomy and behavior, metal working, shoeing technology and common hoof problems.

    Jockey

    • Horse jockeys ride race horses for a living. Jockeys receive a small fee and, if the horse they are riding wins the race, a percentage of the prize. This is one of the most demanding and dangerous equine jobs, according to Horse Hats, and jockeys must be lightweight, small in stature and skilled at riding. Jockeys must communicate with horse trainers and owners and use their knowledge of horses to race as effectively as possible

    Trainer

    • Horse trainers specialize in equestrian areas such as dressage, jumping, racing and reining. They work with owners and their horses on things like riding for pleasure and showing. Many horse trainers began working in the field in lower-level jobs, as stable hands for example, to gain valuable experience. Trainers will teach your horse, often by riding it, and coach you as to how to maintain the progress. Some trainers charge per hour and some require a flat fee.

    Exercise Rider

    • An exercise rider plays an important role at horse racetracks. These individuals exercise horses by riding them in accordance with the trainer's instructions. Exercise riders help train horses to warm up properly, heed the jockey, enter and exit the racing area properly and how to behave during lead switches and other racetrack conditions. Exercise riders gauge the condition of the horses and report back to the trainers.