How to Become a Horse Trainer

Being a horse trainer is rewarding, but it's also dangerous and time-consuming. You'll probably start off as an assistant to an established trainer. You'll begin by taking care of the horses, grooming, exercising and saddling; riding will come later, when you've proven your skills.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Feed/water Buckets
• Hoof Picks
• Longe Line
• Jeans
• Books On Horsemanship
• Brushes For Cleaning
• Grain/oats
• Breed-specific Magazines
• Longe Whip
• 8-foot Lead Rope
• English Reins
• English Saddle
• Western Reins
• Western Saddles
• Breast Collars
• Bridles
• Headstalls
• Horseshoes
• Lead Ropes
• Riding Boots
• Riding Crop
• Saddle Pads

1. Get as much experience as you can in the different areas of working with horses - starting (teaching a horse the basics), breaking (or gentling), breaking bad habits, and finishing.

2. Learn as much as you can about horses. You'll need to have in-depth knowledge of equine health, psychology and personality.

3. Ride, ride, ride. Ride as many different horses as you can: all types, all ages, all levels and all events.

4. Prepare to be hurt. It's hard to find a trainer who hasn't been kicked, stepped on, thrown or bitten. Working with horses is dangerous, even as a hobby.

5. Spend as much time as you can with horses. The more experience you have, the better you'll be.

6. Decide what type of horse training you want to specialize in: starting, rehabilitation (getting rid of bad habits), general all-purpose training, or specializing in one or several events.

7. Try to develop a strong show record in the area that you want to specialize in; this will help attract potential clients.

8. Be passionate about your career. If your heart isn't in it, the horses and the owners will sense it.

Tips & Warnings

• Horses are wild by nature, and as much as people have tried to domesticate them, they still have the inborn reaction of fight or flight. Be careful.
• Learning is a lifelong endeavor. You'll never know everything there is to know about horses - just when you think you know everything, the horse will teach you otherwise.
• People who whip and beat horses into submission aren't trainers; they're abusers. If you see this type of activity going on, report it to your local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
• Be aware that it's easy to damage a horse, and if you do, the owners may sue.

[gpjumper10]

on 2/19/2009 Going to college to learn to be a trainer is unnecessary. Interning at a stable with a reputable (key word - reputable, many "trainers" don't actually know anything a wing and cheat their way through the industry) trainer is the best route to take. Get a job grooming and work your way up. Ride anything and everything you can and pay attention to what you're told. The person least likely to make it in the industry is the person that thinks they know better. Everyone has weaknesses and everyone has something to teach.

[Horsedoc]

on 5/21/2008 A horse trainer is not the same as a riding instructor tho many instructors erroneously refer to themselves as trainers. College is the best place to start eg Findley, Ohio and include finances in your studies. Understand that it is very difficult to make money in the horse game. Secondly, do an "internship" with a reputable trainer and ask for recommendations regarding the trainer. Ride, ride and ride. Experience is essential. The more horses you ride, the more you will learn.

[Horsedoc]

on 5/21/2008 A horse trainer is not the same as a riding instructor tho many instructors erroneously refer to themselves as trainers. College is the best place to start eg Findley, Ohio and include finances in your studies. Understand that it is very difficult to make money in the horse game. Secondly, do an "internship" with a reputable trainer and ask for recommendations regarding the trainer. Ride, ride and ride. Experience is essential. The more horses you ride, the more you will learn.

[Horsedoc]

on 5/21/2008 A horse trainer is not the same as a riding instructor tho many instructors erroneously refer to themselves as trainers. College is the best place to start eg Findley, Ohio and include finances in your studies. Understand that it is very difficult to make money in the horse game. Secondly, do an "internship" with a reputable trainer and ask for recommendations regarding the trainer. Ride, ride and ride. Experience is essential. The more horses you ride, the more you will learn.

[Horsedoc]

on 5/21/2008 Instructor does not equal trainer!! Many people erroneously believe that being a teacher/instructor is the same as being a trainer and nothing is further from the truth. The majority of instructors could not break a baby and teach it anything. My kudos especially to those western "cowboys" that actually teach the horses something. Start them as western and switch the horses to english.