What Does A Horse Trainer Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Teach Horses to Obey Specific Commands

Horse trainers spend most of their time teaching horses to follow specific commands based on the needs of the owner or the environment where the horse will perform. For example, the commands that are used in horse racing may vary from the commands needed for horse riding.

Common commands include whoa, stand, trot, walk, back, canter, and easy. However, individual owners may also request specific commands. While many horse drivers use “gee” and “haw” for “left” and “right,” you may also use “come” and “get.”

Help Horses Adapt to Saddles and Bridles

When training a young horse, horse trainers may need to get the horse used to wearing a saddle and bridle. This typically starts when the horse is about two years old.

Before horses get used to wearing a saddle, they are more likely to kick, bolt, or refuse commands when carrying a rider. This can make riding the horse dangerous.

Training a horse to wear a saddle can take four to eight weeks. However, it may take several months for the hose to become fully comfortable wearing the saddle and bridle for long rides. This training typically occurs before teaching specific commands or working on behavioral issues.

Pay Attention to the Nutrition and Health of Horses

Horse trainers need to become involved in every aspect of a horse’s life during training. Along with working with the horse throughout the day, the trainer monitors the horse’s nutrition and overall health.

You may need to recommend different food or feeding schedules based on the needs of the horse and their development.

Analyze and Correct Behavioral Problems

When working with horses, you are likely to uncover various behavioral problems that you need to correct. For example, a horse may continuously refuse a specific command. You then need to analyze the cause and find a potential solution.

Horse trainers analyze the disposition of the horse to anticipate potential problems, such as tossing, biting, or kicking. They then provide the necessary training to prevent these behavioral problems from occurring.

Assist in Horse Grooming and Stable Maintenance Tasks

Some stables may require horse trainers to take on additional tasks, such as grooming the horses and cleaning out the stable. This is not a common job requirement for self-employed horse trainers. When working as an independent contractor, you are likely to focus solely on the training and the health of the horse.

Step 1: Learn to Ride Horses

Aspiring horse trainers should become more familiar with horses during high school. Learn to ride horses or volunteer at a stable.

Step 2: Earn an Associate’s Degree

Most horse trainers enter this field with an Associate’s degree in Equine Studies or Equine Science.

Step 3: Find an Apprenticeship or Workshop

To develop skills that are specific to horse training, you may need to find an apprenticeship opportunity or a horse training workshop.

Step 4: Look for Work as a Horse Trainer

After completing an apprenticeship or workshop, start looking for work as a horse trainer for stables, ranches, or rodeo companies. As you gain experience, you may eventually choose to become self-employed.