You can leave school at 16 to train to be a racing groom in Doncaster at the National Horseracing College, in Newmarket at the British Racing School or at the Scottish Racing Academy in Scotland. Even if that seems a long way off, there are several things you can be doing now that will help you decide if a job in a racing yard is really the job you want to do and to make it easier for you to find training and a job in the future.

It is a Rule of Racing that anyone under 19 years old who wants to work as a racing groom must start a Level 2 Apprenticeship or equivalent qualification. You can do this via the British Racing School (BRS), National Horseracing College (NHC) , Haddon Training, or Scottish Racing Academy, or alternatively, you can study for City and Guild Qualifications with HEROS. Complete beginners may have to complete a Foundation course, a pre-apprenticeship or a Level 1 Diploma in Work Based Racehorse Care first.

As your training comes to an end, you may decide that you want to work in the racing industry. Some equine students go straight into employment with a racehorse trainer. However, others might want some specific training in looking after racehorses – and as you know, riding a racehorse at work is very different from riding a dressage horse or eventer. The British Racing School (BRS) and the National Horseracing College (NHC) both run a free Entry to Employment Programme that will help you prepare for riding racehorses and looking after them.

This is a suggested pathway for final year students of an equine qualification at an equine college or for those who have recently graduated with an equine qualification and who want to work with racehorses.

It is well worth talking to the racing schools as there may be support from the racing industry if government funding is not available, and they may be able to suggest other training options.

If you are very competent at riding, have been working with horses in another discipline for a while and want to move into working with racehorses there are a few options we would suggest for training and finding work in a racehorse yard.

1. The British Racing School and National Horseracing College provide a Transition to Racing course for those who are experienced riders in another equestrian discipline but who want to learn to ride for racing.
2. You can apply to work with a racehorse trainer and your training can be led by your employer. Selected racehorse trainers offer employer-led training. This is a new scheme run by the British Horseracing Authority and the National Trainers Federation. You train on-the-job and the racehorse trainer measures your progress against a Racing Groom Skills Passport.
3. You can apply to work with a racehorse trainer immediately and they may help you with your racing work riding technique. You could do a short course in work riding at the British Racing School or National Horseracing College, or your employer could invite the racing schools into your yard to train a group of staff in work riding.

If you have already used Government funding for other equine training, you may be eligible for more Government funding for training. Please talk to the British Racing School or National Horseracing College. They may also be able to suggest other training options.  

We’d suggest one of two options for you:

1. You can apply to work with a racehorse trainer and your training can be led by your employer. Selected racehorse trainers offer employer-led training. This is a new scheme run by the British Horseracing Authority and the National Trainers Federation. You train on-the-job and the racehorse trainer measures your progress against a Racing Groom Skills Passport.
2. Students may be eligible for the Foundation Level 1 Diploma in Work Based Racehorse Care and then the Level 2 Diploma in Work Based Racehorse Care. Funding support may be available from the racing industry, so please speak to the racing schools or Haddon Training for more information.

If it has been some time since you worked with horses and particularly some time since you last rode for work, then you may want to consider a short course in work riding at the British Racing School (BRS) or National Horseracing College (NHC), or your employer could invite the British Racing School or National Horseracing College into your yard to train a group of staff in work riding.

Use the CareersinRacing job board to help you find new jobs and opportunities.