Working on a racing yard - achievable?

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dynaste

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Hi everyone, I have been lurking on here for a while but this is my first post :)

Essentially, I would really like to get a job on a racing yard. I have no experience in riding racehorses but I would say that I am fairly competent in riding (riding for about 12 years, dressage, eventing, mainly to BE100/riding club sort of level. I've also backed a couple of my own horses so have grown quite a good sticky bum! :p )

I have been to college and have a diploma in equine studies and an equine science degree from uni, I'm 22 so don't think I can go through BRS or NRC?

Is it achievable to get a good job in racing with no previous racing experience? Does anyone have any experiences?

Thanks guys :)
 
Where are you? Know of a few openings where you would be fine, best just to ring and offer yourself to a trainer
 
I will be going to racing school (BRS) in the near future (i'm 18) and i ride out at a local trainers part time at the moment (got there through my old teacher who knew the trainer) Before to going to my yard I had never sat on a TB before, Id full loaned a cob and been in riding schools for 7 years. The trainer has 'taught' a few young jockeys by them starting out riding there before he sends them to larger yards.

It is very achieveable providing you are truly dedicated to racing (I have no life outside it) as it is long, hard hours and riding racehorses is completely different as you are intensely squatting, using all your core and leg muscles while controlling a very strong horse. But eventing is the closest thing to it, especially jumps racing. At BRS you are expected to get up at half 5 and work with a two hour break til half five at night, as well as fitting in lectures, sports and gym sessions.

Ive known people go to both BRS and NRC, both say their college is the best so I think its a matter of personal preference, ive decided to go to BRS because if you make it to the end of the course you get to ride on newmarket heath.

Good luck, I'd say apply but only if you are incredibly passionate about the industry and the thought of getting up at half 5 every morning to work racehorses is something you'd never tire of. You need to be tough to be a stable lass/lad let alone jockey etc.

For example, my friend went to BRS started the course with 18 people and ended up with 8, some wern't fit enough, some fell off and got injured/broke bones, others just couldnt handle it/cut it. If that doesn't put you off in the slightest then go for it:)

Feel free to PM me any time:)
 
Plenty of yards happy to take light weight riders on and train them. We used to start them off on the hack with naff all brakes until you dropped the reins ;-)
Racing post often have job adverts
 
Baileybones said:
Plenty of yards happy to take light weight riders on and train them. We used to start them off on the hack with naff all brakes until you dropped the reins ;-)
Racing post often have job adverts
Click to expand...

Echo this, like I said i'd never sat on a TB before and as long as you are not a complete idiot, prepared to work they'll be happy to take you :)

One of the guys who my boss trained up, he rang up one day offered himself said he weighed X stone etc and was keen, now he is apprentice jockey working for a bigger yard, he's riding in france at the moment for the winter flat season for his new boss
 
Baileybones said:
Plenty of yards happy to take light weight riders on and train them. We used to start them off on the hack with naff all brakes until you dropped the reins ;-)
Racing post often have job adverts
Click to expand...

That was me :D We have a 6 year old who is the laziest racehorse known to man, ive rode riding school hacks who are more excitable. (he's actually a decent sprinter but only on the racecourse) and i started on him, would hold the reins with proper contact around the roads until i learnt to chill now go around with washing lines like everyone else:D
 
Qualifications and pieces of paper mean nothing in racing unless you plan on training. Being a good rider, confident and lightweight is all you need.
 
Thanks everyone. It's really something I have grown to love and I'm definitely not afraid of long, hard hours :)

Is it best to just call/email some local trainers and see if there is anything available then?
 
dynaste said:
Thanks everyone. It's really something I have grown to love and I'm definitely not afraid of long, hard hours :)

Is it best to just call/email some local trainers and see if there is anything available then?
Click to expand...

Go for it and best of luck :) the worst they can say is
no and they can always say 'try this place' It really is amazing:) you can look on directoryoftheturf.com/.co.uk as you can search via area :)

I'm not that far from you actually so best of luck :) (not as far meaning about 2 hours)
 
A lot of trainers would rather take people on who are horsey, rather than have been throught the racing school. Some of the idiots who I have seen come out of the two schools in the last few years are truly terrifying. I've ridden out for several different trainers and have just emailed or rung them, and then gone in, sometimes for an interview, and sometimes just asked to start.
 
FinalFurlong said:
Go for it and best of luck :) the worst they can say is
no and they can always say 'try this place' It really is amazing:) you can look on directoryoftheturf.com/.co.uk as you can search via area :)

I'm not that far from you actually so best of luck :) (not as far meaning about 2 hours)
Click to expand...

Thank you :) will try and call a few people during the week!

zaminda said:
A lot of trainers would rather take people on who are horsey, rather than have been throught the racing school. Some of the idiots who I have seen come out of the two schools in the last few years are truly terrifying. I've ridden out for several different trainers and have just emailed or rung them, and then gone in, sometimes for an interview, and sometimes just asked to start.
Click to expand...

That's good to know, thank you! :)


Had another thought, ideally I'd prefer to be in a NH hunt yard but would it be a good idea to call some flat trainers too?
Any other experiences? :)
 
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I used to work on a large point to point yard, I went to college but we used to have lots of non racehorsey people ride out with us and learn like that. The boss would just put them on the easier horses until they were competent.
I think JumpingForFun or whetherbys point to point website will have trainers info :)
Good luck & enjoy!

Also I don't think you're too old for the NRC, I went there when I was 16 and had a 22 year old on my course.
 
You aren't too old for the NRC if that's the route you wanted to go, I went when I was 24. I found a job before I went and went to the racing school for experience. Made some really good friends. And if your younger it helps with your pay scale if you do the qualifications
 
I've always seen ads in H&H and the only thing it asks is that your under 10 stone. I think you'd be fine with the experience you have, my friends in her 40's and exercises race horses at a yard, they like her cos she's small and will get on anything!
 
The 10st weight limit is more for flat yards as they deal with such young fragile horses. NH horses tend to be stockier, older and can carry more weight - all within reason of course.
 
I worked in racing part time from 13/16 then full time from 16 /18

I went to the NRC as I would not of hacked the Newmarket one lol!

Enjoyed my time in racing but would never go back to it now, long hours, bad pay and I am too fat to ride racehorses now lol!
 
I've messed about on both. Much rather do the NH horses as they tend to have a more conventional grounding compared to the flat horses. The NH horses all need to be fairly sane, where I was they were started in the school and even popped some coloured poles. Quite nice as you know they can go on to a job easier once out of racing. I don't do anything to do with TBs now but did enjoy it for the experience!
 
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