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How to Become a Horse Trainer: Australian Careers in Animal Care

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What is a Horse Trainer?

What will I do?

What skills do I need?

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What is a Horse Trainer?

A horse trainer prepares horses for riding, racing, breeding, work, or competition. They teach horses to obey commands, correct problem behaviours, and keep horses fit and ready for their role.

Horse trainers work with owners, vets, and farriers every day. They build training plans to suit each horse and adjust methods as the horse develops. Some trainers focus on one area, such as dressage, show jumping, or thoroughbred racing. Others work across several disciplines.

Daily tasks include grooming, feeding, exercising, and health checks. Trainers keep records of each horse’s progress and flag concerns early. The role is hands-on and active, with most trainers working outdoors.

Around 3,000 people work as horse trainers in Australia (Jobs and Skills Australia, ABS 2021 Census). The career suits people who love animals and enjoy varied, outdoor work.

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Career snapshots For Horse Trainers

Horse training is a skilled trade with around 3,000 practitioners across Australia (Jobs and Skills Australia, ABS 2021 Census). The role sits under ANZSCO code 361112 in the Technicians and Trades Workers category.

About 81 per cent work full-time (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2021). Full-time hours average 52 per week. Median weekly earnings are $1,280, or about $66,560 per year (YourCareer, 2025). The median age is 43, and 42 per cent of the workforce is female. New South Wales leads with 32.5 per cent of national employment, followed by Victoria (29.7%) and Queensland (19.8%). Future demand is rated moderate (YourCareer, 2025).

What will I do?

Horse trainers work across a wide range of tasks each day. The work is physical, varied, and focused on each horse’s welfare and performance.

  • Teach horses to obey verbal and non-verbal commands. Use consistent methods to build responsiveness in horses of all ages.
  • Address behaviour problems. Identify and correct unwanted behaviours so horses are safe to handle.
  • Train horses to accept riders. Introduce riders step by step, building the horse’s confidence gradually.
  • Train horses to pull vehicles. Teach horses to work with carts or other equipment as needed.
  • Prepare horses for competition. Build the skills and fitness each horse needs for its event.
  • Monitor health and well-being. Check for signs of injury or illness and act early to prevent problems.
  • Maintain training records. Keep clear, up-to-date logs of each horse’s progress and any concerns.
  • Work with vets and farriers. Arrange care so each horse gets the right support at the right time.
  • Groom and care for horses. Complete daily feeding, grooming, and stable cleaning routines.

What skills do I need?

Horse trainers need a mix of practical animal-handling skills and strong communication abilities. A deep understanding of horse behaviour and equine health is the foundation. Trainers use this knowledge to build effective training plans and spot problems early.

Clear communication is essential. Trainers work with horse owners, vets, and farriers, so they need to explain progress and raise concerns in plain terms. Patience and resilience matter too. Training takes time and results are not always fast. The ability to stay calm with difficult or young horses is key to long-term success.

Skills/attributes

  • Knowledge of horse behaviour and equine psychology
  • Riding and horse-handling skills across multiple disciplines
  • Physical fitness and stamina for outdoor, hands-on work
  • Ability to assess a horse’s health and physical condition
  • Problem-solving skills to address behaviour issues
  • Patience and consistency in training methods
  • Clear communication with owners, vets, and farriers
  • Record-keeping and training log management
  • Knowledge of equine nutrition and feed management
  • Understanding of safety protocols when working with large animals
  • Organisational skills to manage multiple horses and training schedules
  • Willingness to keep learning and update training methods

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About the author

Laura Atkinson

Laura Atkinson

Laura Atkinson is an Account Management and SEM specialist at Course Finder Group with six years' experience in the Australian education sector. She works day to day with universities, TAFEs and independent training providers, which gives her a close view of how courses map to real career outcomes. She writes practical guidance on career pathways, choosing the right qualification and what to expect when moving into a new field.