How can I become an excercise rider at the track?

Question

I am a 14 year old competitive dressage rider (without own horse), I have a job at our private dressage stable, but I really also want to try to become an excercise rider at the horse track. Where you take the race horses for there training and morning gallop.
How old do you have to be? And how can I apply for that?

Answer 1

Being a track work rider is a very big task,I know I"m a jockey by trade.Being fresh in this game is very tough,you will getting up pretty early,you also will have to learn how to pace your horse's,eg:half pace,3quarter pace,even-time and working gallop,it's all in time between the furlon posts.It dose take awhile before your timing is just about spot on.Here in Australia most people who want to ride work usually goes down to the track (early)and approach some trainers..Good luck with job,It dose toughen you up..

Answer 2

You will need a place to start and most people start on one of the racing farms.
You will do all the stable chores and stuff and then move up to riding the horses on the farm.
Then up to taking horses to the track or working at the track with the horses that are there.
When you have the skill and understand more about what they are looking for when the exercise a horse you can ride at the track.
You have to have a card to get into the backside at the track.
I started by working on a breeding training racing farm and worked with the horses at the farm and then also at the track.
We mostly kept our horses at the farm unless they were following the racing circut away from our farm.

Answer 3

You must be 16 to be an exercise rider at a track. You must pass a physical and a test on your ability to handle a horse by either a track outrider or the stewards. If you have never exercised a racehorse before I suggest starting at a farm or training facility off track. Farms or training facilities are great places to get started and you don't have to be 16. Trainers on a farm or training facility are more willing to teach someone who has never exercised a racehorse than a trainer on a track. Contact all horseracing farms or training facilities in your area. Working on a racetrack won't be an option until you are 16.

Answer 4

You can't "apply" for jobs on the backside of a race track without first having a license from that state to gain entrance into the barn or stable area. You need to know someone who can get you onto the track first. Only an owner or trainer can sign you in as a visitor & most require that you be age 16 or older to be a rider. Due to insurance rates, many are starting to raise the minimum age to 18. Exercise riders must first get the signed permission of the tracks "Outrider", who will give you an actual test of your riding skills. If the outriders says no, you can't ride. If the outrider says yea, you still need the signature of a licensed trainer & the approval of track security. The backlot is not a safe place for children, especially young females, due to the many illegals that work on the lots. You would do better to first work at a training ranch or farm & when you are experienced enough to ease into the backside lifestyle, you will be at less of a risk for injury & accepted by the community that makes up the backside of a racetrack. It is nothing like working with show horses. You will be required to carry your own insurance when you ride on the track & you must show proof that you have a current policy in case you have an injury. You are usually considered to be an "independent contractor", who is self employed. You must also pay your own taxes from your wages unless you can find a trainer who will write you a check & take out deductions. When you get any type of a license for the track (rider, groom, hotwaker), you must have a social security card, valid photo identification from your state, & your fingerprints will be taken & put into your states data base. Minimum fee is $50 in most states for a one year license that can only be renewed if a trainer has you signed onto their worklist as an employee of their barn. No job usually means no license. It's extremely difficult to get your first license & hard to hold onto it if you make enemies on the backside. You will be considered GREEN for your first 2 years on the backside. That's how long it takes it figure out how it all works with this big dysfunctional functioning "family"! Trust comes with time & you will have to prove yourself to the trainers & learn how to deal with extremely difficult workers who will mistreat you if they think they can get away with it! Other than that...if you can get up & be ready for your first mount at 4:45am, you will have a carreer that lasts as long as your body can take the daily beatings.

Answer 5

You don't apply you try out. If you can stand a fast horse okay then. But it is real hard to get in I got in one year and kicked out the other at the Irvine Track. They will have you ride the horse a few times around the track and no worries you are the right age! Just go ask the people and try out!
GOOD LUCK

P.S. It is simple!