Tasmanian Polytechnic
Racing
Do you have an interest in horses and the racing industry?
Studying Racing at the Tasmanian Polytechnic could see you working in stables, caring for horses for either track or harness work.
Employment Opportunities
Stablehand - Horses
Advanced Stablehand
A stablehand is a person who looks after horses and cleans the stables for horse trainers/owners. They have to groom and feed the horses as well as handle and exercise them daily and keep an eye out for signs of ill health. It is a good start for people who want to learn about horses to work in the racing nidustry. It is hard and sometimes potentially dangerous work that requires you to be healthy and strong. It is an active job which requires carrying and lifting and moving equipment and horses. It also involves early morning work in all kinds of weather.
An advanced stable hand (sometimes referred to as stable foreman) is a person who is in charge of daily operations in a thoroughbred or harness racing stable. In a harness racing stable the stablehand cares for standardbred horses. In a thoroughbred racing stable the stablehand cares for thoroughbreds. The advanced stable hand works to the delegated instructions of a trainer who has overall responsibility for the enterprise. There is a degree of autonomy within the delegation, eg. An advanced stable hand is permitted under the Rules of Racing to act for the trainer on race days.
