Horse Trainer Resume (With Template and Example)

By Indeed Editorial Team

Published 13 November 2022

The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed's data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.

If you're passionate about horses and want to pursue a career where you can work with them, you might consider becoming a horse trainer. To apply for work as a horse trainer, you require a resume that shows why you're a suitable candidate. Knowing how to write a resume for a horse trainer can increase your chances of securing the role. In this article, we outline what a horse trainer does, explain how to write a horse trainer resume, provide a template to help you write your own and offer an example as a guide.

What's a horse trainer resume?

A horse trainer resume is a professional document, typically a single page, that outlines the skills, experience and education you have that relate to training horses. Your resume is the first and sometimes only opportunity you have to make an impression on a hiring manager. Understanding how to write a resume can help you succeed in finding work.

The main role of a horse trainer is to supervise and train all aspects of competition horses. They also train apprentice jockeys, horse couriers and professional track riders to work with horses. Horse trainers can plan, implement and analyse horse training and eating regimes and work with owners to ensure horses are healthy and competition-ready.

How to write a horse trainer resume

Here are steps on how to write a resume for a horse trainer position:

1. Check the job advertisement for keywords

In most job advertisements, you can find keywords that highlight the specific skills or experience a hiring manager is searching for in a candidate. For example, it might mention that a candidate requires a minimum of three years of experience working with horses and managing their diets. Reference these keywords in your professional summary and work history sections.

2. Choose the correct format

There are a variety of formatting options available. The one you choose depends on your level of experience training horses. These formatting options include the following:

Functional format: This format is ideal for a candidate with no experience as a horse trainer. In the absence of experience, list skills you have that still apply to the role, such as empathy and passion for horses.
Chronological format: Choose this option if you have experience training horses. List your work history first and reference the keywords found in the job advertisement here.
Hybrid format: This is a combination of the functional and chronological format options. A candidate with experience can include skills they believe might distinguish them from other candidates, such as skills in designing menu plans.

3. Include up-to-date contact details

Write your name in bold or in a slightly larger font at the top of the document. Then, include your professional phone number, professional email address and the city and state you live in. It's important that a hiring manager can find your details easily so that they can contact you regarding your application.

4. Write your professional summary

Your professional summary is the first major piece of information the hiring manager reads on your resume. It's a small paragraph of one to three sentences that briefly outline the skills and experience you have as a horse trainer. You can reference the keywords you found in the job advertisement. For example, if the advertisement asks that candidates have experience working with competition horses on the track on race day, mention this here.

5. Include your work history

List your work history in reverse chronological order, with your most recent example first. Include the title of the role you held, the dates you worked there, the name of the company you worked for and a list of responsibilities you held while in this position. This is a chance for you to expand upon the keywords you referenced in your professional summary. For example, if you mentioned working with horses on race days, detail exactly what you did, such as leading horses between positions and monitoring their health post-race.

6. List your skills

Make a horizontal list of all the relevant skills you have as a horse trainer. You can list hard skills that you've gained as a direct result of working as a horse trainer, such as grooming skills. You can also include soft skills that aren't directly related to the role but still apply, such as critical thinking and problem-solving.

Relevant: 17 Unique Jobs (With Average Salaries and Primary Duties)

7. Add your relevant education

While you don't typically require formal education to become a horse trainer, most employers prefer candidates that have completed at least Year 10. There are speciality courses you can study to provide you with further education in the field, such as a Certificate III in Equine Studies. When listing your education, name the title of the qualification you have and the institution from which you graduated.

8. Proofread your document

Your resume is a professional document, so submitting a clean resume can positively reflect your professionalism. Proofread your resume multiple times to spot any spelling or grammatical errors. There are various free spellchecker applications you can download to help you identify mistakes that are more difficult to find. You can also consider asking friends or family members to read through the document for you.

Resume template

The following is a resume template for a horse trainer with experience you can use to help you write your own:

[First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification if applicable]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City], [State]

Professional Summary
[Two or three sentences that highlight your years of experience, relevant skills, education or certifications and achievements as a professional.]

Experience
(For the most recent role, list five experience items. For previous roles, list three.)

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City], [State]

(Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
[Job duty]

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City], [State]

(Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results
[Job duty]
[Job duty]

Education
[Degree and major], [Name of school or university]

[Certification name], [Host organisation], [Year completed or expiry date]

Example resume

The following is an example of a resume for a horse trainer with experience to guide you:

Allison Andrews, Certificate III in Equine Studies
08 8352 8373 | a.andrews@email.com | Adelaide, SA

Professional Summary

Horse trainer with over five years of experience working horses on race day, coordinating their dietary requirements and monitoring health conditions pre-race and post-race. Skills working with other professionals around the horses and working with the myriad of issues that arise leading up to a race.

Experience

Senior Horse Trainer| December 2019–Current
Bayfield & Moyles | Adelaide, SA

Train jockeys and horses for competitions
Work with drivers and riders to clear all equipment for safe use
Develop and implement dietary regimes for racehorses
Ensure horse health post-race by maintaining strict cool-down routines and dietary requirements
Work with owners to decide which horses can compete in which races

Junior Horse Trainer | August 2017–March 2019
Miller & Sons | Adelaide, SA

Groomed and led horses through daily training exercises
Helped new jockeys become comfortable with techniques
Coordinated with senior officials regarding race day requirements

Skills

Education

Certificate III in Equine Studies, Fleurieu Horse Racing Academy

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