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A Stable Hand cares for horses in facilities such as racing stables, breeding centres or farms. You’ll have to feed and groom horses and give them their exercise. You’ll make sure their stables are clean and maintain all their equipment. Stable Hands keep an eye on any injuries and make sure horses are in good health. You might have to transport horses or accompany them to race meetings, horse riding competitions or other events.
Being a Stable Hand is a very physical job with plenty of manual labour. You’ll have early starts and often have to work on weekends. You’ll spend a lot of time outdoors so you’ll need to be ready for all sorts of weather. Stable Hands need excellent horse handling abilities and plenty of patience. You’ll need to be flexible and have strong observational skills.
There are 7 courses available for people who want to become a Stable Hand. These are the top 5 most popular courses.
Possible job outcomes:
Get the skills you need to handle horses safely with the ACM20221 Certificate II in Horse Care. This nationally recognised certificate is the qualification you need to get started in the equine industry. You’ll gain foundational riding skills as well as essentials in horse care, feeding, grooming, exercising, loading and transporting. There is also scope to learn stock and farming skills. Enquire now for the full list of study units, specialisation electives (and their availability), and enrolment opportunities near you..
Average duration: 12 months.
If you want to work in the Australian horse racing industry try the RGR10118 Certificate I in Racing. This nationally recognised qualification teaches you the fundamentals of horse behaviour, horse handling, and stable safety. By the end of this 6 month course you will be able to catch and handle quiet horses (under supervision) and perform basic stable duties. Enquire now for the latest opportunities for enrolment and the list of study units..
Average duration: 6 months.
If you are looking for a start in the Australian horse racing industries try the RGR20221 Certificate II in Racing Industry. This entry-level qualification covers the racing industry essentials (horse behaviour, ethics, workplace safety, integrity) and will help you investigate potential job opportunities. Choose electives to support your career aspirations: stablehand, stud hand, track maintenance, racing administration, riding and horse handling skills. Enquire now for the full list of study units, availability of specialisation units, and upcoming enrolment dates..
Do you want to work with horses? The nationally recognised RGR10118 Certificate I in Racing (Stablehand) will get you started in the horse racing industry as a trainee stable hand. The course begins with an introduction to horse behaviour and you’ll learn to handle quiet horses under supervision. At the same time you’ll be performing basic stable duties and gaining riding skills. As the course progresses you may also learn to handle the racehorses at trackwork. Enquire now for entry requirements, horseracing career outcomes, and upcoming enrolment dates..
Get a job caring for horses with the ACM30821 Certificate III in Horse Care. This nationally recognised certificate qualifies you for a number of roles including farm hand, horse groom, stud hand, and stablehand. Competencies include: handling horses safely, loading and unloading horses, preparing horses for an event, maintaining the health of horses, first aid and emergency care for horses, equine workplace essentials, and much more. Enquire now for the full list of entry requirements, equine career outcomes, and training providers near you that offer this course..
In Australia, a full time Stable Hand generally earns $960 per week ($49,920 annual salary) before tax. This is a median figure for full-time employees and should be considered a guide only. As you gain more experience you can expect a potentially higher salary than people who are new to the industry.
The number of people employed as a Stable Hand has remained steady over the last five years. There are currently 4,400 people in this role in Australia and they can be found in all states and territories.
Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights
If you’d like to work as a Stable Hand you could enrol in a Certificate II in Horse Care. This 12 month course covers all aspects of the industry like horse care, horse behaviour and feeding and handling safety. You may also be able to specialise in an area that interests you like stud work, trail riding or horse sport. You could also consider the Certificate I in Racing which covers more aspects of the horse racing industry.
We’ll find nearby campuses and check if you’re eligible for funding in your state.
Here are some potential career pathways within equine. Click on an occupation to learn more about the role and the qualifications that can help you get started in this industry.
Equine
Horse Breeding Assistant
$960 weekly pay
Stable Hand
Trainee Farrier
Farrier
$1,250 weekly pay
Horse Riding Instructor
$1,150 weekly pay
Horse Trainer
$1,050 weekly pay
Jockey
$1,500 weekly pay
Racing Cadet Steward
Stable Manager
Track Rider
Learn more about Stable Hand courses in your area.