Track Rider

A track rider exercises racehorses, usually thoroughbreds, to get them fit for racing. Working for a horse trainer at a racecourse or training centre, a track rider rides each horse at the paces the trainer sets, from steady work to fast gallops. Track riders also watch how each horse moves and behaves, report anything unusual to the trainer, and often help with feeding, grooming and stable work.

Arrive at the stables before dawn and get each horse ready for trackwork. Ride horses at the paces the trainer sets, such as slow work, canters and fast gallops. Follow the trainer's instructions for each horse, which can change from day to day. Watch how each horse moves, breathes and behaves during exercise. Report signs of soreness, injury or illness to the trainer straight away. Talk with trainers and owners about how each horse is progressing. Help with feeding, grooming, hosing down and cleaning the stables. Follow racecourse rules and safety procedures, including wearing a helmet and safety vest.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate IV or Certificate III with at least two years of on-the-job training (ABS skill level 3). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

The hours start very early, often well before sunrise, and racing stables work every day of the week. Riding racehorses at speed carries a real risk of falls and serious injury. Many track riders need to keep their weight low, which can be hard to manage over time. Some work is casual and paid per horse ridden, so income can vary.

Jobs are at racecourses and training centres, so they follow where racehorses are trained. That includes the metropolitan tracks in each capital city and many country racing centres. The work is hands-on and on-site, so remote work isn't possible.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 3611, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Adaptability and Flexibilitycore
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• Attention to Detailcore
• Continuous Learning and Upskillingcore
• Goal Setting and Planningcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Active Listening
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• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
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• Record Management
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• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 10 October 2026