Stewards are often seeing at work during race meetings.  They are people who help to keep the racing industry acting with integrity.  They work to ensure rules are upheld and that anyone who doesn’t is reprimanded.  If you are interested in the racing industry and helping out in a role like this, then it may be worth considering the role of a cadet steward for the racing industry.

You can actually undertake a course for a cadetship as a steward.  For this, you need to have year 10 level high school or equivalent to undertake the course.  You also need to have current employment as a steward by a recognised racing authority.

I think the subjects within this course held in Australia aptly identify what you would be doing in your role as a cadet steward:

• comply with the rules of racing and related protocols
• investigate job opportunities in racing and related industries
• interpret wagering trends
• assess racing gear suitability and safety
• analyse race performance
• handle horses
• work effectively with diversity
• use business technology
• write simple documents

A Cadet Steward Course

Apparently to undertake this course, students need to be able to “actively participate in the duties of a steward at racing meetings, inquiries and non-race meetings.”  Want to find out more about the course?  Be sure to check out the cadet steward course with the Racing Academy in Australia.

Want to find out more from someone who has undertaken this role?  Check out Equus Education’s profile on Kim Meredith.

“There is a lot of folklore about equestrian statues, especially the ones with riders on them. There is said to be a code in the number and placement of the horse’s hooves: If one of the horse’s hooves is in the air, the rider was wounded in battle; two legs in the air means that the rider was killed in battle; three legs in the air indicates that the rider got lost on the way to the battle; and four legs in the air means that the sculptor was very, very clever.” ― Terry Pratchett

We have touched on the idea of racecourse maintenance as a potential horse related (though not necessarily focused) career before on this blog.  I think I was of the mindset that someone who is interested in this type of work would need to undertake a horticultural course.  In Australia our tracks are made of turf, rather than dirt!  Maintaining this is a big job at any racetrack.  I was surprised, but also pleased to find that there is actually a track maintenance course.  This is for the racing industry in Australia.

You can undertake this course through the Racing Academy in Australia.  The qualification is said to reflect the role of a person whose work responsibilities would include the maintenance and repair of racing tracks, gardens and other facilities.  Such a role would focus on racetrack maintenance.  Although there may also be the need to handle horses in emergency situations on the racetrack.  An awareness of how the track impacts the welfare of horses racing on it would also be vital.

Track Maintenance Course for the Racing Industry

It seems that within this qualification, students can opt to undertake the racing stream or the track maintenance stream.  You can find out more about the subjects involved in each of these via the above link.

Perhaps you are interested in pursuing this as a possible career.  Well year 10 or equivalent is the only entry requirement into the course.  Though there is reference on the site to also having employment or planned employment with a particular track.

Track maintenance for the racing industry is a great example of a career that relates to horses, but doesn’t necessarily involve a lot of hands on with them.  Want to consider other possible horse careers?  Be sure to check out vocation 100 where over 170 different horse related careers are explored.