I'm looking for a trainer and a job.

[Blue feather]

I breed to race and I love almost everything a about it. From mucking stalls to the winners circle. I find it the most challenging and interesting venture I have ever attempted. My dilemma is finding a trainer at or near Penn National who's willing to allow a motived owner like me, to work for/with them, possibly with my own horses, for credit toward the training bill. The trainers that I have approached with this offer look at me as if I'm panhandling. I feel like I would be a trainers dream. I'm dependable, motivated and knowledgable because I have a great deal at stake. If anyone reading this has any suggestions, I'm all ears.

[Laurierace]

If you really are that knowledgeable I suggest you take your trainer's test and get your own license. I understand why you are looking for such an arrangement but I also understand why trainers would be hesitant to agree to it. Not much upside for them but a heck of a lot of potential downside especially when stalls are so scarce.

[madelyn]

Hm. I did this very thing last year with a trainer here. I think it depends on the deal you are trying to make. The trainer was paying his hotwalker groom fellow $20 per day, which is all he would allow. I brought all of the hay and straw for the whole barn, plus the grain for my horse, which was deducted from what I owed, and I paid the exercise rider, vet and farrier. I ran the barn at the other training center in Indiana sometimes, as needed, but every day was responsible for up to six horses a day from soup to nuts. I cleaned and repaired tack, repaired saddle pads, blankets, etc., made new girth covers, etc, etc. Economically, I would have been better off working in my own trade and just paying the day rate; in this case I WANTED to do this, could AFFORD to do this, and the trainer needed me as much as I needed him.

I think, at the end of the day, a deal is possible - the trainer just should not be put in a position where he feels like he is paying you to take care of your own horse, who is a non-payer.

[Blue feather]

Laurie, I think you are misunderstanding. Firstly, by knowledgeble I mean I can basically perform the duties of a groom and I am a student of thoroughbred racing and breeding. I am constantly learning. If I felt I had the experience to be a quality trainer I wouldn't be looking for one. Secondly, I said work for "credit" toward the training bill. I am not looking to work in lieu of paying. If I earn $200 a week, that what comes off the bill. The balance is paid by me. As I see it, the only risk a trainer takes is if he is not satisfied with my work, something all employers have to deal with. Typically an owner is absentee, unlike most owners I just want to work at the track with my horses as part of a training team.

[IcouldbeU]

Perhaps, you could find a trainer who was looking for a groom, or hotwalker or whatever else is needed at the track. Here in CA, large barns have a great deal of turnover in employees and I think if you found a trainer who needed the help, and who you thought would be a good trainer for your horses it could be a great win/win situation all around. My daughter worked for a trainer out here for 2 summers on a barter type system when she claimed a mare that she eventually wanted to retire as a broodmare. Now my daughter and that mare are in LA at a breeding farm and the trainer has a contact with the breeding world when he finds a mare ready to retire who is broodmare quality.
Don't give up or let the negative people on this board turn you away, you can find away to follow your desire.

[valjoe]

Hi blue feather,
too bad you're not close to Hollywood Park, I would consider a deal like it.

[Jessi P]

Or close to Mountaineer, I could use a good, hard working hand like this who wants to learn. I have taken in working students in the past but someone like this is more involved and thus has more "on the line" and excellent incentive to do a good job.

[Lisann]

Maybe you could contact CANTER-Pennsylvania? They may be able give you an idea of trainers who might be looking for a groom, or give you an introduction to a trainer.

When I volunteered for CANTER-Michigan back in the Great Lakes Downs era, there were some trainers who were quite friendly with the volunteers. I have no idea what Pennsylvania tracks are like, just thought it might be a way to make contact with a trainer.

Best of luck to you!

[Brogan]

While I know such arrangements occur on the track, it has to be a very tenuous situation.

Normally, as an owner, you engage a trainer, the trainer engages barn help.

In this case you'd be the employer as well as the employee of the trainer. I'd hate to see what happens when there's a disagreement on either the training of your horse or the quality of your work.

Its understandable to me why trainers would pass.

[ageecee]

Do not work for Renpher Stable they are buffoons.

[Blue feather]

Brogan, funny how perspectives differ. Seems to me the employer, employee senario you speak of would have a positive effect, not a negative one. Both would be motived to excel if they truly want to win. In a traditional "hands off" relationship, most owners would terminate a trainer he wasn't happy with, and most employers would terminate an employee that was unsatisfactory.
It appears, with your view, a trainer would rather hire barn help that looks at his/her position as a "Job", and typically has a high occurance of drug and alcohol abuse, and high turnover rate rather than an owner who has passion for the game and a personal stake in the quality and consistancy of the work.

[Fireslam]

Looking at it from the trainer's side, it would be a difficult situation at best. If the trainer was doing something you disagreed with, with your horse, what would you do? If you are going to be in the barn to do as you are told and keep your mouth shut, it might work. However, if the trainer fires you, he will have to fire the horse too, as it seems unlikely you would keep the horse there if you and the trainer had a disagreement.

You make it sound like you are the answer to every trainers' dream. Unfortunately it aint so.

[Laurierace]

The bottom line is for four to six months or more the stall will be filled with a horse that is not running yet so therefore no percentage for the trainer and they aren't getting a full day rate for it. Maybe if they truly worked you like a dog it could save them a little money but not likely near what a running horse would be or even another baby at a full day rate.

[madelyn]

The bottom line is for four to six months or more the stall will be filled with a horse that is not running yet so therefore no percentage for the trainer and they aren't getting a full day rate for it. Maybe if they truly worked you like a dog it could save them a little money but not likely near what a running horse would be or even another baby at a full day rate.

Bingo.

[Blue feather]

So let me get this straight, as an owner that wants to work at the track. I should find a job with any trainer unless he trains my horses. That makes total sense.