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The races can’t happen without a good gate crew to get the horses lined up properly. This is a job that allows people a great deal of contact with the animals and a little excitement.
This is a position which benefits from an appreciation for teamwork, the ability to think quickly on your feet and an understanding of equine nature. The crew is responsible for getting high strung animals into a confined space.
A calm demeanor even under stress, attention to detail and a great deal of patience are important characteristics of a good racetrack crew member.
Job Description
The gate crew is responsible for the maintenance of the gate, the starting area as well as getting the horses off safely.
Responsibilities
- Rake starting area
- Test & maintain automatic gate
- Ensure horses starting position is marked
- Leading horses to the gate and coaxing them in
- Training horses to accept the starting gate
- Troubleshooting & correcting leg soundness problems
- Keep tense race horses calm prior to start
Requirements
I can’t find any educational requirements or certification training for this job. It appears to be more a case of experience with the horses.
The Right Job For You?
If this isn’t your dream job, there is a long list of different careers that involve horses. Each one requiring a different skill set, schooling requirement and amount of contact with the animals.