What does a racehorse groom actually do?

Question

A friend of mine told me that the fairgrounds in my area sometimes need grooms for the racehorses, and I was just wondering what all they have to do? have any of you done this before?

Answer 1

haven't done it.

brush them, wash them, check their feet for stones or injuries.

keep them looking good. walk them.

Answer 2

A good groom is invaluable at the track, or at the farm, for that matter.  The groom usually has a set number of horses under his/her care, and he works with those same horses every day.  First thing in the morning, the groom feeds his horses, and checks their temperature.  The temp goes on a chart, so that any abnormal variation in temperature is caught early.  They also make certain that their horses have cleaned up their feed from the night before, and that they dive into breakfast as normal.  If the horse waers bandages, the groom takes them off in the mornings, and checks the legs for heat or swelling. They clean the stall, grooom the horse, pick his feet, and get him tacked up to go to the track.  When he returns from the track, the grrom bathes him, and puts him on the walking machine, hands him off to a hotwalker, or walks the horse cool himself.  If the horse wears bandages, the groom is the one who puts them on.  

On raceday, the groom is the one who gets the horse ready to go up to the paddock, and takes him there.  He  catches the horse after the race and cools him out.  

When a horse is ill, it is often the groom who makes certain that he gets his medications on time every day, and in the right amounts.

Since a groom works with the same horses on a very close basis every day, he is often the first person to notice any small changes in the horse, whether it be attitude or injury.  Many small injuries don't show up as lameness right away, but they will show up as a change in a horse's attitude.  he may not clean up his fee, when normally he's a hearty eater, or maybe he just will act a little sour, when normally he is very friendly all day.  A good groom will spot these small changes and notify the trainer, so that they can figure out what is wrong before it becomes serious.

I have been a groom, but it has been awhile.  It is very hard work, the hours are incredibly long, and the pay isn't all that good.  But it is a very rewarding job, and can be a lot of fun, as well as a great learning experience.

Answer 3

A race horse does a number of things.  They feed them, brush them, muck their stalls, walk them if there is no hot walker,  tack them up to go to the track for morning gallops, bathe them, get them ready on race day, take them to the paddock if they run on race day.  Yes I've been a groom.  I've worked with race horses for 5 years currently working at Hawthorne Race Course.  If you have any more questions or would like more info you can e-mail me at [e-mail].

Answer 4

if you are looking to work at the fairgrounds then you probably will be working with standardbreds.  it is faily easy to paddock them so long as you know the equipment: harness, boots, bridle, headpoles, tongue-tie, etc.  basically you get them ready, send them out on the track for warm-ups, when they come back, strip off boots and all head gear, wash, put on blankets, then wait for their race. then get them ready to go out again, this time to race.  when they come back strip them down, wash, blanket, walk, and if the win go to the pee stall for drug test.  like i said it is fairly simple, but you have to know the equipment.  but if you are good with horses and can find a good trainer to learn from it is worth it.  plus the money is usually good.