Hannah Kraychuk has been grooming horses for trainer Jared Brown for four years. She loves her work. And her horses. (George Williams)
Learn How to Become a Racehorse Groom!
Spring training is underway and the annual Manitoba HBPA Groom School is now taking applications for its paid training course. If you love animals and rewarding physical work, this might be just what you’re looking for.
The course will teach you how to groom racehorses, and is open to anyone aged 16-29. The 130 hours of paid training over four weeks include one week of classroom training and three weeks of hands-on training with the horses in the Assiniboia Downs backstretch.
Training classes start every week beginning in mid March, and the best part: the HBPA will assist you in finding a position as a groom afterward!
Groom School graduate and former Groom of the Year Skyla Blanchard loves her job. (George Williams)
While experience doing physical work, especially with animals, might make you a perfect fit for this program, don’t rule it out even if you have no experience with animals. Some people are absolute naturals with horses, and they might not even know it.
The best grooms will tell you that they form a special bond with their horses, and it is one of the most satisfying feelings you will ever have.
Time spent with horses is good for the soul.
Clairmont Parris has been grooming horses at ASD for 15 years. (George Williams)
Applications can be emailed to the Manitoba HBPA at hbpamanitoba@mymts.net.