Teens given chance to score cadetships in horse racing industry

While Caitlin Rosser is stacking shelves at her local supermarket she dreams of a career in the horse racing industry — and now she’s got the chance thanks to a new program that could put her in the mix with the likes of Gai Waterhouse and Chris Waller.

• Jockey faces long road to recovery

While Caitlin Rosser is stacking shelves at her local supermarket she dreams of a career in the horse racing ­industry — and now she has the chance, thanks to a new program.

NSW has a shortage of jockeys, horse breeders, racehorse trainers and racing officials, which forced the state government to earlier this year offer cut-price qualifications.

The shortage is tipped to worsen unless more young strappers come through the pipeline, as the Department of Employment has esti­ma­ted the number of jobs in the racing industry will climb by 6.6 per cent in the next five years.

There is a shortage of jockeys, horse breeders and racehorse trainers in NSW. Picture: AAP Image/Simon Bullard

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Now, in an Australian first, the country’s top stables and stud farms will give 40 young people the inside running for a job in the racing industry, through a combination of practical, theor­etical and on-the-job training, and Caitlin is at short odds to earn a place after a stellar application.

On her parent’s acreage outside Orange, Caitlin has trained up three old nags she bought at bargain-basement prices from local trainers to compete at top-flight eventing equestrian competitions.

“It’s my dream to work with horses in a job that gets me outdoors, hands-on, and working with amazing animals,” Caitlin said.

Caitlin Rosser, who dreams of a career in the horse racing industry, could score one of the 40 cadetships on offer. Picture: Emily Ellis

Forty students aged ­between 18 and 24 will be ­offered an Explorer Cadetship from next year, which comes with three months at the Australian Racing and Equine Academy in Richmond, 18 weeks’ paid work-experience at the stables of trainers such as Gai Waterhouse, Chris Waller and David Hayes, and a further 18 weeks at a top stud.

If Caitlin isn’t one of the 40 successful applicants, now being whittled down from a strong field of 100 hopefuls, she intends to apply for a job at the Orange horse accessory and saddle store — and then pester local trainers for a chance.

Students will work a stables frequented by top horse racing trainers including Chris Waller. Picture: AAP Image/Simon Bullard

As well as Gai Waterhouse. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Chris Waller, who trains the all-conquering Winx, backed the cadetship.

“The racing and breeding industry is enjoying exceptional growth at the mom­ent, which means there are job opportunities as far as the eye can see,” Waller said.

“Young people will be able to experience these ­opportunities while getting hands-on experience from the best horse people.”

The program is the brainchild of new not-for-profit Thoroughbred Industry ­Careers founder Lindy Maurice, who couldn’t understand why there was a skills shortage in the industry when she saw hundreds of kids riding horses at pony club.

“We need to connect kids who love horses with the industry,” she said.