This is fully residential at The British Racing School in Newmarket.
Our Foundation Course is the ideal place to start your career in racing. Whether you have some experience of riding and horses, or are a complete beginner, the British Racing School’s Foundation Course is the perfect stepping-stone to turn your passion for horses into a rewarding career working with some of the finest equine athletes on the planet.
Download more information here
The course is for 16-25 year olds and is split into two parts:
Who is the Foundation Course for?
Successful applicants for the Foundation Course will be hard working, enthusiastic and keen to work in the racing industry. A certain level of fitness is required to work in a yard, so you will be given a fitness test as part of your interview. Yariv Kam is personal trainer who carries out our fitness test, if you wish to contact him then his website is newregym.co.uk
Tuition is free for UK residents. Accommodation and meals for the duration of the course are provided at a cost of £850 for twelve and eighteen week courses.
A £100 bond is also payable for each course, which is refundable at the end.
There is currently a bursary available to cover a percentage of this cost if you come from a low income household. Please contact Liz Smith or call 01638 669040 to seek advice or support regarding bursary eligibility.
To view our full policy on Bursary please click here.
Funding for the foundation training course is provided, in part, by the UK government. Applications from overseas are also welcome but as the UK is no longer in the EU you will have to pay your own course fees and are unlikely to be able to complete the apprenticeship in the work place due to visa restrictions. Trainees from Republic of Ireland are still eligible to work and study in the UK, they are treated separately from other EU countries and may be eligible for UK government funding.
Please note that we cannot place trainees on Apprenticeships in Northern Ireland, if you come from NI please contact us to discuss your situation.
For more information please contact our Careers Team on 44 (0)1638 665103.
If you are from an international Jockey Club, authority or training centre and would like to learn more about The British Racing School International Jockey Training please click here.
We run regular Open Days to give you the opportunity to visit us and meet some of our Staff, current Students and most importantly, horses!
2024 Open Day Dates:
Thursday 31st October 2024
Thursday 19th December 2024
Thursday 20th February 2025
The morning will run from 9.30am until 12.00pm and will involve an opportunity to watch our trainees ride, meet the horses, see our facilities and ask questions.
If you would like to book on an Open Day please phone 01638 675905 or email careers@brs.org.uk
Interview Day Routine
You will need to arrive by 10.30am at the latest, as this is when the Operations Director or Chief Executive will give an induction talk. This will be followed by:
11.30am Fitness assessment
12.30pm Maths/English Assessment
1.30pm Tour of our yard and facilities
2.00pm One to One interviews begin
You will be busy with assessments from 11.30-1.30 so parents are welcome to leave and come back ready for the tour at 1.30pm
Tea/Coffee and biscuits will be supplied but not lunch, so you are welcome to bring your own
For hints and tips on preparing for your interview please download our Interview Hints and Tips
“Hi BRS! Just wanna say a massive thank you for finally getting me through my courses. I wasn’t the easiest of people to do so! But I can’t thank you enough for getting me back riding and getting my confidence back up so I could ride again! I wanna say thank you to the instructors, especially Miss Hobson who had me for two courses and always believed in me when I never believed in myself. And to the hostel staff that made the place feel safe and happy and always were there to talk no matter what and thank you Mr Harris and Sarah for getting me the job of a lifetime I’m now fully settled in and with a Frankel colt my favourite horse and a few more to look after! I couldn’t of done this without any of you. Thank You 😊”
Megan Walsh (Course 339, March 2020)
“I was 18 and at a major crossroads in my life. I had just dropped out of university and really didn’t have any idea what to do next… Previously, my life had revolved around playing football but that hadn’t worked out either, so I was genuinely at a loss as to which way to turn.
This is when I happened to discover about the BRS, through some friends involved in horse racing. I looked into it myself, applied that same day, and to my amazement got an interview. Even more amazing, after my assessment, I was then offered a place on the next course. I grabbed the opportunity, despite never having sat on a horse in my life.
I can honestly say from that point on, attending BRS has changed my life forever.
I loved the discipline, and the focus, that the course gave me. 5 years on, I am now a professional jockey and have ridden at the top courses in the UK, if not the world.
I will forever be indebted to all the riding instructors and staff at the BRS, they gave me a chance when no one else would…
Believe me, if I can do it, anyone can!!!”
Jamie Neild – Conditional Jockey to Harry Whittington (Course 295, August 2015)
I’d followed racing all my life, ever since I was old enough to understand it but I grew up in Birmingham where there’s no fields, no horses and the idea of becoming apart of the racing world felt too distant to be possible. I knew of the Racing School for a long time and the claim that you can start there from a beginner with no experience whatsoever but I struggled to believe it. It took me till I was 18 to be brave enough to apply and see if I really could. I’d never worked with horses, didn’t have the faintest clue how to muck out a box, put on a bridle or what it was like to be in and around horses day in day out.
The BRS is made up entirely of staff dedicated to training good, well-trained members of a racing yard. Everybody there is willing to sacrifice their time and effort to help pass on the knowledge they have gained from their time in racing, many having worked alongside some of the best horsemen and women in the industry. You get out what you put in to the BRS, go with an open mind and soak up everything you can and it doesn’t go unnoticed.
“Now, just over a year after graduating, I’ve been able to work in 3 yards, work alongside professionals at the top of their game such as schooling alongside Cheltenham Festival winning jockeys, work under a champion flat trainer and now starting a new season in a small yard alongside a young trainer in the early stages of their career.
This isn’t designed to be a vanity piece but to anyone thinking of doing the course, you can’t be much worse than I was in my first few weeks. The course is demanding, physically and mentally. It’s true there’s days where you don’t want to do it and you don’t think it’s for you, everybody will have that. I definitely did, but if you have the determination and drive to carry on, one day it clicks into place and all makes sense, then from there your opportunities are limitless. It’s a job where no two days are the same, you’ll earn a solid wage and it can take you to all corners of the world.”
Will Hughes (Course 329, April 2019)
In my opinion The British Racing School is a wonderful organisation that provides many young people with a fantastic platform on which to start there careers in horse racing. Not only have I taken on several young students to come and work in my stables but I myself completed several modules there in order to gain my trainers licence. They do a brilliant job.
Charlie Fellowes (Racehorse Trainer)
“To every one at British Racing School, I just want to say a huge thank you for all your hard work and care you have given to my son Jay Boulden over the last 14 weeks…he sure has had the best experience of his life!! Just amazing.
Jay speaks so highly of the school and how its one amazing opportunity for youngsters from all walks of life. Thank you!! From one very proud mum!”
Michelle Boulden (parent, son graduated June 2020)
“It was lovely meeting you all on Monday and I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you sincerely for everything you have done for Dan over the past few weeks. He talked animatedly all the way home about the experiences he had, the people he got to know and the new friendships he has formed. It was such a joy to listen to. While he is glad to be back here catching up with family and friends he is also already missing the experience of being with you all in the UK and is itching to get back into his level 2 now……I think this speaks volumes about how welcome you all made him feel (staff and students alike) and the confidence you have instilled in him. For this I cannot thank you all enough. As parents it is a comfort to know that he is in good hands among caring people when we send him on his way once again for his level 2.
The British Racing School is a truly fantastic facility. Keep up the wonderful work you do.”
Cathy Byrne (parent, son graduated July 2021)
See below for the answers to some of our most frequent queries. And if you can’t find an answer to your particular question, don’t hesitate to give us a call on 01638 675905 or email careers@brs.org.uk, we’re here to help!
If you are interested in working with racehorses and do not meet the entry requirements there is a Ground Based Yard Staff Course please contact Natasha Goody on 01638 675905 or email careers@brs.org.uk
Yes but there may be some restrictions, please contact Natasha Goody to discuss careers@brs.org.uk
Yes but you will not receive Government funding so you would be responsible for paying your own fees and you are unlikely to be able to complete the Apprenticeship in the workplace due to visa restrictions therefore you would only compete the initial training course (12 or 18 weeks). If you are interested in this option please contact Natasha Goody on 01638 665103 or email careers@brs.org.uk
We will process your application and if you are eligible you will be invited (usually by email) to attend an interview at The British Racing School. This will give you an opportunity to view the School. You will have an interview, typically with the Director and the Senior Yard Instructor, and it is a good idea to bring your record of achievement and any references that you have obtained. If you are already working in a racing yard it is important that you obtain a reference from the Trainer PRIOR to attending the interview. After the interview you will be informed within seven days if you have gained a place.
Until the 12th April 2021 all interviews will take place over Zoom, after that date they will be in person at the School.
No, we have more applications for the Foundation Course than we have places. You will need to demonstrate to us that you are keen to work in racing and willing to learn.
Yes, in fact, under the Rules of Racing, if you are aged between 16 and 18 years and want to work in a Trainer’s yard you are required to undergo this training. If you are working in a Trainer’s yard we would suggest that you contact our careers team on 01638 675905 to discuss your situation.
The British Racing School is a purpose built training centre on the outskirts of Newmarket, the Head Quarters of British horseracing. It is set in 120 acres of Suffolk countryside and is the only purpose built training facility of its type in Britain. The facilities include an indoor school, an outdoor arena, a 2½ furlong round all-weather gallop, seven furlong straight all-weather and grass gallops, 50 acre grass gallops, stalls and schooling fences, Equicisors and horse simulators, radio instruction system while riding, video recording of riding for performance analysis and classrooms with state of the art technology. See our Facilities page to learn more.
Yes, we would advise that you bring casual clothes for the evenings and weekends. Also you may wish to bring smart clothing as you may get the opportunity to go racing while you are at the School. If you are accepted onto a course you will be sent joining instructions which gives a full kit list.
Yes, you will be asked to pay £850 to contribute towards the cost of accommodation and meals for the duration of your course, this is the same fee regardless of whether you complete a 12 or 18 week option. If your household income is low you may be eligible for a bursary to cover most of these costs, find out more by our careers team Careers@brs.org.uk or call 01638 675905.
You will be provided with breakfast, lunch, evening meal and supper. All meals have been passed by our nutritionist. There is a tuck shop which sells snacks but if there is a particular food type that you like you can bring this. There is a toaster and microwave in your common room.
Your common room is equipped with a television with Sky TV. You also have WiFi access, a pool table and some books on racing you borrow. You may wish to bring your laptop/tablet but this is done so at your own risk. The British Racing School cannot be held responsible for your personal belongings. These can only be used during your lunch hour or in the evenings after lectures.
If you have been unable to speak to a member of the recruitment team despite leaving a message please contact the Operations Director, Duncan Gregory on 01638 675902 and state that this has been the case.
You will need to arrive at The British Racing School by 10.30am when the Operations Director or Chief Executive will give an induction talk., The rest of the day goes as follows:
11.30am Fitness Assessment
12.30pm Maths/English assessment
1.30pm Tour around our yard and facilities
2.00pm One to One Interviews begin
Please be aware, you will be busy from 11.30-1.30 with assessments so your parents may leave if they’d like to and come back for the yard tour.
We do not provide lunch so if you would like to bring your own you are welcome to. There will be tea/coffee and biscuits supplied.
Your allocated time slot for interview will be based on the distance you have traveled, and will be arranged once you have arrived. If you feel this could be an issue, please contact Natasha Goody on 01638 665103.
Your next step is to fill in an online application form which you can find here.
We look forward to welcoming you!
If you are having difficulties completing this application, please email natasha.goody@brs.org.uk with the subject line APPLICATION FORM HELP, including your name and phone number and a member of the team will get back to you.
Sign up to our email newsletter to get the latest from the BRS straight in your inbox