This is a 2026 step-by-step pathway guide for a Horse Trainer migrating to Australia under ANZSCO 361112. 361112 is on CSOL with state nomination availability — full skilled visa stack: Subclass 189 Independent (where listed), Subclass 190 State-Nominated, Subclass 491 Regional Provisional → 191 PR, Subclass 186 Direct Entry, Subclass 494 Regional Employer → 191, and Subclass 482 Core Skills → 186 TRT.
For the cost / timeline view see the 361112 cost & timeline case study. For VETASSESS document details see the skills assessment guide.
Step 1 — Confirm 361112 is the right code
ANZSCO 361112 covers horse trainer work across multiple disciplines:
- Thoroughbred racing — Group 1 to Group 3 racing, stakes races, midweek metropolitan racing, country / provincial racing. Roles: principal trainer, foreman / assistant trainer, track work rider, stablehand.
- Standardbred / harness racing — trotting and pacing; Inter Dominion, Miracle Mile, Hunter Cup, Victoria Cup; centred on Melton (Vic), Menangle (NSW), Albion Park (QLD).
- Pre-training / breaking-in — pre-training centres preparing young thoroughbreds for full stable; breaking-in for racehorses, sport horses, and stock horses.
- Stud / breeding — broodmare management, foaling, weanling / yearling preparation, stallion handling, yearling sale preparation (Magic Millions, Inglis sales).
- Equestrian disciplines — dressage, show jumping, eventing, polocrosse, polo, endurance, reining, campdrafting, cutting, western pleasure, working hunter, show hack.
- Stock horse / mustering — Australian Stock Horse, Quarter Horse — station / pastoral work, polocrosse, campdrafting.
- Rodeo / bushman — bronc riding, bull riding training; rodeo stock contractor.
- Pony club / Riding for the Disabled (RDA) — youth / disability equestrian programs.
- Trail / trekking operations — outback / tourism trail-ride operators in Snowy Mountains, Kimberley, Top End, Tasmania.
Use ANZSCO search to verify the code-fit. If your work is dog training, 361111 Dog Handler / Trainer is the right code; if you're a farrier (horseshoeing), that's a separate trade.
Step 2 — VETASSESS skills assessment
VETASSESS (vetassess.com.au) — Cert III+ in Racing / Horse Training / Equine Studies + 1 year highly relevant employment in the last 5 years.
Standard turnaround 12-16 weeks.
Step 3 — English
EOI lodgement requires Competent English. For points-tested visas, target Proficient (10 pts) or Superior (20 pts).
Step 4 — Choose a visa pathway
Subclass 189 / 190 / 491
189 if 361112 is on MLTSSL — confirm at EOI. 190 / 491 are very realistic — Hunter Valley NSW (Scone / Muswellbrook), Mornington Peninsula Vic, Darling Downs QLD, Macedon Ranges Vic — all racing / breeding regions with regional pathways.
Subclass 186 / 494 / 482
Main 361112 employers:
- Top metropolitan thoroughbred trainers — Chris Waller Racing (Rosehill/Flemington), Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott (Tulloch Lodge Randwick), James Cummings (Godolphin Australia), Annabel Neasham (Warwick Farm), Anthony & Sam Freedman, John O'Shea, Joseph Pride (Warwick Farm), Bjorn Baker (Rosehill), Mark Newnham, Kim Waugh; Ciaron Maher Racing, Lindsay Park Racing, Tony McEvoy, Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr (Cranbourne / Caulfield), Peter & Paul Snowden, Robbie Laing, Robbie Griffiths.
- Country / provincial trainers — Hunter Valley (Scone), South Coast NSW, Hawkesbury, Wagga Wagga, Albury, Bendigo, Geelong, Cranbourne, Pakenham, Sale, Ballarat, Mornington, Mooney Valley, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Sunshine Coast, Adelaide metro / Murray Bridge / Strathalbyn, Perth (Belmont / Ascot), Tasmania (Hobart / Launceston), Northern Territory (Fannie Bay / Pioneer Park Alice Springs).
- Thoroughbred breeding studs — Coolmore Australia (Jerrys Plains NSW), Darley Australia (Aston Park / Northwood Park), Newgate Farm, Vinery Stud, Arrowfield Stud, Yarraman Park, Kitchwin Hills, Widden Stud, Segenhoe Stud, Glenlogan Park, Bhima Thoroughbreds.
- Standardbred harness — Anton Golino (Vic), Emma Stewart (Vic), Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen, Andrew Cohen, David Aiken.
- Pre-training centres — Annabel Neasham Pre-Training, Sledmere (NSW), Aushorse pre-training partners.
- Equestrian / sport horse — Australian Equestrian Federation (EA) affiliated stables; Olympic-tier coaches Heath Ryan (eventing), Boyd Exell (driving), Andrew Hoy (eventing), Jamie Kermond (show jumping), Edwina Tops-Alexander (show jumping), Carl Hester / Charlotte Dujardin connections (dressage).
- Polocrosse / polo / campdrafting — Polocrosse Association of Australia, Australian Polo Federation, Australian Campdraft Association events.
- Stock horse / pastoral — Australian Stock Horse Society members; Pilbara / Kimberley / Top End cattle stations (Anna Plains, Liveringa, Mt House, Helen Springs).
- Trail / tourism — Reynella Kosciuszko Rides (Snowy Mountains), Snowy River Cattlemen, Mount Mistake / Stone Lodge Outback, Kimberley Adventure Tours.
Step 5 — Score / Step 6 — Submit
Use points calculator. Lodge via SkillSelect.
Tools
Authoritative sources
- Home Affairs
- VETASSESS
- Racing Australia
- Australian Trainers' Association (ATA)
- Equestrian Australia (EA)
- Office of MARA
Next step
Want to map your horse trainer profile against 189 vs 190 vs 491 vs 186 vs 494 vs 482? Book a 30-minute free strategy call.