Section 260-36-260. Employees and duties.

(1) Employees of licensed trainers are grooms, assistant trainers, exercise riders (both at the track and at the farm), and pony riders (both at the track and at the farm). Employees of a trainer may only perform those duties for which they are licensed and as outlined in this section. For the purposes of industrial insurance coverage under the horse industry account, coverage will only extend while an employee is properly licensed by the commission, employed by a licensed trainer, and only performing duties associated with the employee's license.

(2) Exercise riders, both at the track and farm may only perform the following duties:

(a) Exercise horses, which includes riding, lunge and line drive horses;

(b) Assist with saddling horses for training;

(c) Unsaddle horses following training;

(d) Clean tack following training;

(e) An exercise rider may not perform any of the duties of a groom, assistant trainer, pony rider, or other duties not usually preparing horses for competition.

(3) Pony riders may only perform the following duties:

(a) Escort horses to the track during training;

(b) Escort horses to the receiving barn and to the stable following a race;

(c) Escort horses to the starting gate in the post parade during racing (pony rider - track only);

(d) Clean stalls, rake and clean stable area associated with their ponies;

(e) A pony rider may not perform any duties of a groom, assistant trainer, exercise rider, or other duties not normally associated with escorting horses.

(4) Grooms may perform the following duties:

(a) Clean stalls, rake and clean stable area;

(b) Bathe, groom, feed, and water horses;

(c) Lead horses to and from hot walkers or to the track and/or receiving barn and paddock;

(d) Apply bandages, salves, topical medications, etc.;

(e) Tack horses for training;

(f) Handle horses in the paddock and test barn; and

(g) A groom may not mount or ride a horse.

(5) Assistant trainers may perform the duties of a groom and additionally may represent the trainer in other matters such as entering and scratching horses. An assistant trainer also may not mount or ride a horse.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 67.16.020. WSR 12-23-015, § 260-36-260, filed 11/9/12, effective 12/10/12.]

RCW 67.16.020. WSR 12-23-015, § 260-36-260, filed 11/9/12, effective 12/10/12.