New Employee Checklist for Studs
Effective employee induction is a critical foundation for maintaining high standards of safety, animal welfare, and operational efficiency on Thoroughbred stud farms.
Working with horses - particularly stallions, broodmares, foals, weanlings, and yearlings - presents inherent risks, and it is essential that all new employees are properly trained, supervised, and assessed before undertaking their duties independently. A structured induction process helps ensure that staff understand safe work practices from day one, reducing the risk of injury to both people and horses.
Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland has developed this Induction Training – Horse Crew Procedures Checklist to assist stud farms in delivering consistent, thorough, and practical onboarding for new employees. The checklist is designed to guide supervisors through key tasks and competencies required across breeding barns, foaling units, weanling and yearling operations, and advanced foaling care. It provides a clear framework to confirm that employees have been shown correct procedures, understand health and safety requirements, and can demonstrate safe handling techniques appropriate to their role.
By using this checklist as part of an induction program, stud farms can support compliance with workplace health and safety obligations while also promoting best practice horse handling and care.
The checklist encourages ongoing communication between supervisors and staff, provides a record of training completed, and allows for regular review as skills develop.
Ultimately, a strong induction process supports safer workplaces, healthier horses, and more confident, capable employees- benefiting the entire Thoroughbred breeding operation.