Am I too old to start a career within the horse industry?

[Trudyt76]

Hi, I'm 34 years old and would really like to change my career. I would really like to work with horses but feel like I've missed the boat as the equine industry seems to be full of younger people. I don't have any equine qualifications and the courses that I have looked at are full time which is not really an option for me as I have a mortgage, kids etc. I do however have experience of working with horses up to quite a high level (showjumping yard) but I have had a very long break from the equestrian world.

I love hard work and prefer manual work to being stuck in an office any day. I've tried allsorts of jobs and have racked up quite a few qualifications but I've now been left feeling like I've missed out on my vocation in life and really should have stuck it out as a teenager instead of listening to everyone telling me I would never make anything of myself working as a groom.


Has anyone else changed direction? If so, how did you go about it.

I live in the Greater Manchester area so tips on courses and venues around this area would be great thanks.

 

[splashgirl45]

34 is not old!!!!!! i took early retirement at age 55 and worked with horses for 5 years. it was hard work but i loved every minute of it. i worked in an office all my working life as i was told by various people "working with horses is a dead end job!!" i wish i had listened to my heart and not my head. i cant help you with courses etc but if that is what you REALLY want to do im sure you will find a way. the only thing you may find is your body will find it a little harder as you age. good luck, follow your dream!!!!!

 

[PoppyAnderson]

I agree with the comment about finding it physically more challenging as you get older. The flip side of course is, if you don't use it, you lose it!! Depends what you want to do I guess and whether you can afford to or not. I know people who make a living out of horses but it's not a mega salary.

 

[the watcher]

I have just retired at 50. I have many years (decades!) of experience with horses but wanted to bring my CV up to date. Last week I did my BHS stage I and am now employed part time as an apprentice so I can do an NVQ level 2.

If you are relying on some kind of living wage that could be an obstacle, horse work is notoriously badly paid.

 

[emmaln]

I think it really depends on what you want to do there are many jobs within the industry not just grooms! I'm about to do my equine sports massage therapy course at 27! I say follow your heart though! The rest will follow! Good luck with whatever you decide! X

 

[Elliegazzellie]

Why don't you do your stages whilst you are still in employment. You don't need to do a full time course, just go for lessons once or twice a week and tell your instructor that you want to work towards your stage 1. They can work through the syllabus with you, and you could also book some stable management lessons where you work on the theory side with your instructor. The BHS have a range of revision books out to help revise for the exams. When you have got to your desired qualification you could then look for a job in the equine world. What sort of job would you like in the industry?

 

[Natch]

Most of the people on my foundation degree course are in their twenties and thirties, so not too late at all!

Although ours is a full time course, its only 2 full days being taught, and the rest self-guided study, so we all find jobs to fit around it. Its tough, but not impossible.

 

[Trudyt76]

34 is not old!!!!!! i took early retirement at age 55 and worked with horses for 5 years. it was hard work but i loved every minute of it. i worked in an office all my working life as i was told by various people "working with horses is a dead end job!!" i wish i had listened to my heart and not my head. i cant help you with courses etc but if that is what you REALLY want to do im sure you will find a way. the only thing you may find is your body will find it a little harder as you age. good luck, follow your dream!!!!!

That's exactly what I was told when I was working as a groom on a showjumping yard when I was a teenager. I reluctantly followed the advice of my elders (who were never academic) and went to college, although I never made it to uni. I feel that I'm just going from course to course, job to job, trying to find my vocation in life, when I know it's with horses. I'm currently a civil servant but I'm a qualified fitness instructor, legal secretary and have other qualifications and had other jobs but my heart lies with working with horses. I just wish I'd been exposed to the likes of Myerscough College and such like. I would have loved to have gone to an equine college. I didn't even know they existed until a few years ago. How things change. I should have married a farmer lol

 

[Trudyt76]

Most of the people on my foundation degree course are in their twenties and thirties, so not too late at all!

Although ours is a full time course, its only 2 full days being taught, and the rest self-guided study, so we all find jobs to fit around it. Its tough, but not impossible.

Hi, where do you study?

 

[Trudyt76]

Why don't you do your stages whilst you are still in employment. You don't need to do a full time course, just go for lessons once or twice a week and tell your instructor that you want to work towards your stage 1. They can work through the syllabus with you, and you could also book some stable management lessons where you work on the theory side with your instructor. The BHS have a range of revision books out to help revise for the exams. When you have got to your desired qualification you could then look for a job in the equine world. What sort of job would you like in the industry?

Thanks for that, I have already bought the BHS workbooks in readiness for taking my stages. The riding school which I thought I could take my stages at are heavily involved in educating younger pupils - they have a nice little college thing going on - but they weren't very forthcoming in offering my help and advice on taking my stages so I became a little stuck in where to go/what to do.

I would love to work on a competition yard but any groom work would do so I could further my experience. I am really interested in physio. I am very heavily involved in health and fitness and would love to work with horses and riders in this capacity.

 

[Trudyt76]

I think it really depends on what you want to do there are many jobs within the industry not just grooms! I'm about to do my equine sports massage therapy course at 27! I say follow your heart though! The rest will follow! Good luck with whatever you decide! X

Hi, this is the field that I would love to work in. Where are you going to study? How long will it take to qualify? Is it a full time course?

Sorry for the the questions

 

[Trudyt76]

I agree with the comment about finding it physically more challenging as you get older. The flip side of course is, if you don't use it, you lose it!! Depends what you want to do I guess and whether you can afford to or not. I know people who make a living out of horses but it's not a mega salary.

That's definitely true about losing it if you don't use it.

 

[Natch]

Hi, where do you study?

Reaseheath College in Nantwich. Its a foundation degree in Equine Science, Natural Horsemanship and Complimentary therapy, which includes equine sports massage.

If you want to get into a college course you're best off applying NOW, many have already closed for this September's intake.

If you also Google "Equine Body Worker" there is a qualification for equine sports massage which you can do through them.

 

[punkette]

I have just retired at 50. I have many years (decades!) of experience with horses but wanted to bring my CV up to date. Last week I did my BHS stage I and am now employed part time as an apprentice so I can do an NVQ level 2.

If you are relying on some kind of living wage that could be an obstacle, horse work is notoriously badly paid.

Hi,

I must say I was very surprised when I read your post to say you had been taken on part time as an apprentice....Im so jealous!!! Im 42 and just finishing a nursing degree and lets just say, its not what i really want to do. I have been to the british racing school when I was 17 and worked in a few racing yards after that so have experience. I have also had my own and looked after a friends ponies over the years. I started riding again last year but due to studying full time have not been able to do as much as I would like. I actually came out of racing due to many reasons but one of the major ones was illness, and as a physical job, I was finding it very difficult. I found out it was Coeliac disease which i now manage via a diet and feel better than i have for ages. So I was wondering if you had any tips as to how i could perhaps get back in to the racing game as I miss it so much.

 

[Miss L Toe]

It depends on what you want to do, most people over 21 don't want to teach kiddies to sit on RS ponies forever and ever.
Stud work is mostly mucking out and more mucking out, skilled, well paid jobs are like hens teeth.
I started in National Hunt Racing when I was over 45, I don't recommend it, but I was determined and was mobile, it took a lot of false starts at slave labour camps and I worked at big yards where my [less agile] riding skills were acceptable, I also did more yard work [assisting physio, vet etc], and went racing more than the average employee, to me this meant more variety. The wages are often good, particularly if the accomodation is included, and holidays mean three months off in summer, but this suited me as I had my own flat and I signed on when out of work. It would have been beneficial to do a Racing Secretary course, [in case of broken limbs] one has to be a proficient rider, it takes generally takes two years to convert from good rider, to good work rider.
If you are restricted in any way, in your work location / hours, it will be extremely difficult to get a career position in racing.

 

[punkette]

Thanks for your reply Miss L Toe,

I understand what you mean about the bigger yards being more acceptable of those less agile riders, but having worked in both small yards, where there were approx half a dozen staff plus the trainer and his wife, to a bigger yard where there were too many staff to remember, I must say that I enjoyed the bigger yard far more. I found that you worked better hours, for example, on the yard at 7am, muck out and have first lot ready for 7.45am, back off the gallops for 9am, breakfast, 2nd and 3rd lot if you were lucky, or yard duties, lunch for a few hours, back on the yard at 3pm to skip out and see to the horses, which were fed by 5pm, then that was it. Smaller yards, tend to parp about too much and expect you to be out on the yard for alot longer, doing more jobs, etc, and it just wasnt the same banter!! I think its great that you went into National Hunt at 45 years old, and it really encourages me to do something about it...however, I also know what you mean about location etc as I have a daughter of nearly 18 who is in 6th form studying her As levels and we live in rented accomodation in Lancashire, so to move out of the area isnt really an option at the moment. I believe in being optimistic though because, at the end of the day, I want a job I enjoy rather than one that pays well and I dislike it!

 

[TPO]

Hi, this is the field that I would love to work in. Where are you going to study? How long will it take to qualify? Is it a full time course?

Sorry for the the questions

http://www.equinenergy.com/

Full time 9 day course (with approx 90hrs pre study but you get a pre course work book) and then 6mths to finish the externship but it can be done in 6wks if you put the work in.

You can do the studying and qualification while still in full time employment and then build up a client base alongside your work. Once you have enough customers you could look into going part time or self employed.