How do you go about changing career mid-life to working with animals?

[Arizahn]

*Disclaimer - I am not advertising for work. I merely need advice on this topic from people who know about it. Don't know where else to ask so am asking here.*

I have to admit, I often think it would be lovely to one day retrain and do something so close to my heart. EG - kennel maid, stablehand, groom. Anything with animals. Having been steered away from following this path when I was a teenager, although I did do voluntary work with dogs and horses. But given that I am now in my thirties, and have no existing qualifications for this sort of work, I tend to think that I would not be considered. Which puts me off looking into applying. But then I think that maybe practical experience would count more anyway. And then I think that school leavers are more likely to be considered...

So what is really required? Qualifications, experience, enthusiasm...what matters the most for career changers? And if you were the one employing, what concerns would you have, if any, about employing someone who had never officially worked in this area before? Are there any retraining courses or apprenticeships available, for example?

Tea and jaffa cakes, for anyone who can offer advice.

 

[Cortez]

Enthusiasm and a couple of brain cells should do the trick. Especially if you have had some xperience handling horses/dogs/whatever. Being an "animal" person is far more use than some of the modern "degrees" in equine science, etc. But be aware that the work is HARD, physical, dirty, never ending, in all weathers, and most of all the pay is pathetic. No matter how much you may love the idea, everything becomes just work eventually, and I speak as one who has a job/business that most people would kill for (and yes I do love it, but not always, or even all that often).

 

[Miss L Toe]

I started riding racehorses when i was 32, it was a lightbulb moment.
I messed about, went to unversity, twice, and ended up in a big racing yard age 42.
You need to be agile, athletic, intelligent helps, tough, and levelheaded. i did it for ten years , retired my self.
I would not advise any one to do it, but it suited me.
I had no idea about the racing industry, that was the main problem, when I looked at these "working with animal" jobs, the lower levels are desperately poorly paid and dead-end, purely because they require few skills and there are no opportunities to make "loads of money".

 

[Arizahn]

Thanks, am well used to the hard work in all weathers side: have five large active dogs here, and have always been an outdoor sort of person. So be prepared to wrap up as needed, work hard, and just be sensible and keen then?

I can do that Much more confident about chances now - was convinced I would have to spend thousands on retraining first and cannot afford that! Pathetic pay wouldn't bother me: I remember earning room, board and under £20 a week for a 42 hour week of mucking out, grooming and exercising horses, and cooking/cleaning in addition! Loved every minute, but it was a temporary position only. Have never enjoyed any job as much as that one.