Working with animals

[LesleyA]

Friends daughter 18 finishes school coming to live in the UK. Lovely girl amazing with animals, doesn’t have good enough marks and too expensive for uni. Any suggestions for a qualicatiin working with animals. Was very keen to do animal physiotherapy or anything. Won’t have much money for studies but would be interested in anything animal related. Ideas please??

After my A-levels I went to college and got an advanced national diploma in animal management - maybe this?

I'd think she'd need to look at what courses are offered by local FE colleges - there's a rural one near us which I believe has a considerable variety of broadly 'working with animals' possibilities , from vet nursing to small animal care and farming etc etc.

Thank you I will look into both. Errol might you share the name or area where you live or near there please 🙏

The one I'm thinking of has various locations in the northwest of England. www.myerscough.ac.uk

There's others around the country eg (at random ) this one is in Gloucestershire www.hartpury.ac.uk/college/course-areas/animal/

Veterinary nursing is now typically a degree. It requires very good A levels. Anything less may not acquire a veterinary nursing job.

There are numerous jobs working with horses and there are courses which might appeal. If she can ride, lots of possibilities open up.

Thank you Errol
Percy please can you give me ideas of these sorry I’m asking you to spell it out

It's possible to become a vet nurse without going down the degree route. Many nurses start out as ACA's (animal care assistants) within a training hospital or practice (PDSA are often looking) then go on to study part time alongside on the job training as a student vet nurse, or you can go to college and then do placements.
Animal physiotherapists need a degree in human physio I think.
It depends what type of animals she'd like to work with really. Wildlife, farm animals, domestic pets, all very different. Other than wildlife all animals come with owners so working with animals is often very much a people job which a lot of people don't realise starting out. Although those who don't do people can always do surgery .
As others have said have a look at courses offered by the agricultural colleges, she might find something that interests her.

OP- When you say she is 'amazing with animals' what type of animals are you talking about? Experience with horses or farm animals is very different to caring for a pet bunny! If she has extensive horse experience, there are opportunities in that area, but if its more family pets then that is another thing again. What experience does she have exactly and what animals does she want to work with?

When you say she is coming to live in the UK- where does she live now? Would she have to pay overseas student fees? How is her English?

If she loves animals, I wouldn’t encourage her to do farming.

Capel Manor College had quite a few courses I think. I know someone who went there to do btec in something horsey (not sure what).
www.capel.ac.uk/

Check out the college of animal welfare for lots of courses

www.caw.ac.uk

I was thinking of the Horse Racing Schools. One in Yorkshire and one at Newmarket. Lots of opportunities to work with horses in professional yards but they need people who have good riding skills or want to learn.

She should have a look at agricultural colleges. There are quite a few dotted around the UK. A friend of mines daughter aged 16 is heading to the UK to do an equine based course. I believe many do have courses in animal husbandry etc. There are a range of levels for these courses ranging from level 1 up to degree level.

If she has any experience with horses,I'd suggest skipping college courses entirely and going straight to work on a yard.
Both my dad's have ridden since they were 4,and neither have any animal qualifications ( both bought up on a farm though). They both work part time with horses while they study other subjects and have more work/ job offers than they can cope with. Most if the grooms/ head girls that they work with don't have qualifications either,just practical experience.

What type of animals? Can I suggest volunteering first. Is she in England or somewhere else?

What does she want to do with animals?

There are lots of options from nursing to groomer, dog Walker, frog trainer, horse rider, horse trainer, exotic animal entertainer, zoo keeper. Where does her interest lie?

*lay

Fortunately my Google is working today OP, here's a starting point for the majority of the land-based colleges in the UK

www.landex.org.uk/

A vote again for the horse racing schools- BRS or NRC if she can’t/doesn’t want to ride then the national stud offers a very good course