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British Grooms Association Team

THE BGA TEAM

The Team

Our Executive Director, Membership Manager and Member Engagement Manager manage the day to day running of the association and are all ex grooms, so really understand our members and life as a groom.

Lucy Katan British Grooms Association Executive Director

Lucy Katan - Executive Director

Lucy was an international dressage groom for eight years, representing Team GBR. She is the founder of the Equestrian Employers Association and British Grooms Association (BGA) and runs the office and coordinates all developments.

She previously worked at the Sport and Recreation Alliance, UK Anti Doping, and at LOCOG (the Organising Committee of London 2012 Olympics).

Kerry Brind - communications manager

Kerry caught the horse bug as a little girl and didn’t grow out of it! Starting her career as a groom in Germany, she later moved into communications, working with household brands such as Marks & Spencer, The NHS, SilverCloud Health and BabyCentre. In between cuddling her cat, riding her horse and waiting for the next Burghley to come around, she handles the BGA magazine, social media and all things communications.

 

Fi Boughton - Membership Manager

Fi has worked with horses since leaving school in a wide variety of yards including with Lucinda Fredericks and Pippa Funnell as well as in racing, showing and veterinary convalescence.

She rides and competes herself as well as volunteering with British Eventing. She has been with the BGA over 12 years and is delighted to see it going from strength to strength

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ZOE HARGREAVES - MEMBERSHIP ASSISTANT

Zoe's love of horses began at a young age and after visiting the big four-star events she went on to become a groom for an international event rider. Now she follows from the sidelines but can't resist picking up a brush or a tail bandage at events with friends!

Zoe has a background in marketing and is excited to develop the membership with Fi.

 

The Board of Directors 

The British Grooms Association (BGA) is run by a voluntary Board of Directors who all bring a wealth of experience and knowledge about their areas of expertise and the equestrian world: 

Chris Hewlett, British Grooms Association Chairman

Chris Hewlett - Chairman

Chris was the founder/owner of Haddon Stud in 1981. The stud specialised in breeding, producing, and training sport horses as well as providing a variety of services which included standing up to seven National Hunt and home-bred graded sport horse stallions.

Chris was also responsible for the creation and running of Haddon Training Ltd – one of the UK’s leading equine work-based training providers for nearly 25 years, until its sale in December 2021. Chris’s vision for Haddon Training was originated from a desire to support equestrian employers so they could develop their businesses by having correctly motivated and trained staff.

BGA

Louise Crofts - Board Secretary

Louise’s professional “hat” is one of commercial management, and business development and leadership, which compliments her “other hat” of a busy mum of sporty children – now young adults, not only frees up time to help with the BGEEG, but providing a parent’s perspective of working in the equestrian industry.

Lucy Field-Richards - Financial Director

Lucy is a Chartered Accountant and Financial Adviser with years of experience in leadership roles for large organisations and also starting and developing small businesses. She has ridden for international event riders part-time whilst managing a busy career in finance.

She is delighted to be taking on this role to combine all of her skills/industry experience to help grow the EEA/BGA and best support its members.  


Ali Dane - Employers Director

After completing a Business Management degree, Ali set up a small livery and equestrian training business, alongside working in logistics and sales for large multi-national companies.

Her time spent working for companies with billion dollar turnover was invaluable - it allowed her to understand how businesses need to run in order to be successful, from commercial strategy to employee management.

Now concentrating fully on her livery yard and coaching career, she works full time within the equestrian industry, employing up to seven staff members. Ali is passionate about spreading the message that the equestrian industry, particularly livery yards, can be a place of growth, profit, satisfaction and success, if businesses are run in a knowledgeable and responsible way.

Hannah Baldwin - Digital Director

Hannah has over 25 years experience in strategic marketing within scholarly & scientific professional bodies, communicating with a broad and diverse range of audiences, and specialising in digital approaches and engagement.

Hannah is also Chair of the Board of Trustees of Jimmy’s Cambridge supporting the homeless community. She rides regularly and has a particular interest in equine assisted therapy. 

Orla Dempsey - Business Director

Orla is a seasoned business professional with over 25 years of experience in the equine industry. She excels in business growth and strategic marketing management. As the owner of an Equestrian Holiday Centre in Ireland, she is renowned for her exceptional service and commitment to industry leadership.

With a track record of empowering hundreds of small businesses, Orla is dedicated to advancing the equestrian industry's recognition as a hub of growth and success. Orla enjoys nothing more than supporting businesses to set exemplary standards of best practice and care for their team, building a balanced working life for all, and enabling the industry to be recognised as a magnificent career choice.

Tina SamsON - People DIrector 

Tina is an experienced HR professional, working for a number of major brands during her career. She has a passion for mental health education and is a qualified MHFA instructor.

She also has a strong passion for horses and the equestrian industry, having owned horses most of her life. She shares her love of horses with her daughter, who now works as a professional groom.

CLAIRE WILLIAMS - INSIGHT AND INTEGRITY Director 

Claire is the Executive Director of the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA). Alongside her BETA work she also sits as a director on the Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority, the Equine Fitters Council and British Horse Council.

In her free time she rides her two horses as often as time allows and is also keen on walking, home preserving and photography. .

Rebecca Diamond - Education Director 

Rebecca had an active career as a rider, groom and producer of young horses for all disciplines, before progressing into teaching and training. After a career break to raise a family, this led into lecturing at FE and HE level for the equine department of an agricultural college. This progressed into Directorship of Education for apprenticeship training at KEITS Training. Now retired but maintaining a Governance Role, with a passion for education and development of careers for all.

 

 

What the personal accident policy covers you for:

  • Whilst at work
  • All stable duties – mucking out, grooming, washing off, turning out
  • Clipping
  • Riding – including hacking and jumping
  • Hunting
  • Lunging
  • Breaking in
  • Holding horse for a vet and other procedures
  • Travelling horses both in the UK and abroad
  • Competing in line with your job including: jumping, dressage, eventing
  • Injuries that may happen to you whilst you are teaching - but you must also be grooming as part of your duties and not be a sole instructor

What the personal accident policy doesn’t cover you for:

  • Riding in a race, point to point or team chase
  • Stunt Riding
  • Accidents occurring whilst travelling to and from work
  • Riding and competing your own horse (but you can upgrade when applying for membership to include this)
  • Public Liability – this is a separate insurance policy - the Freelance Groom Liability Insurance
  • Care Custody and Control – this is a separate policy - the Freelance Groom Liability Insurance

If you require additional cover then please contact KBIS directly.

   GROOM  RIDER  EMPLOYER

When you are working for other people you do most of the following; muck out, turn out/catch in, tack up, groom horses, exercise Horses (including hacking, jumping and schooling), in the care of your employer/client.

 
YES

 
NO

 
NO

Predominantly ride horses for other people including schooling, exercising and competing.   
NO
 
YES

YES
 Provide grooming services for someone else either full time or on a freelance basis i.e. an employer or a client.   
YES

NO

NO
Employ staff – have an employers liability policy in your name NO NO YES
Buy and sell horses NO YES YES