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A GROOMS LIFE BLOG

The story of Granny the Groom

We LOVE this one! BGA member Juliet Turrell shares her story.

I was bought up with horses and have ridden all my life. I did Pony Club and got my pony club B Test. At 16 I left home to work with hunt horses, show horses and race horses in various interesting and different yards, gaining loads of different experiences and knowledge along the way.

I was a groom until I became pregnant and got married at 20! I had three children and they too did Pony Club. During that time I did my own thing brining on and buying and selling a few horses and trained a couple of point to pointers.

Another chapter in my life saw me divorced and remarried, I had another child and also had a family business to run, which meant no time for horses full time, although I did manage to fit in a horse or two and some hunting.

In 2007 I gave up horses and hunting and took up gun dogs instead. Then in 2015 circumstances changed. A great friend of mine, Margaret Hopkins at Beaufort Hunt Stables needed some help, ‘mucking out and tack cleaning’ so I said yes even though I had not had much to do with horse for about eight years. I ended up riding out all the hunt horses, doing the plaiting and second horses on a Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

I am now in my third season of working for the Chairman (Ex Master) of the Berkeley Hunt. Sole and full time groom for 3/4 horses heavy weight hunters (I am a mere 5’6”, 9.5 stone older lady) I drive the horses and bring the second horses. Next birthday I will be 59 years old.

In my spare time during the spring, summer and autumn months I help my daughter with her two children who have two competition ponies and two racing ponies.

What keeps me motivated is my love of horses, my grandchildren and my love of hunting. I cannot tire with the work. I love so many things from the attention to detail of turning a horse out for hunting, or a pony for racing. The correctness of plaiting, the cleanliness of the horse, having the stable correctly mucked out and bedded down, the yard sweep and tidy – the list is endless.

My time away from horses was not long, but I would have to say I am a much happier and better person working with horses.

I wanted to share my story as I thought it might inspire or resonate with some of the older ladies out there, or show some young girls the way.

Join Juliet and become a member today.

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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