Why we are better together

Throughout my years as being a groom I learnt so much. There were ups and downs… and everything in between.

I firmly believe that many of the skills I now use today in running the British Grooms Association and the Equestrian Employers Association have come from, and developed from, when I was working with horses.

At the start of the development of Grooms Minds it became very apparent that I wasn’t on my own, with a whopping 70% of grooms have been bullied (including being the recipient of derogatory comments) within the workplace, either by their employer or by fellow workers and 83% of grooms who responded are suffering from stress and/or mental wellbeing problems.

Very clearly this has to change.

In October 2018 we launched Grooms Minds – it’s not an instant fix, but somewhere grooms can go if they are feeling out of sorts, for help and support.

This then led to the Grooms Minds Support Line being launched, where we can now proudly say there are trained counsellors available for our members 24 hours a day.

This week (13^th May) we rolled the online help out for employers as well – Employers Minds has launched, because as we all know it’s not just grooms who face mental well-being challenges.

One important factor which we, as the industry, mustn’t overlook is the correlation between Good Employment and mental health.

By ‘good employment’ we don’t mean the grooms who are paid the most.

We mean the grooms who have great communication with their boss and team, grooms who have written contracts, payslips, holidays, days off, are paid for the hours they work.

Those who work for people who say thank you and not just expect more.

A survey we ran many years ago looking at the reasons people choose to work with horses stuck with me; amongst other things, and above the importance of getting well paid and extra holidays, was the feeling of gratitude.

The most important things was to be recognised and for their employer to say thank you. That was all. A simple thank you, a gesture of appreciation.

So what can we all do? Well it’s quite simple really.

The next step is also simple. Imagine if, instead of the 50% who currently have written contracts of employment’, it was 100%. Ambitious?

We don’t think so which is why you can create and download them on the Equestrian Employers Association website for just £37.50 (for as many contracts as you like).

It’s no coincidence that 27^th May will bring with it our ‘Give your Staff a Contract Week’. The platform to deliver more of this important message.

It’s our industry – lets be proud of it and make it what we want it to be. By working together we are so much better.

JOIN FOR JUST £21.50