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A GROOMS LIFE BLOG
BGA member and #supergroom Liz Walsh in her exclusive blog on her way to the European Championships. Buongiorno dall'italia. Good Morning from Italy! I'm currently heading out to San Giovanni with Team GB Juniors and Young Riders for their European Championships. I feel very fortunate and lucky to be their Stable Manager and groom for the trip. I can't quite believe this is my 15th Major Championship but I'm as excited about this championship as the first one I did all those years ago! Our week started on Tuesday at the beautiful home and stables of Sarah and Tony Pidgely where our five riders and horses had their final training camp together. It is the perfect setting with immaculate arenas and facilities for us to use. The relaxed atmosphere gives the horses and riders the best preparation for the championships ahead. I darted the 3 hours home Tuesday evening as I have a five year old daughter, Jessie who had her reception graduation on Wednesday so went back for that very special moment and then returned late afternoon. While I was absent during the day on Wednesday another super groom, Ollie Davies had joined the team and I arrived back to a perfectly packed lorry and well organised stable which is always very appreciated. We were due to leave at 6am on Thursday morning, the five horses all travel together on one lorry, superbly driven by Fred Parker who has been helping transport our team ponies and horses for their various disciplines for almost 20 years. Fred is the best in the business and his all singing and all dancing lorry gives the horses the best journey to ensure they arrive at their destination in top condition. Fred also organises all our stopover stables and does the route planning. The riders were super and all got up and fed their horses at 4am and then hand walked them, made them ready for travel, loaded them on the lorry and said their goodbyes before we see them in Italy on Sunday. They were super efficient and we left ahead of time. I travel in the lorry with Fred and the horses and Ollie follows behind with Team Vet Rob Oulton, who not only is our superb vet but is very hands on with helping us walk horses and keep the horses in tip top condition, you will always see him with a broom in his hand! Our first leg of the journey took us to a stable in Dijon where we arrived to lovely big beds and the horses settled well. When we are en-route we always unload them and put them in their stables with fresh water and hay/haylage and let them have a roll and settle for 20 minutes while we take off their individual travel bags and a few bits before they all get hand walked for 20-30 minutes. Each horses also has a written booklet to explain everything about them so some will also have magnetic rugs/boots etc and carrot stretches done with them. Once all that was done we headed to our hotel which was conveniently situated only a few minutes away, we had dinner and then went back for late check where we take temperatures, water, hay and make sure everything is all in order. All five horses have been brilliant and settled well so it's making my job very easy! I'm now currently sitting in the lorry for our final part of the road trip that will take us to the showground. All is going well and the horses will be reunited with their riders tomorrow (Sunday). Luckily the horses still have their groom's as on Thursdays part of the trip we stopped for fuel and then Fred needed to take his drivers break so had to pull into parking. I said Ollie and I would walk and meet them there to stretch our legs, not realising that to get to the parking it took you on to a slip road over the top of the motorway and ended up the other side. Not suitable for people walking so Ollie and I had to clamber up an embankment and try our best to avoid lorries over the motorway bridge to re-join them! The life of Lizzie can definitely be a fun one! I will blog again once we are all settled. Liz x If you'd like to join the BGA like Liz have a look at our membership options.
Buongiorno dall'italia. Good Morning from Italy!
Friday saw our next leg of the journey where the same routine happened and we headed to some beautiful stables in Milan for the night.
Image of the horses getting a well deserved bath in Milan with Ollie holding and Team Vet Rob washing.
BLOG ARCHIVE
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. |
|
|
|
| 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 |
The BGA is the national representative body for all
grooms working in the UK or British grooms abroad.
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