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Home /Grooms life/Why im glad i shared my story

Why I'm glad I shared my story

30th August 2019
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BGA member running half marathon to raise awareness for Grooms Minds.

BGA member Eileen Beach is running the Windsor Lakeside Half Marathon on 13th October to raise money for Jack Jeffreys Superhero Trust and awareness for Grooms Minds.

We caught up with her to find out how training has been going...

Training is going really well at the moment as running is something I have always done to help with my own mental health.

I'm running four mornings a week and cycling one morning at around 5.30am before the working day. Every run is around 8k then once in a while I do a long run. The furthest I have run so far is 12k and I have also been doing some gym work as well.

I'm feeling the best I ever have now that I'm eating probably again, which is something I haven't been doing for the past four years. This was largely due to being depressed and so tired.

 

Not eating properly is something which a lot of people have mentioned when talking to me about their own experiences. A lot of this is due to over-working and they have also developed eating disorders.

Mine came from not having the time to eat but some people who I have spoken to have actually said they were worried about becoming fat and people would notice.

As grooms we wear tightly fitting cloths a lot - breeches/jodhpurs every day, but as I keep saying we put so much work and money into making sure the horses are happy and healthy with the correct exercise/right amount of days off/ correct diet and nutrition that you need to do the same for yourself!

We also vary the horses work so they don't get bored/unhappy and we as people also need to do the same.

When you work full time with horses it can be easy to forget that it often started out as a hobby. Many grooms still do their own horses after work (I had the exact same problem) and even though you did enjoy you start not to get the same amount of pleasure as it is hard physical work the whole time.

I do lots of different things now for hobbies. I do dog training, boxing and of course my running and I always make sure I have at least one day off a week.

To begin with I felt guilty having a day off and really struggled just to sit still and relax even just for the afternoon! But it has got easier.

I keep telling people to be kinder to themselves and do the things they want to do as they thoroughly deserve them.

 

Since my last blog for the BGA the support has been amazing and I'm so grateful for the donations already!

I was shocked to of had so many messages from other grooms who I haven't met before but who have gone through the same situations as me. They said from reading my story they’re not as afraid to open up and talk about it.

I was really nervous about opening up about my story as I was worried what other people would think, but the response from other grooms has made me feel so glad I did.


This week I got my charity t-shirt printed with the Grooms Minds logo and slogans on there. Running wise I have a 10k race coming up on Saturday 7th September at Shoreham Woods in Kent. It’s a canicross race and I'm running with my dog Ace and of course I will be wearing my Grooms Minds awareness shirt!

Eileen :) x

The British Grooms Association is here to help and support you.

To find out more about Grooms Minds click here.

To support Eileen on her challenge visit her page here.

BGA MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS

 

 Read Eileen's previous blog here



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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