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Home /Grooms life/Laura white chats about the opening meet

Laura White chats about the Opening Meet

31st October 2019
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BGA Ambassador Laura White on life as a hunting groom during the build up to one of the biggest days in the hunting calendar - The Opening Meet.

The Opening Meet for The Duke of Beaufort’s Hounds is always a big day on the calendar and the build-up is long and full of decisions and planning in the weeks that run up to it.

I always want my horses to look their best at all times but the Opening Meet is one of the times when turnout is most important.

Most of the horses will have had around 20 days of hound training in the run up to the meet so they will be in peak condition when it comes to their fitness.

This season so far has been hard on them as it has been so wet which makes the going much heavier so the months of fitness build up prior to this really pays off.

Not only do they have to be at peak fitness and looking perfect physically they also need to look their best cosmetically.

 

Clipping 
This needs to be timed just right and they need to be re clipped five to seven days before the big day so their coats look their best.

By the time the Opening Meet arrives I will usually have clipped each horse three times.

With a yard of 11 horses and most, if not all, of them going out on that one day this is quite a feat with everything else to do. (The early mornings of hound training are a help here as it does buy you a few hours in the day as the starts are so early!)

Manes and Tails
Again these need to be at their optimum length and thickness so their plaits will look smart and equally sized and that they are as easy as they can be to plait.

Regular thinning and pulling and constantly keeping an eye on this means I will often be found pulling a few stray hairs out whilst tacking up or washing down when I have spotted manes not adhering to my wishes!

Tails need to be tamed and pulling can be a dangerous business on occasion.
With a yard full of greys it is a relief that a few of them have their tails plaited up and out of the way, not for ease sake but because some of them really dislike their tails getting muddy and annoying them around their back legs, but it does make it easier at the end of the day if they don’t have a tail full of mud and twigs!

  Shoeing
I always want the horses to have a couple of days exercise on a new set of shoes so they have the chance to 'bed in' and that then gives them the best chance of not losing a shoe… in theory.

Decisions
Finally the decision of which horses go out first and second.
I tend to send my older (and theoretically more sensible) horses out first as the Opening Meet attracts around 200 horses and riders and just over a thousand foot followers and spectators all together in one field.

There are people there who may have never been around horses before and the last thing needed is a young or spooky horse having a sideways run out of excitement.

The younger ones need the learning experience of standing quietly at the meet but the Opening Meet is not the place for this, if it can be avoided.

So the big day looms and it is all planned and prepared for so fingers crossed and see you on the other side!

Laura

The BGA is for all grooms. If you would like to join the BGA like Laura have a look at what we can offer you. 

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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.

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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