Finding the Balance

Whilst some people may associate being a groom as a younger person’s choice of jobs, many of our members have made working with horses a career and have found a way to balance work and family life.

We spoke to BGA member and Mum of two, Katie Gentry, on how she juggles family life with being a groom.

Katie Gentry shares her experiences with us;

"When I was at college and university I was a freelance groom. It worked so well being able to fit in yards and my own horse around my studies. With a solid routine I found two wonderful ladies who both worked away during the week, so I would turnout, muck out and ride their horses for them without tight time restrictions.

After having my son I soon needed my horsey fix, although it was on reduced hours. I went freelance again working on one yard every evening just with one horse.

Again it worked and fitted round my son as my mum or partner would watch or walk him in the buggy while I rode. I loved the feeling of being back and feeling that bond and trust the horses gave me again. 

This was perfect, until we moved over 50 miles away from where I grew up, then being a freelance just didn’t work for me. I was new to the area; no one knew me or the yards I had worked on so I found myself starting from scratch again and frustrated with work.

Working on a yard with a high turnover of staff became a struggle; I found myself finishing two hours later than I was being paid for because I couldn’t bear to leave horses in dirty stables, or missing turnout etc because the new yard staff didn’t know where the horses were going or what they had in their feeds.

This is what broke me; I couldn’t be a mum and a good groom in that situation.

Getting home late most nights or being late to pick up from school was not sustainable, yet there was rarely a thank you nor payment for the extra hours from the yard. I loved the horses and my clients but I couldn’t improve the situation on the yard. This began to affect my family as I was shattered and stressed by it.

I think I’ve probably cried more with the mares foaling than I did giving birth to my two boys. Grooming isn’t a job for me it’s a lifestyle and I love every minute!”

Finding the right job for you is so important in all situations – especially when juggling life and work.

If, like Katie, you would like to join the BGA have a look at how we can support you.

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