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WHY I AM A MEMBER
“The bespoke information has been invaluable for my career and employment; I don’t feel alone anymore. I have the peace of mind knowing my income is protected with my BGA insurance.”
Jenny Hooch
BGA Member
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A GROOMS LIFE BLOG
As the weather forecast is showing temperatures rising, we thought we would discuss how best to cool horses during this heat wave. When the temperature rises suddenly horses will not be acclimatised, increasing the risk of heat exhaustion/heat stroke. We sought guidance from Dr David Marlin on how to cool a hot horse. Horses that are hot to touch, may be covered in sweat, may have prominent veins on the skin, may have laboured breathing, these horses need to be cooled quickly. If a horses is uncomfortable in hot weather, in the stable or field, then spraying them down with water and leaving the water to evaporate will help them to cool, this can be carried out every few hours. Here are more interesting evidence based facts from Dr David Marlin. Cooling hot horses with cold water DOES NOT Water left on horses DOES NOT It is NOT MORE EFFECTIVE TO Check out this Facebook post from Dr David Marlin, loaded with fantastic advice for keeping horses safe and cool in hot weather, and make sure you visit drdavidmarlin.com Photo: #Supergroom Francesca Gorni at Badminton Horse Trials 2022. Photo credit: Paul Ruffle. Read more about Francesca in her blog about her first Olympics - Tokyo 2020. Francesca is a BGA member - are you yet?
Cooling Horses
Rapid cooling
Rapid cooling should be carried out by covering the horse’s body with as much cool or cold water as quickly as possible, without stopping to scrape.
This should be done for several minutes. If the horse is agitated or appears to be recovering a short walk can be given before repeating the cooling process, which could be continued until the horse’s blowing has subsided, and the horse feels more comfortable.Comfort cooling
Dr David Marlin’s science based evidence confirms a horse will not overheat due to insulation by water – this is 100% a myth!The key facts are:
1) cause muscle damage
2) cause laminitis
3) induce shock
4) give horses heart attacks
5) prevent them from cooling by constriction of skin blood flow
1) insulate and prevent heat loss
2) cause them to overheat
1) start at the feet and work up
2) scrape water off whilst cooling (it causes them to warm up)
3) focus on large blood vessels
4) cover the horse with wet towels
BGA MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS
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. |
|
|
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| 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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