A New Benchmark For Grooms

Did you follow the FEI World Championships in Herning?

Working with the International Grooms Association (IGA), Herning have made ground-breaking efforts to recognise the grooms at the show; those efforts have been greatly appreciated by the grooms.

The IGA collaborated with the FEI and IGA Show Supporters Herning 2022 to ensure that grooms received the recognition they deserve.

Right from the start the grooms were included in the team announcements and British Equestrian really promoted the support teams throughout the event.

The team at Herning 2022 put so much focus on recognising the grooms and working to give them a great Championship experience.

• This was the FIRST time grooms have been named as their horse enters the arena.
• The FIRST Time grooms were featured in the prize giving ceremonies! Every groom was mentioned by name and formally included in the gift giving protocol.
• Conditions at the event were first class, including a groom’s lounge offering a nice rest area with big screen. The free, quality food was plentiful and convenient, offering nutritious, tasty meals.
• Mascots and Herning2022 water bottles for all grooms.
• Banners celebrating the role of the grooms.

The reports of Herning’s recognition of grooms are all over the internet, Eventing Nation article is just one example. Lucy Katan, Founding Director of the International Grooms Association says;

“We have been very impressed with the level and attention that the Grooms have received during the ECCO FEI World Championships in Herning.

The #ChampionsAsOne concept has resonated strongly throughout the event, and we are extremely pleased to see that grooms, who have been the unsung heroes of the equestrian world in the past, are now being formally recognised and appreciated for all their hard work behind-the-scenes.

While the Organisers have proactively introduced key initiatives to provide comfortable working conditions for Grooms, they have also been open and willing to listen to the IGA’s ideas and suggestions.

As an ‘IGA Show Supporter’, the Organising Committee have worked closely with us to implement feedback from Grooms received through an international survey we carried out earlier this year. A key point that came through strongly was to have a ‘grab-and-go’ style take away option for late night food provisions that would be of use to Grooms on the really busy and long days. The IGA fed this back to Herning 2022 and we were delighted when we learned that this service was made available for the Grooms at the Championships.”

These AMAZING changes have happened due to the hard work of the IGA, working in partnership with the FEI, and IGA show supporters Herning 2022 - who have set the bar high for future events.

The IGA is the professional association for international grooms who work at FEI Level events and shows. Membership is just 15 euros a year and its main aim is to give the grooms working at this level a voice. 

Are you an international groom? BGA members can join the IGA on a special rate of just 10 euros per year. 

Be a part of change, join the BGA (and then iga!)

Not a member? JOIN NOW - from just 47p per week.

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