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Winter warmers

13th December 2022
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As the cold weather continues it is important to look after yourself, physically and mentally. 

We all talk about tips of how to stay warm on the yard, but we often forget how hard it can be on our mental health to maintain working in tough conditions. 

The dark cold mornings, struggling with the cold, tiredness and feelings of isolation can all impact on our wellbeing.

Make sure you take time for yourself, it’s an important part of staying healthy and avoiding burn out. 

 

Need Help?

If you are; overtired, feeling drained and overwhelmed, suffering with headaches or have a lack of motivation and full of self-doubt then consider stepping back a little. Take a break or reach out for support, we can help.

Our Grooms Minds mental health and well-being resource is designed to support grooms with a full range of tools, the confidential Grooms Minds Support Line is available 24/7.

 

Winter Warmers

Making life a little easier will help to keep the blues at bay so check out these tips of how to stay warm throughout the day. 

 

  • Start the day with a hot breakfast, porridge is a great choice and kick starts your internal furnace. 
  • Make sure you wear plenty of thin layers to trap body heat in, cheap running base layers are a great option. Layering means you can add and remove clothing throughout the day. 
  • Leggings or wool tights under your trousers, layering helps to trap body heat in and keep the cold out.
  • Waterproof trousers make a world of difference, even thin cheap ones. 
  • Keep your core warm so the body doesn’t pull heat from the extremities.
  • Dry feet and hands are so important, if you can wear two pairs of socks.
  • Use latex gloves over your normal gloves when dealing with wet work, water buckets/soaked haynets.
  • Warm your gloves on a radiator or by the fire during lunch.
  • Make sure you fuel yourself with warm foods, little and often. Soup is a great choice, nutritious and warm. Don’t forget to have a hot chocolate too – tasty and heating. 
  • If your boots are leaking, the old carrier bag inside the boot does the trick. 
  • Keep your head and neck warm so you don’t loose your heat.  
  • Fill your pockets with hand warmers for extra warmth. 

 

We just LOVE this top tip from BGA member Caroline Mosley; she says by keeping your wrists warm your hands stay warmer for longer.

Check out her conversion of socks to fingerless hand/wrist warmers. 

We would love to hear your top tips for staying warm, you can email them to juliet@britishgrooms.org.uk 

 

Why Join the BGA?

As a BGA member you will enjoy discounted insurance policies, education, legal advice and support. Join us to discover more and be part of a community of grooms, just like you.

 

Belong to your professional association from as little as 47 pence per week - JOIN NOW.

 

BGA MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS

 
 


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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