Helping horses be happy

The BGA represents ALL grooms, our members are from every discipline, competition, and non-competitive; within all the different segments of the equestrian world.

Today we are celebrating freelance grooms by speaking with BGA member Sian Hush who is on a mission to make horses happy.

After gaining a degree in Equestrian Performance and Coaching, Sian set up a freelance business to help riders nurture their relationship with their horses, assisting them to find their happy place.

Sian obtained her love of horses from her Grampy and has been working with them since she was 15 years old; when Sian started to help at a local riding school to learn the basics, since then Sian's career has taken off and now she is thriving in a business freelance business. 

What sparked your decision to go down the freelance route?

"I’ve always wanted to be a groom since I was at school and completing a degree in Equine Performance and Coaching was a huge achievement for me, I’m the first in my family to have gone to university!

I liked the idea of being in control of my working hours, to fit jobs around my own horses. My business has been going for nearly two years and I offer a wide variety of services including riding, coaching, clipping, and yard work. I really enjoy it and no two days are the same.

I love riding and coaching and seeing an improvement in the horse/rider over time. It’s really rewarding. I’ve worked on a variety of different yards, with all types of horses from mares and foals, stallions and ex-racers, and everything in between!"

What are the downsides to freelancing and how do you manage them?

"It can be tough to say no, especially when you’re self-employed and trying to get as much work as possible, but I have realised it is really important to take time to do things for myself. I always try to make sure I have something to look forward to outside of work, whether it be something as simple as binging something on Netflix or having a day out with my friends."

How important is professionalism in the industry to you?

"I believe professionalism is really important, especially when working with horses. The horse’s welfare must be kept as a priority above all else, and having a professional approach to the job helps makes sure that this is achieved safely."

What do you do outside of the time you spend with horses?

"I don’t have a lot of time outside of horses, due to owning 3 of my own, but I enjoy going to the gym as it’s a bit of me time. I also enjoy watching movies, baking and spending time with my family and friends and helping on the farm."

Why would you recommend all grooms join the BGA?

"I spoke to a member who was at my university, and she recommended joining before starting up. I like the fact that we can choose to have insurance with our membership, the business tools and support is fantastic, and the discounts we get make a big difference."

Thanks Sian for taking the time to shine the light on freelance grooms.

You can follow Sian on her SMH Equine Services social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.

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