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I wish I had BGA insurance at the time of my accident!

12th June 2023
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We receive calls every week from grooms who have been injured and left unable to work.

Accidents happen all the time and when they do, the result can be drastic, impacting many areas of life and leave you struggling to pay your bills. 

Bekki Schofield is a freelance groom based in Northumberland; she shares her experience to highlight how important it is to make sure you have adequate insurance as sadly they are not all as comprehensive as you think they may be.

“When I had the accident, I was a BGA standard member, I had been for a long time, but at that point I did not have the KBIS insurance membership.

I already had a policy with another company, that I thought would cover me – now I wish I had taken out insurance with the BGA.

In 2020, a week before lockdown, the horse I was riding bolted and I fell off, landing on my bottom. I broke my back, a compression fracture of L2 and a slipped vertebra, which left me with an ongoing injury and a long road to recovery.

For the first two months I was completely immobilised, the stress of not being able to work was huge and I still had a way to go before I could return to work full time.

I remember panicking when I found out my insurance policy wasn’t going to pay out, if only I had taken out the trusted BGA insurance membership.

As I had no income, I had no choice but to return to work before I was fully recovered. I went to work on the days I wasn’t in too much pain, just to clip the odd pony for some money - I had a house to pay for and animals to keep. My mum and dad supported me, they helped to pay my bills, I don’t know how I would have coped without them.

I want to take this opportunity to tell other BGA members my story and urge them to consider using the affordable BGA personal accident insurance – please don’t make the same mistake as I did."

 I have now upgraded my BGA membership to include the KBIS insurance, if only I had done it sooner!”

 

 

Thankfully Bekki is fully recovered and has been able to return to work, but this time with her trusted BGA insurance membership to protect her.

If you get injured and you are unable to work your income is likely to be reduced, or disappear completely if you are a freelancer.

 

ARE YOU INSURED?

Not sure which insurance is right for you? Visit the membership options section of our website for more information.

Alternatively you can contact contact Fi, our Membership Manager, on 07590 258907 or membership@britishgrooms.org.uk.

 

Freelance groom, employed groom or equine student on work placement - whatever you do, the BGA is here for you and your insurance needs.

The BGA has the best grooms insurance for all who work with horses.

Join 1000’s of other grooms and belong to your professional association.

 

BGA MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS



BLOG ARCHIVE

 
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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