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Home /Grooms life/Alan davies olympic year is here again 21

Alan Davies - Olympic year is here again!

15th July 2024
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And it’s here again ….Olympic year! The big event that everyone works towards and dreams of being there.

In the lead up to Paris 2024 we asked Alan Davies to share his memories of previous Olympic Games....

“The build-up to the Olympics is full of anticipation and the process has a lot of ‘unknowns’ to encounter and sometimes this can be challenging.  The planning ahead of the Olympics takes months, as well as keeping the horses fit, well, and happy to be able to perform in front of the world.

 

  "I often get asked which was my favourite Olympics, and I always dread this question! Every Olympics is unique in its very own way so it’s so difficult to pick out a favourite moment or memory."

 

To be in a capital city, sometimes on the other side of the world, competing against the best in the world is exciting, but also nerve-wracking and exhausting!

All the organisers want to make the whole experience as enjoyable as possible for the horses and the grooms, so generally the accommodation and catering are good. Perhaps an exception was the bean stew in Rio, which kept appearing on the menu as it was supposed to be a local favourite dish - but didn’t turn out that popular with the grooms!

Sydney 2000

We were in Sydney for 6 weeks with all the quarantine and acclimatising. The Australians made us a Grooms Village, with our own laundry service, and Canteen, which was open 24/7, with amazing freshly cooked food.

London 2012

Amazing, obviously! To be in a park in London was unbelievable. The organisation was incredible, the stables were on platforms to protect the grass, and the muck was put into wheelie bins before being whisked away and disposed of within a blink of an eye, they thought of everything!

Tokyo 2020

The Olympics were delayed a year due to Covid and therefore held in 2021! Having to run under Covid restrictions with no crowds brought a completely different feel to the whole event. It was a challenging time for all concerned, it was tough being quarantined for two weeks, not allowed out of the stables, as well as the heat and humidity, but it all turned out well in the end!

I could talk endlessly about the Olympics and all the wonderful times I have had, but I will just end by saying that every 4 years the Olympics come round I always look back on my experiences, with the most amazing memories.

 

Whether it’s your first time, or if you’ve been lucky to go several like I have, make sure you take time to take it all in, and make some wonderful memories because it’s a unique time!


I hope everyone has a great time this year in Paris."

Alan

Many thanks to Alan for sharing some of his Olympic memories with us. 



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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