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WHY I AM A MEMBER
“The bespoke information has been invaluable for my career and employment; I don’t feel alone anymore. I have the peace of mind knowing my income is protected with my BGA insurance.”
Jenny Hooch
BGA Member
WATCH OUR VIDEO
Can you believe there is only ONE WEEK to go until the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games?! To celebrate, we chatted with epic supergroom Jackie Potts, who first went to the Olympics 20 years ago! One week turned into a lifetime career for Jackie after an agency she worked for sent her to William Fox Pitt for a week, only Jackie fell in love with the horses and never left! Jackie has had an amazing career, over 30 years with William. During this time Jackie attending many Olympics with William where he won the team eventing Olympic Silver medal at both Athens 2004 and London 2012, and the bronze medal in Beijing 2008. As well as having an amazing career working for William and more recently Japan’s Kazuma Tomoto, Jackie is hugely respected within the equestrian community, often mentoring grooms and being available to help wherever needed. Jackie, we salute you! "Well, where do I start? I would never have thought when William was selected to go to Athens Olympics in 2004, that it would have been my first of six Olympics (so far!). After selection there are the obvious questions; What do I need to take? How do we get there? What is expected when we are at the games? As part of Team GB, I was very lucky in that a huge amount of organisation was all taken care of, but there was still a lot to do, so I started planning weeks ahead, from ordering supplements to planning vet, physio, and farrier visits. One of the unique things about the Olympics is the 'kiting out' day. We were sent off to the official ‘kitting out warehouse’ with other Team GB athletes and each received several suitcases of sponsored clothing. Photos were taken and the whole day felt incredibly special. I remember really feeling part of the team as everyone wore the same outfits every day, from the trot up to the awards ceremony. Another difference with Athens was that I was able to fly with the horses, something grooms nowadays aren’t allowed to do, which is a shame as it is such an incredible experience. One of the great things we did there was to have a 'buddy system'. We were all paired up, so we had that one person to look out for - to ask them if they were ok that day, to keep an eye on them, and generally be a friend.” The Olympics in Athens was the first of many for Jackie.... “There are many, but I suppose one of my proudest moments was my first Olympics as it was an achievement. My family used to say to me ‘when are you going to get a proper job?’ and after Athens I could say ‘Does this count as a proper job now?” Thanks, Jackie for looking back down memory lane with us. Make sure you follow Jackie Potts Equestrian Services on Facebook.
Jackie Potts - Twenty Years of Olympic Games
18th July 2024
Jackie, can you tell us a little about your first Olympics?
It is such an honour to be chosen to represent your country, there is nothing quite like an Olympics and although you aren't the rider, grooms as we know, play an integral part.
A career to be proud of!
What is your proudest moment, Jackie?
BLOG ARCHIVE
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. |
|
|
|
| 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 |
The BGA is the national representative body for all
grooms working in the UK or British grooms abroad.
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