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Eventing - through the eyes of a groom

December 2015

Welcome to the first installment of our new blog, Eventing - through the eyes of a groom, written by our lovely member Jess Errington. Jess is the super groom of Team GBR Event Rider Harry Meade, and won the Haddon Training Team GBR Groom Award 2015.

The winter is upon us. We have been lucky with the mild weather so far but now the temperature is dropping and with the high winds and the rain this doesn't make my job very appealing, as I walk out the door in already to many layers of clothes on to be able to move property at 7.00am to feed my wooly and rather fat horses I can't help but keep reminding myself that 2016 is getting closer and before we know it myself and my team will be wishing that we could have that quiet November back again!

Most of our top horses have actually gone away on holiday back to their owners etc which is nice but at the at the same time a bit like a feeling of sending your child off to a boarding school! The horrid feeling of saying goodbye and knowing that they will be fine but you just can't help but worry and miss them. Having spent so much time with them during be season and then not having them there and for you to take care of them is just for me the worst part of my job! One of our eventers has been doing a bit of hunting this winter which has been brilliant for him so his holiday was very much delayed but he is a having a very well deserved break and it was well worth the risk that hopefully would have paid off!

It's been a very quiet couple of weeks for the team which we are very much making the most of! Our 1 hour for lunch and finishing at 5.15/ 5.30pm is just brilliant and very rare in the season. Harry has been very busy with pre hunting courses, clinics and lecture demos all over the country so I have barely seen him but i do like to have time to myself when he isn't here as I can get on with my hundreds of jobs that need doing all before the end of December and before all the horses come back.

Away Cruising has had a nice long break and is now back hacking getting his fitness back. He will start schooling next week. I think it is safe to say he is enjoying being back in work! I did the major transformation of him this week and a full clip and pulled mane and tail were called for! This is another step closer to keeping me motivated over the winter! Our two lovely new rising 5 yr olds have got hind shoes back on and are also now starting to come back Into work. I'm excited to see these two go into next season and compete in their first few events. They already seem pretty grown up and are by far my favourite young horses we have ever had!

So slowly but surely we are starting to get back to normal, I say normal but actually the crazy life that us grooms live! Eating on the go, early/late hours, running everywhere and thinking to ourselves how and why do we do this!

By the time I write next time we will probably have a full yard with very keen and fresh horses wanting to be out and about again. We will be busy and yet another step closer to those Dr and SJ shows that are approaching fast!

Best wishes,

Jess



NEWS 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