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Rio 2016 groom recognition

"Four Olympiad’s ago I was proud to be a dressage groom and a reserve for the team for the Sydney Olympic Games.

At that time the interest in the back room team was virtually non existant. The media’s focus was soley on the riders and their horses. There was the odd article mentioning the grooms, but in general they were the forgotten about hardworking heroes. 

Roll the clock forward to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and the interest level in grooms could not be more different! 

From the very beginning of the Games the media have been reporting and recognising the outstanding dedication and work from our Team GB super grooms. It all started with coverage of the journeys out to Rio, with the travelling grooms featuring on the BBC and has grown arms and legs since!

The innovation of social media has enabled us here at the BGA to highlight the brilliant work of the grooms, and we decided that although we would celebrate and report on competition successes, we would virtually never post without mentioning the relevant grooms alongside the riders. 

Thanks to so much support from the grooms (most who are BGA members)  and all of the Team GB riders, our campaign of recognising the grooms left at home also went viral. #hometeamforRio was nearly trending and Charlotte Dujardin loved it so much that she also pushed it out on her social media streams too. 

A big thank you to you guys too who have kept liking, commenting and sharing posts, every click shows your support and interest and means so much.

What a change this was from 2000, 2004, 2008 and even 2012. Never before have the grooms received SO much recognition and respect for their role that they perform as part of Team GB. 

Our gold medalists, Nick and Charlotte, were immediately citing their success in part due to their loyal grooms; and even the riders who it didn’t ‘go to plan’, were thanking their staff for their amazing work. 

When I formed the BGA in 2007, one of our initial aims was to increase the recognition of the role of a groom. I think in the year 2016 I am so proud to say that we have achieved that aim!

Grooms are now respected and publically recognised professionals. I do think that this recognition needs to cascade down to all yards, and not just Olympic ones, but in time this will happen. 

We would like to thank EquestrianTeamGBR, the FEI , all of the Team GB riders, silver and gold medalists and most of all the grooms who made this all possible. 

We are a very proud team at the BGA and hope that the grooms of Great Britain join their professional association so we can continue this great work on their behalf."

#ThreeHearts

Lucy Katan
Exec Director



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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