GroomsBRITISH

ISSue 15 I WINTeR 2010/11 I £2.50 MAGAZINe

WWW.BRITISHGRooMS.oRG.uk I THe offIcIAl puBlIcATIoN of THe BRITISH GRooMS ASSocIATIoN

2 I WINTeR 2010/11

Latest news www.equitector.com

BGA literature is designed and produced by fluid freelance:- info@fluidfreelance.co.uk WINTeR 2010/11 I 3

British Grooms Association, p.o. Box 592, london, kT12 9eRT: 0845 331 6039 e: info@britishgrooms.org.uk

NeW - BGA JoB BoARD! We now have a job board on the BGA website! We are really excited about this new feature and hope that it will help members to find new roles, in addition to providing the BGA with a source of income. If you know of anyone looking for staff then please let them know this service is now available.

INcReASe

We are sorry to have to report that in 2011 Standard Membership is going up from £17.50 to £19.50. This is not because we want to, but unfortunately because of the economic climate and increase in postage and VAT we simply can’t afford not to increase it. We appreciate that grooms are not high earners and so we are concentrating on keeping it well below what it should be and thank you for your support.

cpD foR GRooMSThe Professional Grooms Education Day is being held on the 8th March 2011 at Peasebrook Equine Clinic in Worcestershire. The day will feature high quality talks and demos by vets and rehabilitation centre staff including equine sports massage techniques for grooms, sports horses, nutrition and the digestive system as well as an in depth lecture on the lower leg and injuries. The day costs just £40. for details email: info@peasebrook.co.uk

feI GRooM AWARD WINNeR Congratulations to British groom and BGA member, Michelle Tipper, who won the prestigious FEI Groom Award at the 2010 FEI Awards held in Taiwan at the FEI General Assembly. For more information on Michelle and her fantastic achievement see page 4.

HelloFroM ThE EDITor

The first thing that springs to mind is snow, cold fingers and frozen water pipes, oh and happy 2011. Like many of you I have definitely had enough of winter already!

on a much brighter note I would like to say congratulations to Michelle Tipper for winning the 2010 FEI Groom Award – a huge achievement and something to be very proud of.

As always we have been busy at the BGA and the latest thing to report is our new JoB BoArD – please do have a look and recommend to anyone you know needing staff. Unfortunately 2011 also sees our standard membership rise by £2, a regrettable but essential necessity, although please don’t underestimate how important it is to get your friends to join.

We are also delighted to announce that we are now a Member Body of the BEF. This is something that we are very excited about and have been working very hard to achieve. This means that grooms will get an ever stronger voice and hopefully more support.

Don’t forget to log on to Your Profession – Your Life for lots of information regarding everything from employment laws through to what to do if you have a problem at work and managing staff. This information is for members only and is another great reason to renew your membership.

I hope you like your winter edition of the magazine. Don’t forget you can email me with any suggestions as I love hearing from you. Until next time keep warm and we will soon be counting down the days until Springtime.

Liz Danielsliz.daniels@britishgrooms.org.uk

AreAreps

DeAr fellow BGA AreA repsI hope father Christmas brought you all the things you wanted this year, such as less snow/more running water!

I’ve lots of good news to bring you this issue. We have two new reps on the team. Thomas Janichen is now a rep. for East London, Ilford and Romford, and Wendy Robson is covering North Northumberland. Welcome to the gang. If you would like to contact any of our reps. please find their details on our website page or if you are interested in becoming a rep please contact me on 07947643626 or email me at: joannehooker_bga@hotmail.co.uk.

I would also like to pass on my congratulations to Lianne Barrett and her partner who have celebrated the birth of their first baby. Ciara Evelyn Adelaide arrived seven days late on the 13th of November, weighing 7lbs 13onces.

We are still looking for a deserving winner for the Woof Wear holdall so don’t forget to put your codes on any join forms. Just get out and about with those join forms at shows, on yards, or wherever you go!

Happy New Year to you all.

Michelle Tipper

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05/11/11

4 I WINTeR 2010/11 WINTeR 2010/11 I 5

WHeRe Do you WoRk? At the moment I am freelancing. I was Nicky and richard Barrett’s head Girl and travelling groom for 3 1/2 years and still do some work for them. I am head Groom for the Junior and Young rider European Dressage Team and have completed three Europeans with them. I am also groom for the Para Equestrian Team and I have been part of Team GB in Beijing and the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

HoW DID you feel WHeN you fouND ouT you HAD WoN THe feI GRooM AWARD? I was in shock for a couple of days because it didn’t seem real. To be flown out to Taipei with all expenses paid was not sinking in. I think it finally had sunken in when I received the award from Princess haya.

WHAT DoeS THe AWARD MeAN To you?It is an honour and privilege to receive the award. It is great that grooms are being recognised worldwide for the work they do. We are very lucky in the UK that the BEF and equestrian governing bodies look after their grooms so well. The BGA is also a fantastic association for grooms to get all the support and advice they need.

WHAT ARe THe BeST pARTS ABouT youR JoB?There are loads of good parts to my job. I love seeing the riders do well. It can be a very emotional time. The horses are such fun to be around and they all have their own characters. You also have favourites and ocean Diamond (Simon Lauren’s horse) and Girogio S (Nicky Barrett’s horse) will always be mine.

WHAT ARe THe WoRST pARTS?It has become a bit of a tradition and standing joke that whoever I am grooming for always seems to be on first; it always seems to be me getting up at the crack of dawn! The nerves are also a nightmare, half the time I cannot watch the tests - I think I would rather be riding!

WHAT DoeS THe fuTuRe HolD?At the moment I am job hunting as I have just finished my MSc in Sport Psychology. I am currently working two days a week for Inside Performance, a sport psychology and coach education consultancy.

MIChELLE TIPPEr hAS rECENTLY BEEN IN ThE NEWS AFTEr WINNING ThE PrESTIGIoUS FEI GrooM AWArD. WE FIND oUT MorE...

Meet a BGA Member

Michelle Tipper

Michelle Tipper

00889

05/11/11

Michelle Tipper

00889

05/11/11

Good news for the BGA- Your AssociationThE BrITISh GrooMS ASSoCIATIoN (BGA) IS DELIGhTED To ANNoUNCE ThAT WE hAVE BEEN INVITED To JoIN ThE BrITISh EqUESTrIAN FEDErATIoN (BEF) AS AN ASSoCIATE MEMBEr BoDY. ThIS IS A MoNUMENTAL STEP ForWArD For ThE BGA AND IS SoMEThING ThAT WE hAVE BEEN WorKING oN TIrELESSLY BEhIND ThE SCENES. So WhAT DoES ThIS ACTUALLY MEAN To YoU AS A MEMBEr/GrooM?

The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) is the national governing body for horse sports in the UK, affiliated to the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the international governing body of equestrian sports. It exists to provide leadership, vision and purpose in steering the direction of equestrianism.

The BEF is an umbrella organisation representing the interests of 4.2 million riders in Great Britain via 16 independent member bodies. The BGA will become the 17th member body in January 2011.

The BEF is responsible for distributing Government funding to equestrian sports. Funding from UK Sport and Sport England supports the BEF’s work from developing the best riders, with the aim of winning medals for Great Britain, to encouraging complete beginners to get involved. We hope that eventually the BGA will be able to access some funding via the BEF, to develop projects that we have identified.

As a founder BGA member you should be very proud of the fact that we have achieved this status so early in our existence. This is a sign of how important the work of the association is and how the BEF and its member bodies (e.g. BD, BSJA, BhS, BE) who have voted us in have recognised this.

Going forward, we hope that by being an officially recognised association will give us more kudos,

new opportunities and open more doors. As a first instance we would certainly like to see an increase in recognition of grooms and promotion of a career with horses within the Federation itself.

We passionately believe that working with horses is a good career option and hope that our membership to the BEF will enable us to encourage more to consider the job and so in the long term, help to build our membership levels. This will also help to raise the profile of the career in our industry and therefore create a higher working standard. We also hope that this message will cascade through the other member bodies, especially the larger ones i.e. BD, BE, BSJA, BhS and ABrS.

The BGA will be invited to sit on the quarterly BEF meetings – so at last grooms’ voices will be heard at the highest levels. We will constantly represent your best interests and be vocal regarding matters we feel are of importance.

So WHAT DoeS THIS MeAN foR you? We believe that this significant decision has raised the profile of the BGA and grooms to a new level and we look forward to what the future may bring.

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BRIoNey lloyD HAD A TeRRIBle AccIDeNT WHIcH puT HeR ouT of AcTIoN foR A loNG peRIoD of TIMe. SHe TellS uS WHAT HAppeNeD AND WHy SHe WAS RelIeveD To HAve pRepAReD HeRSelf foR THe uNexpecTeD....

WHAT Do you Do foR A JoB? I am a freelance groom/rider. As well as general stable management, I break and produce young horses for clients and start them in their competition career.

So HoW DID youR AccIDeNT HAppeN? My accident happened when riding a five year old in his first BE event at Aston-le-Walls horse trials. It was raining very heavily and he met a fence on a bad spot and stopped. Somehow I managed to fall awkwardly because all the tack was so wet and slippery and I knew straight away that I had hurt myself! X rays showed that I had broken my scapula. This meant that I had to keep my arm in a sling and was unable to lift anything or drive for eight weeks, which was very frustrating.

WHAT WAS youR AWAReNeSS ReGARDING STATuToRy SIck pAy?As I am self employed I was not entitled to Statutory Sick Pay. I had personal accident insurance with SEIB through the BGA and was lucky that they agreed to pay for ‘total temporary

disablement’. This meant that I received approximately £600 while I was unable to work.

folloWING THIS expeRIeNce, WHAT WoulD Be youR ADvIce To All GRooMS? Fortunately my injuries have healed well and I am back at work. I think it is very important for all grooms to have some sort of personal accident insurance, especially for those who are self employed. This is not always easy as many policies are prohibitively expensive and do not pay out unless you are hospitalised so I was very grateful for my insurance through the BGA! DID you kNoW THAT If you ARe fReelANce/Self eMployeD youR eMployeRS oR clIeNTS Do NoT HAve To pAy you ANy SIck pAy? AT THe BGA We ReGulARly leARN of GRooMS WHo HAve HAD TeRRIBle AccIDeNTS AND So ARe uNABle To WoRk AND eARN A lIvING. So, We uRGe All GRooMS To coNSIDeR INSuRING THeMSelveS, you THINk IT MIGHT NeveR HAppeN To you.... BuT WHAT HAppeNS If IT DoeS?

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www.britishgrooms.org.uk or call 0845 331 6039

Previous worming regimes involved blanket worming – worming the whole yard at set times throughout the year – but recent thinking indicates that this method could be the fast track to worm resistance. Blanket worming can waste both time and money, so a more targeted approach is the best way forward.

Merial’s SMArT planner is the simple way to set up and co-ordinate a routine for the whole yard. With an easy-to-use table accessed quickly online, the SMArT planner lets you input data for the whole yard, and once it’s set up you’ll get reminders when each horse is due a Worm Egg Count (WEC). By testing the horses, you can be aware of each horse’s current worm status, enabling you to report back to the owners if required and worm each horse as an individual.

cASe STuDyTeresa Flanagan has a number of horses and found it was becoming a nightmare to keep track of the worming situation. “I treated all the horses with EqVALAN® Duo in the spring and since then have been using the SMArT worming planner and WECs to test each horse regularly to monitor the individual worm egg counts. I was surprised when some of the results came back, as most were low or zero counts but one horse who I bred myself and has never been off our farm, has had quite a high WEC reading. The online planner reminds me when to re-test the horses and keeps track of their individual results.”

To find out more and set up your yard’s SMArT planner visitwww.smartworming.co.uk

Start SMArT for the New YearA NEW YEAr MEANS A FrESh STArT So WhY NoT MAKE YoUr LIFE A LITTLE EASIEr BY SETTING UP A PLAN For YoUr WhoLE YArD’S WorMING rEGIME? WITh DIETArY PLANS, FITNESS rEGIMES AND EVENT TIMETABLES To Co-orDINATE, IT CAN BE EASY To LET WorMING SLIP.

8 I WINTeR 2010/11

Worming made easy

WINTeR 2010/11 I 1110 I WINTeR 2010/11

Winter feeding - the older horseWHo SAyS youR HoRSe IS olD? MANy people BelIeve THAT A HoRSe BecoMeS olD WHeN IT ReAcHeS 16 yeARS, BuT I’M SuRe THAT eveRyoNe kNoWS AT leAST oNe ‘GolDeN olDIe’ THAT IS HeAlTHy AND SpRITely DeSpITe HIS yeARS.

So how do you know when your horse is ‘old’ and at what age should you start feeding them senior feed in order to maintain their condition? horses are individuals, and like people, should be fed according to their condition and health.

THe folloWING SIGNS MAy INDIcATe THAT youR HoRSe IS IN NeeD of SoMe NuTRITIoNAl SuppoRT:• loSS of MuScle ToNe• A DIppeD BAck • loSS of WeIGHT • GReyING AReAS, eSpecIAlly ABove THe eyeS• STIffNeSS• HolloW eyeS

SuppoRTING THe olDeR HoRSe DeNTAl pRoBleMSAs horses get older their teeth may start to deteriorate which can reduce their ability to chew and grind properly. This may result in ‘quidding’, where partially chewed fibre drops from their mouth. If left untreated this can lead to problems such as colic, choke and weight loss so it’s important to have your horse’s teeth checked regularly (every six months). Fibre is the most important part of a horse’s diet so it is important to replace it if they are having problems chewing. A short chop hay replacer or high fibre cubes, which can be soaked to form a mash, are more manageable alternatives.

STIffNeSS AND JoINT SuppoRTolder horses can suffer from joint stiffness, especially after they have been standing for long periods of time. This can be especially noticeable in winter when horses are stabled for longer

periods in colder temperatures. You can help to support joint mobility by rugging them well and allowing your horse time to stretch his legs for a few hours in a flat paddock. Extra nutritional support such as the addition of glucosamine to the diet can also help support joint health.

DIGeSTIve HeAlTHLong term worm damage can reduce a horse’s ability to absorb nutrients. You can help to support the digestive system by providing highly digestible fibre sources such as hay replacers or soft meadow hay. Always ensure your horse has constant access to water and try to choose feeds containing live yeast to support a healthy hind gut.

Ensure you have a healthy and active senior horse this winter by monitoring their condition and feeding to their individual needs.

for more information on feeding the senior horse in winter and all year round call the SpIlleRS® care-line on

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SPILLErS® NUTrITIoNIST hANNAh BrIArS EXPLAINS

Me and my groomsWITH 30 STABleD HoRSeS, pluS vISITING MAReS AND foAlS, oRGANISATIoN IS pARAMouNT WHeN RuNNING THe yARD foR SHoW JuMpING SupeRSTAR, JoHN AND HIS equAlly SucceSSful cHIlDReN, RoBeRT AND louISe.

For Clare, finding the right staff is of upmost importance, “We often hire staff through word of mouth. We look for someone who is fairly quiet and really wants to do the job as the hours can be anti social” explains Clare.

“We find that mostly the younger ones are not as dedicated as the older school ones, although saying that, we have just taken on a new girl who has been to college and wanted to expand on what she has done – and we couldn’t have asked for anyone better” says Clare.

“I am happy if my staff come with some experience, but I do quite like teaching people as well. I am not concerned with qualifications, although it is always a good idea to go and get them.”

The Whitakers employ seven staff and each groom has their own role, although Clare is quick to say that everyone is keen to help each other out. “It’s very important for people to work as a team, everyone has to work together and get on – it just wouldn’t work for us if they didn’t. We are fortunate that our staff are quite easy going.”

on a daily basis everyone has their own stables to do, “After breakfast either Louise or I write a list of who is riding what and when. All the staff have their own sets of horses and responsibilities, so they know what they are doing. of course

sometimes things can go wrong – like if John wants his cows moving, but generally we try and stick to what is on the list!”

While Clare recognises the importance of being a good groom she also knows the value of being a good employer, “We all muck in and help. We all can clip (and do!) and also can do everything at the farm, so when we ask our staff to do something they know we can all do it too! We try to be fair and make it as easy as possible to be approachable. John, robert and Louise are all very easy to get on with. When people start we also take them on a month’s trial so that both parties can see if they are happy. We are fortunate as many of our staff have been here a long time.”

For anyone looking to get into grooming at an international level Clare has this advice, “Work hard and you have to realise it is not a 9-5 job. Some days are easier than others, but you might get to travel a bit and you will certainly make lots of friends.”

AS oNE oF ThE EqUESTrIAN WorLDS MoST rECoGNISED AND LoVED NAMES, JohN WhITAKEr AND hIS WIFE CLArE KNoW ABoUT ThE IMPorTANCE oF hAVING A GooD TEAM oF STAFF.

A week in the life of… Caroline DawsonHAvING pRevIouSly WoRkeD AS AN INTeRNATIoNAl coMpeTITIoN GRooM cARolINe IS NoW TRAINING To Be AN equINe veTeRINARy NuRSe. We Spoke To HeR ABouT HeR lIfe AT THe veT’S AND HeR cHANGe of cAReeR.

Caroline’s career began when she was still at school when she started helping in the Ledbury hunt stables. on leaving school she rode breakers, pointers and show horses for the late Bill Bryan until in 2000 she went to work for Carl hester. It was here where she worked her way up to head Girl and competition groom taking care of the legendary Escapado.

Caroline then spent two years working in the Netherlands looking after top stallion Negro and was part of the 2008 olympic Bronze medal winning Danish dressage team, as groom to Anne Van olst. She returned to England in early February and saw an advert for a vacancy at Peasebrook Equine Clinic in Worcestershire.

“I have always been very interested in the work done by equine vets from diagnostics through to surgeries and have also been particularly impressed by how much can be done for seriously injured or sick horses. As a groom I always wanted to learn more about what the vet was seeing

and how they were going to treat the condition. Additionally if I had a sick or injured horse to care for I always put 100% into its management. When my own 20 year old horse came home after colic surgery I slept outside his stable door for the first week!” said Caroline.

At the vet’s there is no typical day, “Every day is different although it always begins with inpatient care, so monitoring general demeanor, checking TPr, mucus membrane colour, capillary refill time and gut sounds. If I have any concerns I’ll report them immediately. After the checks the normal yard routine of feeding and mucking out begins. horses are given drugs as appropriate, groomed and walked out for grass if they’re able to. The rest of the day could see me helping with lameness work ups, holding plates for X-rays, preparing horses for surgery and helping in surgery.

“The work is all encompassing and the nurse’s role is very important. The day length depends on the work load but I usually begin around 7am and finish at 5pm provided no emergencies come in. If we have an intensive care case I may find myself working around the clock!” explains Caroline.

“No two days are the same and that is what I love about the work. It is always very rewarding to see a horse return home knowing that I’ve played a part in its recovery and possibly even helped to save its life. I find surgeries especially interesting too. I guess most of all though I enjoy establishing a bond with a patient even if they’re only with us

12 I WINTeR 2010/11

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for a short time, I want the horses to trust me and understand that I’m helping them.”

of course, with the nature of the job it has its downsides, “Well obviously it is never pleasant when a horse has to be euthanised but there is usually a very good welfare based reason for it and you have to see sense and not get emotional. I hate seeing animals suffer and in this line of work you have to be very sensible and rational about what can and cannot be achieved.”

As a nurse, the amount of riding you get to do can sometimes be compromised but Caroline says, “I do a surprising amount of riding as we have two resident horses at the clinic. I’m always on hand if a rider is needed for vettings or for one of our rehabilitation cases. Additionally I have two of my own to ride in the evenings.”

The job in its nature is rewarding, “A top TB breeder recently picked up one of his broodmares following a fairly major surgery and was blown away by how well she looked, he said several times ‘she’s a credit to your management’ and that kept me smiling for days.”

For people wanting to get into nursing Caroline has this advice, “Be prepared to do things a little

differently to how you may have done them in the past. It’s a good idea to spend some time doing work experience in a clinic to get a real idea of what is involved and to forge relationships as there are not a huge number of vacancies in this line of work. You will essentially be working in a hospital environment. If you’ve struggled to have a social life as a groom then this probably isn’t for you as 100% dedication is required. That said, it is very rewarding work and the camaraderie amongst the veterinary and nursing team is great. I’ve found the change very refreshing mostly because you never know what each day may bring!”

caroline Dawson

cARolINe HAS oRGANISeD THe pRofeSSIoNAl GRooMS eDucATIoN DAy WHIcH IS BeING HelD oN THe 8TH MARcH 2011 AT peASeBRook equINe clINIc IN WoRceSTeRSHIRe - coSTING £40.

The day will feature high quality talks and demos by vets and rehabilitation centre staff including equine sports massage techniques for grooms, sports horse nutrition and the digestive system as well as an in depth lecture on the lower leg and injuries.

For further information please contact:info@peasebrook.co.uk

Clean roundKeeping competition horses fit, well and performing at their best can be hard enough at the best of times. often the biggest risks come from travelling the horses to competition venues where they come into contact with multiple horses and therefore are exposed to lots of new bacteria.

Performance can easily be compromised if the horse contracts any kind of infection and more importantly you may not know the horse has an infection until they are back on yard – having already spread it. Bacteria, fungus and viruses can cause conditions such as respiratory tract infections, strangles and ringworm, all of which will put the horse, and potentially the whole yard, out of work and could end up costing you lots of money treating the problem,

So what can we do to help? We can’t wrap them in cotton wool but we can shield them from potential illness and make sure that any new environments we expose the horses to are clean and free from harmful bacteria and viruses. Spraying stables and horseboxes with an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and virus protection wash before exposing the horses to them will certainly help to keep any unwanted ailments away. Clean round yard and stable wash has been designed with this especially in mind and can even tackle strangles.

Because time is also precious the stable wash is easy and safe to use and can be applied quickly with a hand held spray. As the wash is non-toxic, corrosive and non-irritant it can

also be applied neat, giving you peace of mind that the environment is safe.

on the yard, sharing brushes, numnahs and rugs can also spread bacteria so it is a good idea to routinely wash any horse items with an antibacterial/ detergent system to ensure you are not passing anything from horse to horse. You can also wash your own clothes in this if you have been in contact with a horse which has an infection of any kind.

THe cleAN RouND RANGe HAS BeeN pRoveN To WoRk, BAckeD up By ScIeNTIfIc TeSTING. cAN you AffoRD NoT To pRoTecT THe HoRSeS IN youR cARe?

To fIND ouT MoRe Go To:

www.cleanround.co.uk

foR All coMpeTITIoN GRooMS THe THReAT of BAcTeRIAl INfecTIoNS AND vIRuSeS cAN Be A veRy ReAl NIGHTMARe.

14 I WINTeR 2010/11

Dear BGA

I wa nt to do a n Apprentice ship –

how do I f i nd a n employe r who

will ta ke me on?

Name and address withheld

If you’Re INTeReSTeD IN TAkING youR AppReNTIceSHIp IN HoRSe cARe THeRe ARe A NuMBeR of WAyS To Go ABouT fINDING A SuITABle eMployeR.

The first way, and one that the Government are keen to promote, is to register with www.apprenticeshipsonline.gov.uk This website is designed to bring potential employers and learners together. The service is free - Employers can place vacancies on the site and candidates can search for vacancies according to their requirements both in terms of vacancy type and location.

outside of this service, there are a number of other pro-active ways to find a suitable employer. The most productive route is to surf the internet to find employers that you would like to work for and approach them directly. Most good employers have a website, so that you can look in more detail at the type of yard they are running, its size and location.

Employers are always looking for good potential staff and their awareness of the apprenticeship scheme is usually very high. By approaching them directly, you are demonstrating that you are a proactive person and by sending them an up to date CV you can impress upon them your current skills. Always send a covering letter and explain to them that you are looking for an apprenticeship position.

haddon Training work with lots of employers and do occasionally get asked if we know of anybody to fill a vacancy. We are more than happy for you to approach us to register your interest but cannot

offer an ‘agency’ service, so this method alone is by no means any guarantee.

once you’ve found an employer to take you on, haddon Training, can work with that employer as a Training Provider to deliver the qualification. If you find an employer who is unfamiliar with the scheme and would like to know more then you can direct them to haddon Training for further information or contact us and we will be able to provide you with whatever you need.

our website www.haddontraining.co.uk may also provide you with some useful information and insight into Apprenticeships and other Equine qualifications.

16 I WINTeR 2010/11

LegaL expertise for• EmploymEnt rights• injury and accidEnt claims• propErty mattErs• EquinE law• pErsonal law• any othEr lEgal mattEr

t: 0113 245 0733aftEr hours: 0800 915 1102w: www.morrishsolicitors.come: info@morrishsolicitors.comoxford house, oxford row, leeds ls1 3BE

proud to support thE British grooms association

David Sorensen of Morrish Solicitors llp explains:Every employer has a ‘duty of care’ to protect your health, safety and welfare whilst you are at work.

Your employer should make an assessment of the risks to health and safety of employees to which they are exposed whilst at work. Your employer must not expose you to any risk which is avoidable.

Your employer must ensure that work equipment and machinery is suitable for its purpose, maintained in an efficient state and that safe working practices are set up and followed. This responsibility is strict; therefore if equipment is not properly working and you are injured as a result of this, then your employer may be liable.

All the walking and riding routes into and out of the yard should be kept free from obstructions. Work equipment should be stored away in a safe place to prevent accidents from occurring.

All persons who use machinery (e.g. tractor or quad bike) should receive adequate training. If you have not received such training then you should request this from your employer.

As an employee you have a legal right to refuse to do anything which you have reasonable grounds to believe would place you in serious and imminent danger. If you are dismissed for refusing to undertake an unsafe working practice then you may have a right to claim unfair dismissal at an Employment Tribunal.

If you believe that your employer is not taking their responsibilities seriously and is placing you at risk of danger then the best place to start is to raise your concerns with your employer. however, if you have any concerns about this or you have suffered an injury or accident at work you should contact the BGA legal helpline as soon as possible for further assistance. Please remember that if your employer is to blame for the injury or accident, you may be entitled to recover compensation.

‘I think my workplace is unsafe

with equipment and machinery

littered about but my boss tells me

not to worry, what are my rights?

Enquiries to: Career Grooms Ltd, PO Box 55673, London W9 1HH

T: +44 (0)207 289 6385 F: +44 (0) 207 286 2411 E: info@careergrooms.co.uk

www.careergrooms.co.ukwww.careergrooms.co.ukRECRUITMENT SPECIALISTS FOR THE EQUINE INDUSTRY

Career Planning - Where do you see yourself five years from now?

There is a famous saying “failure to plan is like planning to fail” so, don’t take needless risks. CArEEr GrooMS can help you achieve a brighter future with some Career planning and it’s never too soon to get started!

Where do you see yourself five years from now? Actually think about it, visualise it. There are so many options in our industry, you can so easily drift, ending up doing something you never really saw yourself doing and not necessarily feeling fulfilled. our advice? Think about your strengths, equestrian sectors that interest you, what qualifications you can realistically obtain and get started studying now. You may have to start at the bottom but if you stick to realistic goals then you can achieve your ambitions.

1) Management Roles, for example - Livery Yard Manager, Riding School Manager, Stud Manager, Competition Yard Manager, Private Yard Manager

For these jobs you should enjoy taking charge and responsibility. You need to develop the necessary interpersonal and communication

skills to be able to effectively delegate, supervise, motivate and train your team giving them personal goals/targets for improvement and keeping your eye on your own goals. You need to be customer focused (your customers can be clients or owners) and to be happy to lead by example and muck in (and out) with the team when needed.

You may need to handle marketing projects/find new business, manage a website, help create/manage budgets, recruit staff, keep records and manage health and safety requirements on the yard. Get training in computer skills, interviewing, managing people and customer service to help you do the best possible job.

once you have decided exactly what kind of role you are interested in, you can work out the best route to get there and the skills and qualifications you need to collect on the way up the ladder.

Your Life – Your Profession has some excellent tips on continued professional development and how to manage your staff. Log on to www.britishgrooms.org.uk to find out more.

WELCoME To ThE FIrST INSTALMENT oF A NEW SErIES hELPING YoU AChIEVE YoUr CArEEr GoALS AND GET To WhErE YoU WANT To BE.

18 I WINTeR 2010/11

how to… Clip a young or difficult horse CLIPPING CAN BE DANGEroUS AND hoW YoU APProACh ThE SITUATIoN DEPENDS oN WhEThEr ThE horSE hAS BEEN CLIPPED BEForE AND WhEThEr IT IS ShoWING SIGNS oF NErVoUSNESS or AGGrESSIoN.

HoW cAN I BuIlD A HoRSe’S coNfIDeNce?

IF IT IS A CASE oF GETTING ThE horSE’S CoNFIDENCE, ThEN TIME SPENT INTroDUCING ThE CLIPPErS To ThE horSE WILL PAY oFF IN ThE LoNG rUN. If clippers or trimmers are incorporated as a part of the grooming routine, the horse will soon relax as he gets used to the noise. Don’t try and do a full clip all in one go, instead aim for a smaller clip and a positive experience, you can remove more hair the next time. A young or nervous horse can also get used to the noise of clipping if he is stabled next to the clipping box/area.

My HoRSe IS veRy AppReHeNSIve WHAT elSe cAN I Do?

IN ThE CASE oF AN EXTrEMELY SENSITIVE or APPrEhENSIVE horSE, IT IS BETTEr To USE TrIMMErS or SMALL CLIPPErS FIrST, AND ThEN MoVE oN To ThE LArGEr CLIPPErS. Clippersharp have had a lot of success using the Moser Avalon and the Lister Libretto which are re-chargeable clippers. Termed as light duty machines, they are capable of doing part clips and full clips on fine coats. There is little vibration and the sound is so quiet that it can be completely camouflaged by the sound of a radio. The blade is interchangeable and can be used with a narrower blade as a trimmer.

DecIDING WHeN To SeDATe

AS WITh ALL YoUNG horSES, IF ThE EDUCATIoN hAS BEEN GIVEN PATIENTLY AND CorrECTLY AT ThE BEGINNING oF A NEW EXPErIENCE, ThErE ShoULD BE No rEASoN For CLIPPING To BECoME AN ISSUE. It is obviously more difficult, when an older horse is purchased and comes with a clipping problem. Apply the same methods as if the horse were a youngster, but even more patience is needed. Sometimes, a horse is never able to overcome the fear that has been associated with clipping, and in these circumstances, if clipping is absolutely necessary, we advise contacting your veterinary surgeon to discuss sedation. If the horse is well rugged in the early autumn, this will help suppress the coat growth, so that clipping can be kept to a minimum.

clIppING A SeDATeD HoRSe

A SEDATED horSE CAN BE EXTrEMELY UNPrEDICTABLE So IT IS VITAL ThAT ThIS IS oNLY DoNE BY EXPErIENCED AND EFFICIENT PEoPLE. Wait until the horse is fully sedated before switching the clippers on and then start with the neck. It is then beneficial to clip the head on both sides while the horse is at his most sedated, followed by removing any hair from around the quarters and other ticklish areas. If possible ask your vet to wait to ensure the horse remains under sedation. Sedation often causes horses to sweat so it is important to get any hair removed from the neck, flanks and girth area as soon as possible. Never use a twitch on a sedated horse.

Clippersharp offer a comprehensive clipper blade sharpening service and can repair all makes of machines as well as carry out warranty repairs and servicing. Clipper blade sharpening is a very skilled and precise job. At Clippersharp all horse blades are lapped which is a precision way of sharpening.

They have several machines to sharpen the different types of clipper and trimmer blades. for more info and for tips on clipping and clippers visit: www.clippersharp.com 01823 681076 • www.clippersharp.com

Email: sales@clippersharp.com

Grooming for successGrooming for success

UK’s No 1 animal clipper & grooming equipment specialistProfessional, practical adviceShow grooming productsSmart tailsBorstiq brushesClippers and trimmersBlade sharpeningMachine servicing

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20 I WINTeR 2010/11

THe RAcING INDuSTRy offeRS MANy oppoRTuNITIeS AND NoT JuST foR THoSe WHo WISH To RIDe ouT oR WoRk oN THe yARDS.

Sian Phillips is the Stud Secretary at Plantation Stud in Newmarket. We find out how Sian got to her current position, a typical day and advice for those who want to work as a Stud Secretary -

“I started riding my own ponies from an early age and then did a bit of eventing, show jumping and hunting as I got older. I realised that I wanted to work in racing but also wanted to use my admin. skills and so I managed to become a racing Secretary for Trainer Peter Bowen. I used to ride two lots in the morning before going into the office. Unfortunately injury stopped me from riding and I therefore needed something else to get stuck into.

I still wanted to work in racing so I attended a Stud Secretary’s course at the National Stud

and was taken on as their Stud Secretary at the beginning of the 2003 breeding season. I stayed there until the of the 2007 season where I moved onto my current job as Stud Secretary at Plantation Stud.

on a day to day basis I maintain the vet diary and horse records, and put in place the worming and farrier program. I also have to update and maintain the Plantation Stud website. I am responsible for mare, foal and stallion registrations which I do through Weatherbys and also for booking coverings and transport, issuing stallion contracts and making sales entries. I liaise with trainers and owners and also update the stud’s staff records along with general office duties.

If I could give advice for anyone wanting to work as a Stud Secretary, I would suggest obtaining as much office experience as possible and also making sure that you have computer skills. It is also useful to have a keen interest in the racing and breeding industry. You must be an organised individual and be able to cope with challenging and trying situations and/or people!”

For further career information, please visit: www.careersinracing.com

Sian Phillips takes time out from a busy schedule

WINTeR 2010/11 I 21

THERE ARE NOW MANY DIFFERENT JOBS FOR YOU TO CHOOSE FROM ONLINE.

PLAN YOUR NEXT MOVE ATWWW.CAREERSINRACING.COM

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Bloodstock

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Stable Staff.

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GROOMERS LIMITED IS ONE OF THE UK’S LEADING DISTRIbUTORS OF QUALITY ANIMAL CARE PRODUCTS. WE MANUFACTURE OUR OWN LAbEL SHAMPOOS, CONDITIONERS AND STYLING RANGES AND SUPPLY RETAIL AND WHOLESALE PRODUCTS TO PROFESSIONAL GROOMERS, ExHIbITORS, bREEDERS, vETERINARY PRACTICES AND CARING PET AND HORSE OWNERS.

Top TipsWINTEr IS hErE So USE SoME oF ThESE ToP TIPS IN YoUr DAILY roUTINE To TAKE CArE oF oLDEr horSES IN YoUr CArE.

keepING THeM WARM Just like older people they may need more help keeping warm with an extra rug, or duvet in cold weather. If they are still in work then only give them a minimal clip. Magnetic wraps are also great for boosting circulation in their legs. Sam Meakin

SToppING THe STIffNeSSMake sure they have lots of field time to help keep joints supple. A good Glucosamine supplement is also important. If I have to hose legs off in the winter then I use leg wraps at night to dry them off quicker and stop the cold.katie Read

Apple cIDeR vINeGAR Feed cider vinegar to help keep them supple, aid their digestive system and it’s also great for coat condition. clare farmer

THe BGA HAS THeSe TIpSCare of the teeth should be high on the priority list with a visit from the vet, or dental technician every six months. Diets should be high in fibre, protein and energy and easy to swallow and digest. Increase nutritional intake before the winter begins to help prevent weight loss.

TooTH TRouBleSI looked after a 32 year old horse who didn’t really have any teeth but he loved his soaked hI-FI. Try soaking their food, or making nuts into a mash, to ensure they can still get all the nutrients they need. Thanks to Samantha Woodhams for this top tip, Samantha wins a BGA gift.

Tell uS YOUR TopTIpTHe GRooM WITH THe BeST TIp WIll WIN A BGA GIfT!

SeND youR TopTIp By eMAIl To:

info@britishgrooms.org.uk

how to make working life easier - a grooms viewBased in Dorset, Aude has been with Sam since June 2010, “I had been studying in France but when I finished I decided I really missed grooming. I saw the job advertised in horse & hound and I had previously met Sam when I was working for Emily Anchor. I applied for the job and got it!” explains Aude.

“I love working for Sam, he is a really good rider, we have some really good horses and he looks after his grooms.” Aude was lucky enough to attend WEG with Sam as part of the Australian team, “Going to WEG with Sam and happy Time was fantastic. To be part of a team at such a big event was an incredible experience.”

Another event which stands out for Aude this season was Boekelo, “We took 10 year old Danaan Prince, who did a double clear to finish 15th out of 106 riders. And what was even better is that Prince and I got the third place for the trot up best presentation, thanks to Groomers and their products.”

When speaking to Aude it is clear that she is passionate about her job, “For me grooming is a mix of lots of emotions. I love the responsibility and

I’m someone who needs to have stress around me to work better. I love challenges and every event is a challenge for the rider and for myself. I take pride in making sure that the horse looks amazing, is

feeling good physically and mentally and ready on time. When we are at an event and people comment that the horses look amazing, it just makes my day.”

For any competition groom presentation plays an important role, “Groomers products are the only products we use. They have such a big range. I think my favourites are ‘Plait and Go’, when we are doing one day events I plait the day before and they always stay in perfectly. The other product I love is the stain remover spray, it is amazing, quick and easy to use. It’s horrible just before a trot up finding a stain on a sock that the chalk cannot cover, now I don’t have to worry, I just use the stain remover and in five seconds it has gone.”

AUDE rEUBrEChT IS hEAD GIrL For EVENT rIDEr SAM GrIFFIThS. WE CAUGhT FIVE MINUTES To ASK hEr ABoUT WorKING For SAM AND WhAT MAKES hEr LIFE EASIEr.