Travel the world, be around top sport, see your horses performing on the world stage. No one ever claims that a grooms’ life is an easy one, but this should be an attractive career.

And yet we still hear too many stories of burnt out, exhausted grooms. In our latest blog, an IGA member (who wishes to stay anonymous) shared how this issue has affected her life.

“I am one of the lucky ones – I work for a 5* rider who understands how important it is for grooms to get time to rest and recover from shows. He insists I take days off and holiday; how else will I be there 100% for the horses?

It’s a cliché, but on an airplane, they tell you to put your own oxygen mask on first, because someone who is struggling to breathe will never be able to help others as effectively as possible.

It’s the same for grooms – however good you are at your job, you will be better still if you are healthy and rested.

It’s common sense - so why are there still grooms working themselves to exhaustion and beyond? Recently, a friend ended up in a situation that could have killed her. It happened because she was exhausted.

Anyone who’d been around her could have told you (for months before) that she was beyond tired; so why couldn’t her boss see it?

You cannot pull hard on a rope all the time and expect it not to break.

It makes me furious. It should make you furious too.

We’re working with super fit, athletic horses. Lots of grooms are also driving for hours between shows where they have been working 12+ hour days. 

It doesn’t take much to see how dangerous it is to do any of these things when you are exhausted.

Yet many riders don’t accept that they should pay drivers because they consider that it’s 'too expensive'. 

This job takes a huge amount of commitment, to ensure your horses are healthy and happy, and to support your rider to be their very best.

Most grooms know you will work extra hours, that you may have to miss family occasions and that your non horsey friends won’t understand your life.

But your job shouldn’t cost you your mental health, your physical safety or your ability to plan for the future.

It is not impossible for grooms to be paid properly, to have days off, to have holidays, to have drivers to help when they are in the middle of an intense season.

This model of Good Employment practices is working in many yards, and grooms are happier, healthier, safer at work and stay in the industry longer.

There are many riders who have found a way to ensure their grooms don’t end up exhausted. Some hire drivers, or an extra freelancer for the busier shows. On some yards they have two show grooms who go to alternate shows so that they are not always on the road.

There are even riders who do some driving themselves if they can’t afford a driver; they share the load with their groom.

Logically, there isn’t a downside to ensuring grooms get time for rest and recovery from work and yet too many riders create fear in their grooms that if they ask for what they need they will lose their job, they will lose their beloved horses and they will get a bad name in the industry.

This has to change; because if it doesn’t improve we will continue to see grooms leaving the industry for somewhere their basic human needs will be recognised.” 

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Thank you to this IGA member for sharing her thoughts on this important topic. This is one of the biggest underlying issues in international horse sport - if you would like to be involved with the conversation, or have a story to share, get in touch.

The IGA is the representative voice of grooms in FEI sport. If you're not yet a member click the button below to join us today.

 

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