The International Grooms Association (IGA) has been working alongside Wellington International to create outreach with the grooms working hard throughout the Winter Equestrian Festival and the Adequan Global Dressage Festival.
Our outreach efforts have been transformed into an easy-to-use survey that allows grooms to provide feedback for their time at the show facility. Located on our website, any groom working at Wellington International can complete the survey here.
This great initiative, from the world's largest and longest-running circuits, allows grooms to share in the improvement of the Wellington International facility by sharing their experiences and suggestions. No one knows the ins and outs of these showgrounds like the grooms working onsite at Wellington International, and the IGA has made it their goal to have their input considered.
Each groom who responds to the survey is entered into a prize draw to win $100 gift card, but more importantly, they are being heard directly by the management of Wellington International as they look towards a widespread improvement of the facility moving into 2023 and beyond.
Initial responses to the survey have shone light on the initiative and have paved a path forward for the show organizers to work alongside the IGA and every groom involved.
Executive Director of the IGA, Lucy Katan said, “we’re very pleased to work with Wellington International to understand more about the experiences of grooms working during the season. It is a really positive step forward to see an organization actively reaching out to the groom community in this way, and we will now work with Wellington going forward- to celebrate what they already do well and to implement changes where they would improve conditions.”
“Working with the International Grooms Association is an important piece of fostering our community here at Wellington International. Creating a constant feedback loop between our organization and the grooms here is critically important to us. These grooms spend months at our facility during the Winter Equestrian Festival circuit and represent some of the best groom and rider combinations in the world. We want them to feel at home, listened to and supported here.”
Michael Stone, President of Wellington International
This is a great example of how attitudes towards grooms are globally shifting and their voices and experiences are being increasingly prioritized. Without the grooms at Wellington International and show circuits around the world, our equestrian sport would not be as successful as it is. We must show our appreciation for their work with our beloved horses by taking their experiences as chances to improve show facilities not only for them but for our horses and everyone involved.
The IGA is working to ensure that all international grooms are heard and represented. Membership costs 15 euros to be a part of the only professional association for FEI level grooms.
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