Kelly Wallace Horne, Author at The Grooms List

Freelance Grooms and Disguised Employment Risks

Kelly Wallace Horne 3rd October 2025 Articles, Employers, Freelance Grooms, Jobseekers

There is a great deal of confusion over the term “Freelance Groom”. We know, because it is demonstrated to us frequently. Understandably, many Yards (and Grooms) require flexibility within a work contract and so the term “Freelance” crops up. However, the status of “Freelance Groom”, or “Self-Employed Groom”, is not purely set by the label you place on it. If a worker looks like an employee then they are ARE an employee, regardless of what the contract (which you should have) says. Getting this wrong can lead to a huge legal and tax headache, with HMRC demanding backdated tax, plus fines and penalties – a very expensive outcome…

Equine Jobs with Accommodation

Kelly Wallace Horne 31st January 2025 Articles, Employers, Jobseekers

The provision of accommodation with an equine job can be a grey area for both employers and employees, with so many varying arrangements from yard to yard and job role to job role. Get it wrong and at the very least an employer struggles to find and keep staff, the employee loses out on their salary entitlement and, worst case scenario, the employer and employee find themselves in very hot water. Here we attempt to put a complex matter into as simple terms as possible, regarding the provision of accommodation with a job, based on situations regularly seen within the equine industry.

Wages in the Equine Industry

Kelly Wallace Horne 31st January 2025 Articles, Employers, Jobseekers, News and Updates

The National Minimum Wage and Living Wage from April

In April every year, at the end of one Tax Year and the start of the next, the National Minimum Wage and Living Wage increases. This is important for everyone in the equine industry – employers and employees alike. Equestrianism is a notoriously low-pay industry in terms of hourly salary, and salaries are frequently, if not always, topped up with extras, bonuses and tidbits. But in reality, how lawful are we in doing this without the advice and guidance of accountants and tax specialists? And what are the consequences of getting it wrong? The UK Government has strict laws regarding the minimum sum of money any individual can receive in return for work done and it can be confusing at least, a minefield at worst, when remunerating staff not just fairly, but legally too. In this article, we take a timely look, and research answers to basic questions for both employers and employees regarding the National Minimum Wage and Living Wage and to highlight common misconceptions within the equine industry regarding wages, remuneration packages and the law.

Spring Forward in the Equine Industry

Kelly Wallace Horne 1st March 2024 Articles

Spring is about to be sprung and we couldn’t be happier at the prospect of tiptoeing through the tulips! In among all the horsey loveliness of Spring, a real highlight for me is the arrival of our beloved Swallows with their “let’s get the party started” vibe. The uplift they provide as they arrive tired but jubilant never fails to lift my spirits. Guest Blogger Kelly Wallace Horne has seen many a horse through many a Winter:Spring season transitions both as a horse owner and professional Show Jumping groom. Following are just some of the seasonal ups and downs those of us who work with horses will know!

What is a Workplace Pension?

Kelly Wallace Horne 25th February 2022 Articles, Employers, Jobseekers

Since April 2017, it’s compulsory that all eligible employees receive a Workplace Pension as part of their employment contract, and this applies to grooms working in the equine industry. There is still a lot of confusion surrounding Workplace Pensions, who is eligible for one and who should be paying into one. So, what is a workplace pension? What does this mean? Who should expect to receive one? We have put together a simple guide to answer 10 common questions regarding Workplace Pensions in the equine industry

Brexit – Information for Employers and Grooms in the Equine Industry

Kelly Wallace Horne 29th January 2020 Articles

As Great Britain leaves the European Union at 11pm on 31st January 2020 and “Brexit” dominates our news headlines, what can we expect within the equine industry? As an international recruitment agency, we place many British Grooms in jobs within the EU, and many EU citizens into jobs within Great Britain, so… what about information for Employers and Grooms in the equine industry?

5 Facts about May Day and the Early May Bank Holiday

Kelly Wallace Horne 30th April 2019 Articles

The May Day Bank Holiday is the first of two Bank Holiday weekends in May each year, but how much do we know about this annual holiday? All of us know that one person who is a mine of useful information, and guest blogger Kelly Wallace Horne is one such individual. For the more enquiring amongst you, do have a read…I certainly learned something!

10 interesting, funny and simply ridiculous facts about Easter

Kelly Wallace Horne 15th April 2019 Articles

10 funny, interesting and simply ridiculous facts about Easter

Easter means many different things to many people, according to a person’s origin, faith, creed and (in my case) a love of chocolate (OK, OK! I’m not afraid to admit it!)Right, let’s get the serious bit out of the way first – have you ever wondered why, unlike Christmas, the date for Easter changes every year? Well, the fact is, in Christianity, it is known to be the Sunday that marks the end of the Holy Week, an event that commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and this is what dictates when Easter is each year according to when the full moon falls in relation to other events in the Christian calendar. BUT! Easter is NOT just about Christianity, there is much more to it than that! So, whatever your beliefs, to celebrate here are 10 interesting, funny and simply ridiculous facts about Easter…

5 Major differences between horses as a hobby and as a career!

Kelly Wallace Horne 6th March 2019 Articles

5 differences between horses as a hobby and as a career

They say “choose a career you love and you’ll never work a day in your life”, and for a lot of horse lovers a career in the equine industry would be a dream come true. But how different is working with horses to keeping them as a hobby?

A Basic Guide to Payslips

Kelly Wallace Horne 11th February 2019 Articles, Employers, Jobseekers

Understanding payslips is easier than you might think. From the 6th April 2019, it is an employee’s statutory right to receive a payslip, so it’s important that everyone understands them! Unless you are genned up on the ins and outs of gross salary, income tax, allowances, Workplace Pensions and National Insurance it may look like a confusing bunch of numbers, especially if you’re a worker receiving payslips for the first time. In this article we give you a basic guide to payslips, from who should be given payslips and why, through to understanding the various codes and figures.

Equine career planning in 4 simple steps

Kelly Wallace Horne 13th January 2019 Jobseekers

Equine Career Planning - The Grooms List

Most young people entering the equine industry as a career pathway dream of grooming at the Olympia Horse Show or exercise riding international sport horses or something similar, but due to lack of any real structured planning and implementation of said plan, many give up on their dreams or leave on the reality sooner or later. Equine career planning is the key to achieving dreams, trust us! What gets written down, reviewed and even measured, gets done! Here’s how it couldn’t be simpler in 4 simple steps…

Understanding Holiday Entitlement in the Equine Industry

Kelly Wallace Horne 6th July 2018 Articles, Employers, Jobseekers

We all know horses don’t look after themselves, and it appears that this may lead to some confusion at times regarding holiday entitlement in the equine industry. Whether you’re an employer or an employee, don’t make assumptions about holiday entitlement, make sure you know the law!

Equine Apprenticeships: Course Options – Grooms of the Future Part 2

Kelly Wallace Horne 8th June 2018 Articles, Employers, Jobseekers

Looking to build a successful career in a particular discipline or sector of the equine industry? Find out about the course options available to learners via and equine apprenticeship.

Employing an Apprentice Groom – Grooms of the Future Part 1

Kelly Wallace Horne 11th May 2018 Articles, Employers

Trainee grooms, including apprentices, are a lifeblood of our industry and the ins and outs of employing them needs much more consideration than they currently get – the yard junior, the trainee and of course the official and safeguarded version of the working pupil, the apprentice groom, are the future. What we all invest today could reverse the sometimes depressing current trends in the industry for tomorrow. If you are sitting comfortably with a large glass/cup of whatever keeps you awake and concentrating, please do read on. We hope you will be glad you did and that you will share this info to anyone you think might benefit from it – THE EQUESTRIAN INDUSTRY DESPERATELY NEEDS PEOPLE LIKE YOU!

Become a professional groom – 6 Simple Steps

Kelly Wallace Horne 20th April 2018 Articles, Jobseekers

Become a professional groom in 6 Simple Steps

At any stage in your life, deciding on or changing a career pathway is a very tall order. We have to identify a working life that is enjoyable, that we are not only capable of but are likely to be good at, and that will sustain us financially and provide for our retirement. It’s hardly surprising that so many of us passionate horse lovers opt for a career with horses! So many young horse lovers stand on the threshold of their adult life envisaging a long future of playing with ponies every day and being paid to do it. What’s not to love?! Well, quite a lot actually – living the dream can soon become very disenchanting… unless you do it right!

What does Job Longevity mean and why does it matter?

Kelly Wallace Horne 19th January 2018 Articles, Jobseekers

Job Longevity and Employment in the Equine Industry - The Grooms List

The most fruitful horsey careers are built on consideration and planning. Unless you understand some of the key things recruiting employers take seriously, you cannot structure your equine career development to your maximum benefit in terms of getting the best job choices, salary and associated benefits. Taking your first equine job and seeing where life takes you can be quite a ride, but if you stick to this as a strategy, it is unlikely to get the most the equine industry has to offer and it can lead you into some terrible situations too that can stop many a promising career in its tracks. Again social media is full of grooms with stories to tell on that front! In this article, we ask what job longevity means and how it might positively, and negatively, impact your equine career development.

A Grooms Guide to First Aid at Competitions

Kelly Wallace Horne 13th October 2017 Articles

One of the most exciting things you can do as a groom is to take a horse you have been looking after and see it perform to its best at a competition. It’s a buzz and it’s a big responsibility. There is such a lot to of preparation required, so many things to remember to do and to bring, and so many places to be at certain times. Time to really showcase your skills and experience; oh and the chance for some cracking junk food at the show venue! All that being said, how would you cope if something went wrong with one of the horses in your care at a show? How prepared are you for a sick or injured horse?

A Basic Guide to Rugging Horses

Kelly Wallace Horne 6th October 2017 Articles

Rugging is both an art and a science. Sole charge groom positions are very popular these days and the owners and horses are reliant on you knowing your stuff and staying informed on the facts and latest thinking. Knowing where to start each Autumn is an annual dilemma for every groom, but this weeks guest blogger, Kelly Wallace Horne, gives us some useful reference points to help us take that first step into the winter season.

Author Archive for: Kelly@KWHPublishing

Freelance Grooms and Disguised Employment Risks

Equine Jobs with Accommodation

Wages in the Equine Industry

Spring Forward in the Equine Industry

What is a Workplace Pension?

Brexit – Information for Employers and Grooms in the Equine Industry

5 Facts about May Day and the Early May Bank Holiday

10 interesting, funny and simply ridiculous facts about Easter

5 Major differences between horses as a hobby and as a career!

A Basic Guide to Payslips

Equine career planning in 4 simple steps

Understanding Holiday Entitlement in the Equine Industry

Equine Apprenticeships: Course Options – Grooms of the Future Part 2

Employing an Apprentice Groom – Grooms of the Future Part 1

Become a professional groom – 6 Simple Steps

What does Job Longevity mean and why does it matter?

A Grooms Guide to First Aid at Competitions

A Basic Guide to Rugging Horses

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