Blog Archives | The Grooms List | Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd

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…

Maintaining Yard Boots – How To Ensure Your Boots Last Longer!

Guest Author 6th January 2019 Articles

One of the most disheartening things is to spend your hard earned money on gorgeous new pair of yard boots for work and riding, only to find that your full-on work schedule has all but annihilated them a few weeks later! This week we are delighted to introduce guest blogger Eada Hudes, to give some invaluable tips on getting the absolute best out of what is arguably one of the most valuable work tools an equestrian person owns – as the song goes “These boots were made for walking” (and riding, and wading through mud, and walking the course…)

Get into Dressage to Music

Guest Author 21st December 2018 Articles

Ever wonder how to get started in dressage to music? I took part in an Equivisions Dressage to Music clinic at Bishop Burton College and afterwards couldn’t wait to get out out competing! But if you can’t find a dressage to music clinic near you or you’re unable to get your horse there, it’s quite possible to devise your own music and floor plan at home. If you’re curious to get into dressage to music, it’s well worth having a go!

A Job Seekers Guide to Reference Checks

Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd 30th November 2018 Jobseekers

When applying for a new job it’s easy to assume that reference checks are the responsibility of the prospective employer, or the recruitment agency if applicable. But you want that job, right? Then help to secure it for yourself by being savvy when it comes to employment references and associated checks! Reference checks are not incidental to an employer selecting YOU as their new recruit, they are critical! Read on to find out how neglecting employment references can kill any chance of you getting a new job.

Hacking Safely by Kate Harley

Guest Author 23rd November 2018 Articles

Now the clocks have changed and the evenings are darker and unfortunately the weather is only going to worse. With this in mind I thought I’d just take a look at and talk about hacking safely throughout the year. I personally have encountered many rude and disrespectful drivers, walkers, dog walkers and even other horse riders. I’m sure many of you reading this will also have encountered this or know someone that has. So what can we do as horse riders to make our hacking experiences as positive and enjoyable as possible?

Yard Dog Etiquette – Taking a dog to work

Becky Parker 14th November 2018 Articles, Jobseekers

It is a fair assumption to say the majority of those who choose to dedicate their career to caring for horses will have also succumbed to the charm of four legged canine companions too. When it comes down to taking a dog to work with you, many employers are very open to this idea providing the dog is well trained and fit in with the resident yard dog/s. Sounds a simple request but, just like a proud mother, we can all be more than a little blind to our own child’s faults. This week we ask the question – Is your faithful friend a joyful addition or an accident waiting to happen?

Keeping Your Equine Athletes Warm

Guest Author 4th November 2018 Articles

We are delighted to welcome a guest blog by Lancashire-based Grand Prix Dressage Rider Hannah Doggett. Hannah is an up-and-coming young dressage rider who has her own yard where she breeds, produces and competes dressage horses, with a special love of PRE (Andalusian) horses. She is 100% dedicated to producing happy, comfortable, successful horses and here we benefit from Hannah’s sage advice on keeping your equine athletes warm at all times through the cold winter months.

Top tips for grooms caring for horses through the firework period!

Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd 26th October 2018 Articles

It’s the time of year many animal owners dread – firework night! Although, especially when the 5th November falls on a weeknight, fireworks are let off most nights of the week for 2-3 weeks! Not only a stressful time for animals and their owners, but for grooms caring for horses through the firework period, too. Keeping everyone (both four and two footed) safe throughout this period is a concern for everyone, so we’ve gathered some top tips for grooms caring for horses and other animals through this time of year.

Could you be a Work Rider?

Becky Parker 19th October 2018 Articles, Jobseekers

What are Work Riders and Work Rider Jobs

Many young equestrian enthusiasts dream of a job riding horses – no mucking out, just days in the saddle of various horses, then being paid for it! In this article, we turn our attention to the role of a Work Rider. Becky Parker gives us the lowdown of life as a Work Rider, the pay, how to train and become one and details what it REALLY takes to make a successful career as a Work Rider.

Location! Location! Job Location!

Becky Parker 30th September 2018 Jobseekers

Choosing a location to look for a new job

Truly, the matter of job location can be a difficult subject to broach as a recruitment consultant. A huge part of me screams to write an extremely persuasive article urging you to broaden your horizons and keep an open mind to jobs anywhere in the UK, or even abroad. The opportunities this opens up to you are tenfold to those restricted by job location. So, how important is it that your next job is in the ‘right’ location? Is it worth being flexible for that DREAM job? We take a look at when you should be flexible and when you should hold out for your ideal.

Pre Employment checks – Understanding a Driving Licence

Caroline Carter 30th September 2018 Employers

Many employers need their prospective employee to drive a car, tow a trailer, drive a tractor, a horse box or HGV lorry and, rather like reference checks, don’t always bother checking an individual’s licence for what they are legally able to drive, or even if they have any points or disqualifications. You need to know who is going to be doing the odd school run for you, transporting your horses, driving your tractor etc. Do yourself a favour, grab a strong coffee, take the phone off the hook for 10 minutes and have a read of this!

Pre-Employment Checks – References

Caroline Carter 21st September 2018 Employers

As we all know, recruitment is an inexact science and pre-employment checks such as securing valid and recent references gives us important information that helps us to decide if a candidate is suitable for a particular role.

Over the years I have taken references on behalf of thousands of employers and prospective employees as part of delivering bespoke recruitment services. This has lead me to have many positive, long-term placements and via the same established processes of due diligence, I have also diverted my clients away from certain disaster on more than one occasion!

Interestingly these days many grooms, having known me through their careers, give me as a reference to their ‘journey.’ Similarly, and not infrequently, employers will ask me for information about a particular prospective employee and of course, where I can fairly and legally comment, I do.

Over the years, more especially in the equestrian recruitment environment, I have been struck by how many employers who recruit for themselves or via other routes don’t seem to bother taking up references, opting instead to completely ignore these critical pre-employment checks just hoping for the best; many seem to live to regret this omission sooner or later…

Are you winter ready?

Becky Parker 21st September 2018 Articles

Getting winter ready in the equine industry

Apologies in advance to all of you who still have your mind set to happy, sunny, long summer days but the time has now come to start turning our thoughts to the fast approaching winter season. Temperatures are dropping, days are getting shorter, the show season is drawing to a close and the Hunters are out for their early morning jaunts revving up to full steam ahead for the opening meet. Much as we all jest about the delights of the British weather in winter, there is plenty to enjoy too; think frosty early morning hacks, days out at the races, having some downtime if you’re in Eventing/Showing, hunt balls, escaping to the sun for the Showjumpers and dare I say it…Christmas! As with all things in life the key to avoiding stress is good organisation. So here we are again with another dispenser load of wise words, silly opinions and ridiculous pictures that may or may not help you prepare physically, mentally and emotionally for the slightly more challenging season ahead.

How an Apprenticeship can benefit your equine career

Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd 14th September 2018 Articles, Jobseekers

As specialist equine recruitment consultants, we see the good and bad outcomes of unstructured career pathways and the results of the “rooky errors” grooms make without correct guidance. We’re passionate about the part we can play in improving the role of an equine groom as a credible career pathway.

Many equestrians join the equine industry by making a blind leap into it, accepting the first job available to them. Needless to say, this isn’t a constructive foundation for a fruitful career in the equine industry. Many grooms resort to “job-hopping” in search of the training and opportunities they crave, without realising the damaging effect this has on their CV and future career prospects.

By contrast, an Equine Apprenticeship makes the you focus on what you would like to achieve within your career and how you can achieve it. You can then source meaningful employment as an Apprentice Groom, enabling you to earn while you learn, laying the foundation of a promising career – and ultimately become one of the best professional grooms in the equine industry.

Become an Apprentice Groom – a Parents Guide

Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd 14th September 2018 Articles

Everyone likes to keep things simple, and sometimes gathering all the information needed before making decisions and acting on them can be time-consuming. With this in mind, The Grooms List team have put together a simple step-by-step guide to walk you through the process of your son/daughter becoming an Apprentice Groom. From choosing an appropriate course, to finding ongoing employment, The Grooms List by Caroline Carter Recruitment will be with you every step of the way.

How an Equine Apprenticeship can benefit your child

Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd 14th September 2018 Articles

The Grooms List Apprentices Zone - How an Apprenticeship can Benefit Your Child

As specialist equine recruitment consultants, we see the good and bad outcomes of unstructured career pathways and the results of the “rooky errors” young people make without correct guidance. We’re passionate about the part we can play in improving the role of an equine groom as a credible career pathway and we’ll always do our utmost to encourage your child to make safe career decisions.

Many young people wishing to work in the equine industry will make a blind leap into it by accepting the first job available to them. Needless to say, this isn’t always a constructive foundation for a fruitful career in the equine industry. Many grooms resort to “job-hopping” in search of the training and opportunities they crave, without realising the damaging effect this has on their CV and future career prospects.

By contrast, an Equine Apprenticeship makes the job seeker focus on what they would like to achieve within their career and how they can achieve it. The job seeker can then source meaningful employment as an Apprentice Groom, enabling them to earn while they learn, laying the foundation of a promising career – and ultimately become one of the best professional grooms in the equine industry.

A step by step guide to employing an Apprentice Groom

Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd 14th September 2018 Articles, Employers

The Grooms List Apprenticeship Zone - Simple Step by Step Guide to Employing an Apprentice Groom

Everyone likes to keep things simple, and sometimes gathering all the information needed before making decisions and acting on them can be time-consuming. With this in mind, The Grooms List team have put together a simple step-by-step guide to employing an Apprentice Groom, from writing your advert to retaining your fully trained Apprentice Groom beyond their final qualification.

How an Apprentice Groom can benefit YOUR yard

Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd 14th September 2018 Articles, Employers

The Grooms List Apprenticeships Zone - How an Apprentice can Benefit Your Yard

In so many of the blogs and articles we write for equine employers, we find ourselves referring to common difficulties when sourcing, securing and retaining good equine career grooms. It’s reasonable to conclude the pool of experienced grooms wanting to remain working with horses and available to yards is diminishing as the years pass. Trainee grooms, including apprentices, are a lifeblood of the equine industry and the ins and outs of employing them need much more consideration than they currently get.

Taking anyone on as an employee is a big responsibility with plenty of legislation to adhere to along associated pitfalls, so it’s very tempting to aim to keep things simple by seeking to only take on employees with experience and a solid employment history. Not only could you find this attempt to keep things simple actually complicates your recruitment drive, as you struggle to attract and secure established, experienced career grooms in what is undeniably a very competitive recruitment market for employers, but by shunning the notion of taking on an apprentice, quite simply, you could be missing out!

4 common pitfalls when employing staff and how to avoid them!

Guest Author 2nd September 2018 Employers

4 common pitfalls of employing staff and how to avoid them

This week’s blog is for all those interested in knowing more about the facts concerning employee wages, accommodation charges, holiday entitlements and finally sick pay, income tax, national insurance and pensions.

Linda Hudson, Head of Business Development at Educ8 Training, has in the last 10 years worked in both college and private training organisations and rather usefully, has also studied employment law. Linda now kindly offers us all a short review with some handy hints, tips and links for good measure!

A Sneak Peek at an equine Grooms Wishlist…

The Grooms List Team 26th August 2018 Employers

Last week we took a sneaky peek at an equine employers ‘wish list’, this week we thought we would do the same (only fair!) to give those employers who might need it, a gentle nudge towards a better understanding of what grooms are looking for when they make a job move. It is surprising how often we come across bewildered employers wondering why they are still groom-less months down the line. Apart from the fact that the reality is that good grooms are in really short supply, often on further investigation into the job vacancy details the reasons can be somewhat closer to home….