Call +44 (0)203 006 5730 or email info@carolinecarterrecruitment.com

Recruitment Advice, Articles, & Blogs…

Key information for equine employers, job seekers, and horse lovers in general

Recent Articles…

Equine Jobs with Accommodation

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.

Continue reading

Wages in the Equine Industry

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.

Continue reading

New Year, New Career!

Traditionally, New Year is THE key time to commit to making positive changes in your life! Your New Years Resolution might be to get a better-paid job, achieve a better work-life balance, acquire new skills, or generally get more job satisfaction. Looking at the New Year ahead, a blank canvas ready for you to make those changes, what can you do to achieve those career goals?

Continue reading

New Years Resolutions for Equine Employers: How to ensure a strong start to 2025

The early part of the year can be one of the busiest times in equine recruitment. The blank canvass of the new year stretches ahead, full of potential, promise but let's face it, sometimes dread to as finding good staff these days can be somewhat...er...challenging, to say the very, very least! Having the right team around you to fulfill that potential is paramount to any person's (or business's) success.  As equine workers resolve to move on at the start of the year, January is a prime time to assemble that team. To help you make the most of this busy period we've put together a quick guide to the key points - if you like, some New Years' Resolutions for equine employers!

Continue reading

New Years Resolutions for Equestrian Jobseekers

New Year seems like a natural time to press the “refresh” button on our personal and professional lives, or even just a chance to take stock and stay as and where we are, but in a better way. We have all heard the cliché (which is a cliché for good reason), "Today is the first day of the rest of your life". I read with interest that about 70% of us make New Year’s resolutions, but less than 8% will be kept beyond February/March! It’s not surprising to learn that the top resolutions will include things like losing weight, quitting smoking, managing debt etc. but, also importantly, resolutions focussing on careers and job choices are right up there too.

Continue reading

15 Christmas Gift Ideas for Horse Lovers

The run-up to Christmas should be a time of excitement and anticipation.  Bonus boxes of chocolates in the tack room and singing along to cheesy Christmas carols on the yard. The problems arise when you find yourself stuck for Christmas gift ideas. How to find something that is the right mix of thoughtful, useful, appealing to that person and within budget. Well never fear, we are here to help. We have pulled together a list of our 15 favourite gift ideas specifically for people working in the equine industry, suitable for your employer, employee or college (or even yourself!).

Continue reading

The Ultimate Guide to Badminton Horse Trials

Springtime each year sees Badminton Horse Trials open its gates to hordes of eager horse lovers, shoppers, foodies, canine companions, screaming children and long-suffering family members! We bring you the ultimate guide to what to expect and what to look forward to at this wonderful annual equestrian event.

Continue reading

Spring Forward in the Equine Industry

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!

Continue reading

“The biggest ever cash boost” to the National Living Wage – 1 April, 2024

The 1st April 2024 sees what the UK Government has called “the biggest ever cash boost” to the National Living Wage. This is inevitably going to receive a mixed response. Whilst workers will be looking forward to a boost to their income, some employers will struggle to meet these new legal requirements. In this article, we outline the changes and how they affect workers and employers in the equine industry.

Continue reading

Bookkeeping for Freelance Grooms

Administration and bookkeeping might not be something that springs to mind when setting up as a Freelance Groom, yet it is the foundation of your business. You will need to keep a diary for logging past and future bookings, a system for invoicing, you will need to maintain bookkeeping, and you will need to submit tax returns. Knowing what and how to maintain your bookkeeping is paramount to your businesses ongoing success.

Continue reading

How to maximise your earning potential as a Freelance Groom

Many Freelance Grooms don't earn the money they potentially could, for a variety of reasons. The responsibilities of working on a freelance basis are varied, and not just centered on turning up on time and doing a decent job; there are many layers of responsibility that are the foundation of a successful freelance business. We give inspiration on broadening your skill set and the services you can offer to increase your earning potential as a Freelance Groom.

Continue reading

The difference between employed, self-employed and freelance grooms

There is often confusion surrounding employment status, with "Freelance Grooms" being treated as employees, and employees being made responsible for their own Income Tax and National Insurance. The legal ramifications can be detrimental to BOTH parties, so it's essential that everyone is clear on the work agreement and arrangement they have.

Continue reading

Keep Warm Working with Horses in Winter

There is definitely an art to not getting frozen toes, chilblains and a weather-beaten face by age 30 when you work in the equine industry. Wrapping up properly and staying dry (ish) can make the difference between a truly miserable winter and a busy one enjoying crisp winter mornings and long days out galloping around the countryside following the hunt. The trick lies in not just one method but successfully taking care of all the details. Let’s apply the same level of thorough, exemplary care we give to the horses, to ourselves... 

Continue reading

Tips for Grooms Working with Horses at Christmas

For the vast majority of ‘normal’ people, Christmas means a nice relaxing few days off, spending time with family and lounging around over a long boozy lunch. For the vast majority of employers and grooms working with horses at Christmas, it just means business as usual. In hunting and racing yards Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year, as boxing day meets are one of the most popular days out for owners. Though it may be hard to fully convince yourself that shovelling poo is the first most ideal thing you would like to do on Christmas Day, there are plenty of ways to keep the festive spirit alive and still enjoy Christmas. Here are our top suggestions for how to survive the holiday season.

Continue reading

Mental Health in the Equine Industry

The Mental Health Foundation is a UK charity that campaigns for good mental health for all.  As you may have noticed (!) this week (14th-20th May) is Mental Health Awareness Week so naturally, we turn our attention to the matter of mental health in the equine industry. Taking the opportunity to reinforce our partnership with the BGA we are happy to support their initiatives where we can and as ever, to advise on issues which can arise within the yard environment, relating this directly to the employer : groom dynamic with which we are so familiar...

Continue reading

We’re on Social Media!

Follow us on social media and stay up to date with the latest from The Grooms List. We are quite happy to chat via social media too!

The Grooms List by Caroline Carter Recruitment is on FacebookThe Grooms List by Caroline Carter Recruitment is on Twitter The Grooms List by Caroline Carter Recruitment is on Google Plus The Grooms List by Caroline Carter Recruitment is on Instagram

 

 

© Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd and The Grooms List, 2025. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd and www.thegroomslist.co.uk with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Information

Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd
PO Box 89
SHEFFORD
SG17 9AY

info@carolinecarterrecruitment.com
0203 006 5730

Registered company number 10657796good site
Caroline Carter Recruitment Ltd is registered with the UK Information Commissioner as a data controller with registered number ZA250621

ENDORSED BY

Admin Quick Search

Search Employers

Search Jobs

Search Candidates