The appeal of a working life flitting from yard to yard, meeting many, many new horses (and people of course!) is understandable but is this perception realistic? This article attempts to give you an overview of freelance grooming - the ins and outs and pros and cons in a nutshell...
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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...
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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.
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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?
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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!
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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.
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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!).
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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...
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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 becoming an Apprentice Groom, from finding your Apprentice Groom vacancy to your options once you've gained your qualification.
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So you think you have found the candidate you have been looking for? That’s great, but WHOA just hold your horses a second... In my experience, interviewing alone can be a very inexact science. Before you shake hands on the deal, I strongly recommend all employers and all job seekers road test each other first with a job trial, at a pre-agreed paid rate of course. This might be the one thing that, for you, secures your decision. Of course sometimes, for some people, a job trial is not always practical, but if it is, move heaven and earth, do yourself a favour and have one. There is nothing like a road test for really seeing first hand if something might be a fit...
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