The journey of paving a road for grooms in equestrian began in 2017, with the creation of the FEI Grooms Working Group, and what we see today is the result of a great deal of hard work and persistence. In 2021, the FEI Grooms Working Group evolved to become the Grooms Consultative Group, which is made up of Grooms, Owners, Athletes, representatives of Organising Committees, Officials, Stewards and National Federations. Its mission is to assist with the definition of a roadmap for the development of key structures for the Grooms community, including the creation of a Charter of rights and obligations for Grooms.

The Grooms Consultative Group is composed of 9 members:

Chair: Frank Kemperman (NED)

Members: Lucy Katan (GBR) Executive Director International Grooms Association (IGA)

Max Kühner (AUT) Athletes Representative

Peter Bollen (BEL) President Equestrian Organisers

Robin Parsky (USA) Chair Jumping Owners Club

Chris Web (AUS) National Federation Representative

Susanne Maken (IRL) FEI Official, FEI Solidarity Tutor

Melina Jobst (GER) Jumping Groom

Jackie Potts (GBR) Eventing Groom

The IGA is an independent not-for-profit professional association, established to achieve greater representation and career recognition for grooms, as well as to improve their working conditions, especially at equestrian events where long hours are the norm.

The support provided by the IGA includes guidance on employment rules, answers to commonly asked questions on recruitment, a toolkit for grooms working freelance, and a job board, to name a few. A section on well-being on the IGA website, International Grooms Minds, will ensure that grooms also have a strong emotional support system in place to assist them in their daily work.

Grooms from all over the world can now become an IGA member through the Association’s official website: www.internationalgrooms.org.

At the FEI Sports Forum in 2022, FEI President Ingmar De Vos and Founding Director of the International Grooms Association™ (IGA) Lucy Katan have recognised the creation of the IGA with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Since, it has been a successful collaborative effort between the FEI and the IGA, to represent grooms and work towards giving them their well-deserved status within the equestrian community.

Read up on all developments here:

• 11 August 2022 - ECCO FEI World Championships in Herning sets bar high for Grooms

• 26 April 2022 - FEI formally recognises the International Grooms Association

• 19 July 2017 - New Grooms Working Group has first meeting with FEI President at HQ

New reporting mechanisms to amplify the voice of Grooms

The FEI has created an online Reporting Mechanism to centralise the feedback from grooms attending international equestrian Events and to provide deeper insights into the needs and priorities of the community.

The Grooms Reporting Mechanism was created to raise the well-being of equestrian grooms, and to enhance their working conditions, welfare, and overall status in order to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for these dedicated professionals.

This mechanism not only fosters transparency and accountability but also cultivates a culture of continuous improvement within the FEI and with Organising Committees, ensuring that the welfare and working conditions of grooms are taken into consideration at every stage of the decision-making and planning process.

Key elements of the Grooms Reporting Mechanism include:

Integration with the FEI HorseApp: The Grooms Reporting Mechanism has been seamlessly integrated into the FEI HorseApp, allowing all Grooms with an FEI account to submit reports conveniently for all levels of Events, and in all disciplines. This integration ensures that reports are directly associated with specific events, enabling targeted improvements and tailored responses.

Multiple Reports per Event: Grooms have the flexibility to submit multiple reports, enabling them to provide ongoing feedback throughout the duration of the Event and two days after its conclusion.

Comprehensive Feedback on Event Amenities: Grooms can share detailed observations and evaluations of amenities provided at events, including facilities, accommodation, and other essential services.Direct Reporting to the FEI: Reports submitted by grooms through the Grooms Reporting Mechanism will be shared directly with the FEI. The relevant FEI departments will carefully review and follow up on each report to address any concerns, initiate improvements, and ensure that the feedback is effectively incorporated into the organisation of future events.

By providing a space for grooms to express their opinions and concerns, they can have a direct influence on the decision-making processes that affect them and the FEI in turn can more quickly identify the key areas for improvement that will make the Event experience more comfortable and enjoyable for grooms.

Read the full Press Release here.

Find out how to fill in a Groom report on the FEI HorseApp here.

During the FEI Sports Forum 2024, the FEI together with a group of equestrian athletes, organisers, owners and officials stakeholder organisations signed the FEI Grooms Charter.

This document, which is built around the principles of horse welfare, integrity, education and safety, was created to ensure that grooms have the tools they need to provide the highest level of care for the horses in their charge, and that they are respected and supported in their role. This Grooms Charter is not the destination, but represents another step in the journey of providing this important group of people with the recognition and support they deserve. 

View the FEI Grooms Charter here.

View the FEI Grooms Charter - Action Plan here.

In the FEI Biosecurity hub, you will find general biosecurity guidance providing maximum information and best practices including instructions for setting up isolation units and managing horses in isolation. These include step-by-step recommendations for properly setting up an isolation unit as well as information concerning the important hygiene measures which need to be implemented and respected in isolation units.

While for you as groom, this amount of detail in operations might well not apply, or at least to its full extent, the information does remain a crucial in containing the spread of equine diseases and it is important that you know where to find this information in case of need.

Preventing and minimising the risk of disease transmission is a collective effort which we must all embrace wholeheartedly. We have very efficient systems to manage an outbreak thanks to competent national authorities but also thorough protocols in place. We also have very efficient systems to prevent and minimise the spread of disease through the Horse Health Requirements.

Fulfilling the Horse Health requirements, which includes monitoring the temperature of horses, is a big responsibility all grooms, with athletes taking part in FEI International events, are already familiar with.

The Horse Health Requirements have been put in place to:

• Protect FEI Horses and global equestrian sports from the consequences of infectious diseases being transmitted before, during and after FEI Events.
• Provide reassurance of the high health of equestrian sport Horses to global, continental and national veterinary authorities and organisations.
• Maintain and further improve the conditions for international movement of sport Horses.

View the full Horse Health Requirements here. 

Dedicated information regarding the Horse Health Requirements for Grooms can be found here. 

The FEI HorseApp contains various modules to manage FEI Horses, including traceability features and the monitoring of horse health at FEI Events.

Grooms can use the FEI HorseApp to:

1. Fill in the Horse Health Self-Certification Form in accordance with the FEI Veterinary Regulations for all FEI Events worldwide
2. Enter daily Horse temperatures in accordance with the FEI Veterinary Regulations for all FEI Events worldwide
3. Check-in Horses when required by the FEI in accordance with the FEI Veterinary Regulations
4. Send feedback to the FEI with the Grooms Reporting Mechanism
5. Upload negative PCR tests when required

To use the FEI HorseApp, Grooms must have an active FEI ID account. Grooms can register with the FEI here and guidelines are available here.

Should you be struggling with the process of mentoring your horse’s temperature via the FEI HorseApp, then we invite you to watch this easy, How To video.

Always read the composition label of any product, feed, supplement, medication etc. and compare it to the FEI Prohibited Substances List and/or Database before administering it to your horse(s).

It is important that hay and feed are of high quality, obtained from a trusted and reputable supplier and have been correctly stored prior to and after purchase. Using feed that has been produced using reliable manufacturing processes and has undergone Naturally Occurring Prohibited Substances (NOPS) testing, will minimise the risk of potential contamination from commonly known contaminants such as caffeine, theobromine, theophylline, morphine, hyoscine, hordenine, atropine...

We advise you to always keep a sealed sample of a new batch of hay and feed, especially if obtained from a new supplier, for any eventual analysis in case of a positive doping test.

We understand that the choice of a supplier will not always be in your domain, but you can nevertheless advise the Athlete and/or other members of the Support Personnel of the correct anti-doping protocols.

Utmost caution must be exercised if using supplements. It is not unusual for supplements, herbal remedies etc. to contain Prohibited Substances that are not disclosed on the product label. It is also possible that those substances are contained in different amounts than stated on the label, or that the product used may have been inadvertently contaminated with a Prohibited Substance.

There is little guarantee that the ingredients list on any supplement, herbal remedy etc. is accurate. If you need to use supplements, obtain them from a reputable supplier and always keep a sample of the supplement for any eventual analysis in case of a positive doping test.

It is advised that you keep a detailed logbook listing all feed and supplements given to your horse(s) such as date of administration, dose, place of administration (location), official product name and the relevant batch number.

When it comes to medications, they come in all shapes and forms, be it as a powder to be administered orally, topical ointment, injectable solution etc. Any medical treatment must be administered or authorised to be administered by a veterinarian. Injectable medication should mainly be administered by a veterinarian. Medications must be stored separately and only authorised personnel should have access to them. 

When administering medication, always use disposable gloves. You should also wash your hands and clean the feed buckets as well as any other items that have come into contact with the medication. This will prevent the cross contamination of medication to another horse or the re-uptake of the medication by the receiving horse.

An FEI Medication Logbook must be kept for all FEI Horses to record any medication and supplements given during or outside of competition.

Sometimes people and/or pets require medication for a legitimate medical condition. If precautions are not taken, they may cross-contaminate a horse(s), leading to a positive doping test. Such cross-contamination may occur if you are using a medicated cream and you do not wash your hands after. A horse may lick your hand, covered with the medication, which will in turn enter the Horse’s blood and urine, that may be sampled for doping control.

Furthermore, you must at all times avoid urinating in the horses’ box, stall and the same goes for any pets you have. If you or your pet require medication, this medication will be excreted via your urine and consequently any feed or hay may become contaminated. If ingested by the horse, the medication will then enter the horse’s body and may result in a positive doping test. 

FEI Position

Equestrian sports involve inherent risks. To the greatest extent permitted by law, the FEI and the FEI Event Organiser shall not be liable for any damages relating to loss of property or injury of any kind to Athletes, Owners, Support Personnel or Horses at or in connection with an FEI Event and the FEI expressly excludes all such liability.

ATHLETES, OWNERS AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL

Personal Accident and Health Insurance

It is your responsibility as an Athlete/Owner/ Support Personnel to ensure that you have adequate personal accident insurance in place to cover your participation at FEI Events and in particular to insure against any personal injury or medical expenses arising from an accident, injury or illness which may occur at a FEI Event.

You should check with your National Federation to confirm if your National Federation’s insurance policy (if any) covers personal accidents and/or illnesses which may occur when you are attending at/participating in FEI Events.

If your National Federation does not have a personal accident/health insurance policy or if the National Federation’s insurance policy does not cover personal accident or health claims, then you should obtain your own personal accident and health insurance policy to cover your attendance/participation at FEI Events.

Personal Property Insurance

You should also ensure that you are insured against property loss, theft or damage which may occur at an FEI Event.

Again, the advice is to check with your National Federation to confirm if they have an insurance policy in place which would cover you in case of such property loss, theft or damage. If not, then you should obtain your own personal property insurance to cover such situations.

Third Party Liability Insurance

The FEI and the Organiser will not be responsible for any damage caused to third parties by athletes, their employees, support personnel, agents or their horses.

We strongly encourage you to always make sure your insurance policy provides you full coverage for FEI Events at home and abroad.

Whether you are in the saddle or handling a horse on the ground, it is important that you remain vigilant of the safety risks and take the appropriate precautions. This includes always wearing a well-fitted, recent helmet when riding. You can also wear a helmet while handling a horse, especially in the more delicate situations.

Your Helmet - If you had a fall, you should always have your helmet checked or replaced. Keep in mind that a helmet can be damaged without external signs. More information about helmets is available here.

At FEI Events, wearing a properly fastened helmet is mandatory whenever riding anywhere on the show grounds. Your helmet must comply with the FEI requirements. The List of the applicable international testing standards for Protective Headgear (FEI-approved standards) is published here (you will need to scroll down the page).

Did you fall off your horse or receive a strong blow to your head or body? The possibility of a concussion should never be underestimated, and symptoms may not always be straightforward or immediately apparent. The Concussion Recognition Tool (CRT5) can help you (or someone present with you) assess whether you   should suspect a concussion and should be examined by a medical professional.   If in doubt,   always seek medical advice.

For further information on concussion please read on here.

Everyone involved in our sport should be safe and treated with respect. When any member of equestrian community - such as Athlete, Support Personnel, Coach, Trainer, Groom, Horse Owner, Official, volunteer or staff member - is subjected to or engages in abuse or misconduct, this goes against the best interests of equestrian sport.

All forms of harassment and abuse are prohibited and will not be tolerated by the FEI. Harassment and abuse can be expressed in five forms, which may occur in combination or in isolation.

1. Psychological abuse
2. Physical abuse
3. Sexual harassment
4. Sexual abuse
5. Neglect

The FEI's Safeguarding Policy Against Harassment and Abuse aims to protect the members of the FEI equestrian community and includes a reporting system. Please read on here.

If you wish to report an incident, please fill out the FEI Incident Report Form.

The FEI has developed educational tools and resources to assist grooms with their day-to-day work. Education has been key to creating international standards of operation that are accepted and followed by grooms at all levels. While certain grooms have a high level of expertise when it comes to horse care, for others new to the job, it is a learning curve. This is why, we find it important to provide access to as much information as possible, all while keeping in mind that obviously, the most valuable experience is gained in the field.

FEI Campus provides a series of interesting and useful courses for grooms, several of which have been translated into Spanish given the continuously increasing Hispanic community in this line of work. Covering subjects such as hoof care and nutrition to name a few, FEI Campus shares valuable knowledge provided by experts in the field.

To elevate the skills and knowledge of grooms worldwide and as part of its development programme, FEI Solidarity has joined forces with experts to create ongoing trainings to empower the women and men of this vocation in their journey as essential stable caretakers. Over the years, more than 280 grooms, have already benefited from these educational opportunities. Eligible participants wishing to attend one of these trainings must contact their National Federation in order to initiate the application process. Applications follow the FEI Solidarity Programme deadline and are open to all member National Federations of the FEI.

♦ Grooms Training

♦ Stable Manager Education Programme 

The FEI Tack, Equipment & Dress Mobile app is a user-friendly tool where you can find all relevant and detailed information on tack and equipment. Access the App by clicking on the icon below.

The FEI TackApp includes the following features:

♦ Organised, easily understandable and searchable information on allowed and prohibited tack, equipment and dress in FEI Competitions.

♦ Information arranged by discipline, category and subcategory of tack and equipment.

♦ Representation of each individual piece of tack and equipment using photographs, illustrations and/or videos.

♦ All tack and equipment items are accompanied with the relevant legal basis and clearly marked as allowed or prohibited. When special conditions apply, it will be marked using an exclamation mark (!).

Please note: The designation “Not Applicable” or “N/A” means that the relevant tack, equipment or dress is either not relevant for the specific Discipline, is currently not addressed or specified in the Discipline Rule or has not yet been addressed by the FEI. Please be aware that the information provided in the Database is non-exhaustive and that new tack, equipment and dress is added to the Database on a regular basis.

How to use the FEI TackApp

Click here to get to the FEI How To platform.

Alternatively, all this information can also be accessed on the designated FEI Tack, Equipment & Dress online platform.

Reliable, generous & humble

Over the years we have crowned numerous individuals who have devoted their life to their passion, never counting their working hours and always going the extra mile to make sure the horses they take care of have everything they need.

Social media is a powerful and influential tool in today’s world, uniting personal communications with commercial opportunities. At its best, social media connects you to friends, peers, fans and other like-minded individuals around the world, forging strong, positive relationships. However, at its worst, it puts a spotlight on mistakes and negative comments which can be difficult to deal with.

As a Groom, social media allows you to give others an insight into equestrian life behind the scenes or the field of play and, thanks to the interactive tools within the platforms, we can all interact with one another on a one-to-one basis like never before.

While social media can be a great and fun tool, we do believe it is important to remain mindful of the content you put out there. Internet has a long-lasting memory and once something has been posted online it is almost impossible to remove it, so be sure about what you wish to showcase to the world!

Before posting, always ask yourself:

♦ Does this post reflect the way I wish to be portrayed to the public?

♦ Could this post negatively impact me or anyone within my team?

♦ Could this post cause offence to anyone?

IGA

Global Equestrian Group

Yehaww

Yard and Groom

https://internationalgrooms.org/finding-a-job

https://career.globalequestriangroup.com/

https://www.yehaww.com/

https://www.yardandgroom.com/

Interesting reads:

https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/groom-spotlight-josie-eliasson-believes-in-the-power-of-connection/

https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/so-you-want-be-groom/

https://horsesport.com/magazine/equine-ownership/long-distance-shipping-tips-from-top-fei-grooms/

https://thegroomslist.co.uk/tag/life-as-an-equine-groom/

https://horsesport.com/magazine/lifestyle/become-professional-groom-horse-industry/

RIDE – Top Grooms in Focus

Other videos that could interest you:

♦ What is a Groom? Patrice Deslauries

♦ The life of an Eventing groom