Boost for grooms at BD championships
The grooms of the winning riders at the recent British Dressage (BD) National Championships went home with a bevy of prizes in recognition of the important role they play to ensure that competition horses are fit and able to perform at their best.
In a new initiative to support the grooms of riders competing at all levels from preliminary to grand prix, the groom of each national champion received a holdall full of useful products from Robinson Health Care.
Tracey Miller, groom for BD National Champion Laura Bechtolsheimer, said: “All the grooms are very pleased that we are getting more credit for the work we put in and that the Robinson Health Care award has been developed to raise awareness. We all put a lot of effort in to looking after the horses, and realise they have to be very fit and well to compete at the top.”
Winning groom Andy Danhelova, who works for the Oldencraig Equestrian Centre, said: “The care of all horses is very important, and for horses to compete at top-level dressage the attention to detail really counts. It is wonderful for grooms to be recognised.”
Each winning groom also received a bottle of wine from temporary stabling specialists Tushinghams. A number of class sponsors also had special awards for the grooms of the winning rider, such as Biotel Equine Gold, sponsors of the open and restricted medium class, who gave the grooms stylish blouson jackets.
- Nomination are currently being taken for the 2005 Kuster BEF Groom of the Year award. For more details visit www.bef.co.uk
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Carol is an experienced journalist and editor, who is also a passionate amateur rider and dedicated horse owner, having ridden since childhood. She has a particular interest in the emotional well-being and ethical training of horses, alongside veterinary matters, having garnered extensive first-hand experience of numerous equine health conditions through more than 30 years of horse ownership.