Grooms warned to have correct insurance
The British Grooms Association (BGA) is warning members they may lose money if they are not properly insured.
As part of its second birthday celebrations, the BGA has launched a premier membership scheme that covers grooms for loss of earnings if they are unable to work after an accident.
It costs £59.60 and includes cover from South Essex Insurance Brokers for personal accident, injury, temporary total disability and dental care.
The standard membership premium is £17.50, and current members can upgrade to take advantage of the insurance.
“We are acutely aware that many grooms work without personal insurance,” said the BGA’s Lucy Katan.
“If a groom in employment gets injured, the standard rate for statutory sick pay is just £79.15 a week. If they are freelance and therefore self-employed, they will get nothing.”
Grooms are covered for all aspects of their job under the policy — including general yard duties and travelling horses.
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Groom Sarah Yeoman is upgrading: “Sometimes you think ‘it won’t happen to me’, but it can. I have friends in wheelchairs from riding — it’s a major wake-up call.”
• For more information visit: www.britishgrooms.org.uk
This article was first published in Horse & Hound (7 May, ’09)
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.