Governing bodies are pledging support for an initiative aiming to improve the lives of the equestrian workforce
THE time is now for changing the equestrian industry, according to those behind a new initiative.The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) council, and many of its member bodies, have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for “a shared vision for the equestrian industry”.
The idea of the MOA, which is launched today (15 November), is to change the industry’s culture, says Lucy Katan, executive director of the British Grooms Association (BGA) and Equestrian Employers Association (EEA), which created the initiative.It comprises principles, including respect, integrity, fairness and equality.It comprises principles, including respect, integrity, fairness and equality.
“This is the moment; change starts now,” Ms Katan said. “The industry can’t continue as it is.”“This is the moment; change starts now,” Ms Katan said.
“The industry can’t continue as it is.” Ms Katan told H&H the move had been an aim ever since she set up the BGA, followed by the EEA.“But we couldn’t do it on our own,” she said.
“That’s the diference now; it isn’t our project, it’s an industry project.”BEF council chairman Malcolm Wharton said: “The BGA and EEA have made great progress but it was important the whole federation was involved to make a collective step-change.
“We’ll work collaboratively to support this by promoting good employment practice and embracing equality and diversity to ensure the industry is a good place to work.”British Dressage (BD), British Showjumping, British Eventing, and the Pony Club are among the bodies to have pledged support.
BD chief executive Jason Brautigam told: The negative culture often prevalent in horse sport needs to be challenged, with zero tolerance of any bullying or intimidating behaviour.
It is not acceptable to expect people to operate in such an environment and we need to work together to safeguard employees, protect their welfare and ensure their wellbeing is paramount.
Everyone deserves dignity, respect and courtesy in the workplace and we should be proactively promoting these values across the federation. It’s about time attitudes changed, so this is an important and positive step in the right direction.
Has reported on BGA research showing 81% of grooms were not happy at work, and 76% said they had been bullied. It was also found more than half of grooms were paid less than the minimum wage, and about 57% did not have written contracts.The initiative comes during the BGA and EEA’s good employment week (15-22 November).
Meanwhile, the EEA has also launched its equestrian employers’ code of good conduct, and has been recruiting good employment ambassadors, including eventer Coral Keen and dressage Olympian Spencer Wilton.
“Not all those I approached could sign up as they were concerned about their practices,” Ms Katan said. “People said it wouldn’t work as they’d have to charge owners more. But then you’ve got girls being paid less than the minimum wage, which is immoral, unethical and illegal.
I admire and feel for employers as it’s a hard job to balance the books, but you have to be within the law. Bullying and rule-breaking have to become a thing of the past; it’s also unfair as employers who do it right can be undercut by someone who isn’t.
The EEA will be raising awareness of relevant issues, while encouraging employers to sign up.
“I’m proud to sign up to the code and to be an ambassador of good employment,” Spencer said. My groom, Claire, is invaluable, and I have no hesitation in ensuring I am a good, caring and legal employer.
”Ms Katan hopes the result will be happier grooms, and employers, which will benefit all, and the industry as a whole.“The industry has made a pledge,” she said. “This is the end — and a new beginning.”
Parliament road safety debate a ‘huge success’
MPs highlighted dangers faced by riders, and called for the government to consider horses in its Highway Code review
APARLIAMENT debate on road safety has been hailed a “huge success” by the British Horse Society (BHS), after an appeal to riders to contact their MPs. The debate, on 5 November, came after H&H reported that a review of the Highway Code announced by the Department for Transport (DfT) did not mention horses (news, 25 October). MPs raised concerns on issues riders face on the roads, and the importance of driver education.
“I can’t stress enough the importance of the debate ,” BHS safety director Alan Hiscox said.
importance of the debateby the British Horse Society (BHS), after an appeal to riders to contact their MPs. The debate, on 5 November, came after H&H reported that a review of the Highway Code announced by the Department for Transport (DfT) did not mention horses (news, 25 October). MPs raised concerns on issues riders face on the roads, and the importance of driver education.
“I can’t stress enough theimportance of the debate,” BHS safety director Alan Hiscox said.
importance of the debateby the British Horse Society (BHS), after an appeal to riders to contact their MPs. The debate, on 5 November, came after H&H reported that a review of the Highway Code announced by the Department for Transport (DfT) did not mention horses (news, 25 October). MPs raised concerns on issues riders face on the roads, and the importance of driver education.
“I can’t stress enough theimportance of the debate,” BHS safety director Alan Hiscox said.ance of the debate,” BHS safety director Alan Hiscox said.
We are very pleased so many BHS members wrote to their MPs on the important factor of the omission of horses from the review, and the briefing given to MPs meant their arguments were well informed.
It was very encouraging that nine MPs spoke about ongoing issues for horses, and the four points of the Dead Slow campaign were highlighted.
“We are working closely with Cycling UK to increase the safety of all vulnerable road users and we share the same message about close passing, so it makes sense to include riders and carriage drivers in any review of the code involving vulnerable road users.” In the debate, parliamentary under-secretary of state for transport Jesse Norman said:
“The BHS has shown itself to be a formidable campaigning engine in the way it has managed to lobby my colleagues across the House, and I take my hat of to it.”
Among the MPs who spoke about horses were Chris Elmore, who said riders in his constituency had expressed “dismay” that they had been left out of the review and asked for it to include horse riders.
“Many of the roads in my constituency are narrow country roads, which are particularly dangerous when shared by horse riders and vehicles. That’s why campaigns such as Dead Slow are so important,” he said.
MP Alan Brown said he shared the concern of his constituents and the BHS, asking Mr Norman to consider strengthening section 215 of the Highway Code, which covers passing horses, to include the Dead Slow advice.
The BHS are calling for the wording of section 163 of the Highway Code (overtaking) and section 215 (horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles) to include the Dead Slow messages: slow down to 15mph; be patient, don’t sound your horn or rev your engine; pass wide (at least a car width); and drive slowly away.
Mr Hiscox said he is hoping to meet the DfT soon to discuss how horses can be incorporated in to the Highway Code review as vulnerable road users.