WORKING as a groom is not easy, long hours and hard physical graft plus as we all know, it often doesn’t pay the world’s highest wage either, though thankfully that is changing for the better in many yards.

After being around horses much of her life and watching her head groom daughter work so hard, health service worker and starter at the Meadows Equestrian Centre, Kathy McMullan of Dromore, Co Down, has set up a dedicated Facebook group for grooms working across Ireland, in any discipline.

The online group page “The Grooms Group” not only offers a place for grooms to connect and also training day opportunities but McMullan has secured numerous helpful discounts for grooms to avail of to make life a little easier, and to help our grooms’ wages go a little further.

Discounts

Currently running for members are discounts such as TRI (NI) offering 20% off their own brand and 10% off other brands, Omagh Equestrian Store giving 10% off, Bovean Accounting offering 20% discount for self-employed/freelance grooms for all self assessment tax returns/ accountant services. Tux & Tails in Dungannon giving a 20% discount and just last week the Meadows Equestrian Centre saw bottles of water available to grooms for just 50p.

Cash prizes will also be on offer for Grooms Group members on The Grooms Group launch day on Sunday, June 16th, at the NIHB show at the Meadows. The €100 prize, donated by Jim Derwin Equestrian, will be awarded to a Grand Prix groom.

There is a small annual fee for membership and if you’re interested in finding out more or want to become a member, head over to their Facebook page.