Equestrian Employers

14/10/2026

Rather than automatically reaching for the wormer, autumn is a good opportunity to check what the horses in your care actually need and make informed decisions about your yard’s worming programme.

A few things worth considering:

🧪 Faecal worm egg counts: Are you using testing to help guide your decisions?

🐴 Tapeworm and encysted redworm: Have you considered whether further testing or targeted treatment may be needed?

📋 Yard records: Are treatments, test results and dates being recorded consistently?

💷 Budgeting: Have you factored testing and appropriate treatments into your autumn and winter horse-health budget?

👥 Team knowledge: Does everyone understand your yard’s parasite-control procedures and who is responsible for making treatment decisions?

Our sponsor Westgate Labs offers a range of parasite-testing services and resources to help horse owners and yard managers make informed decisions about worm control.

A little planning can help you manage costs, avoid unnecessary treatments and keep your yard’s parasite-control programme on track. 🌿

Looking for more practical support and resources for your equestrian business? Find out more about EEA membership and what’s included:
👉 https://equestrianemployers.org.uk/

09/10/2026

⚠️ When was the last time you really looked at your yard through fresh eyes?

Risk assessments can sometimes feel like another bit of paperwork to tick off the list - but on an equestrian yard, they should be a practical tool for spotting where things could go wrong and putting sensible measures in place.

Horses, staff, machinery, vehicles, yard layouts and routines can all change. And with lone working, manual handling, slips, trips and those “we've always done it this way” jobs to consider, there can be plenty of risks that are easy to overlook. 🐴

So, when was the last time you reviewed yours?

🔎 Have there been any changes to your yard or equipment?
👥 Does your current team have different levels of experience?
🚨 Have you had any accidents or near misses that need addressing?
📋 Are your existing control measures still working?

Our latest Employer's Life blog, written by Cheryl from , takes a closer look at why risk assessments matter for equestrian yards and why they should be a working document, not something that simply sits in a folder.

👉 Read the full blog:
https://equestrianemployers.org.uk/blog/915/why-risk-assessments-matter-for-equestrian-yards

EEA members can also use our Risk Assessment Creator to help create bespoke risk assessments for their yard.

08/10/2026

🍂 Is your yard ready for winter?

The weather is changing, and for equestrian businesses that means it’s time to start thinking about winter supplies, budgets and stock levels.

Before the really wet and cold weather arrives, it’s worth asking:

🧾 Have you worked out your expected bedding spend for the winter?
📦 Could ordering in larger quantities help you save on costs or delivery?
🏠 Have you got suitable, dry storage for your supplies?
📋 Are your team clear on how bedding should be used and managed?
🎓 Could your staff benefit from a refresher on bedding and stable management?

And if you're looking at your bedding supplier for the season ahead, Bedmax has a range of products and useful resources for equestrian businesses, including e-learning that can help staff get the most from their bedding.

A little forward planning could mean fewer last-minute orders, better stock management and a more predictable winter budget. 🌧️🐴

Looking for more practical support and resources for your equestrian business? Find out more about EEA membership and what’s included:
👉 https://equestrianemployers.org.uk/

07/10/2026

🎓 On-the-job training: are you getting it right?

Training is a valuable part of working in the equestrian industry, particularly when welcoming young people and new entrants to the sector.

But calling something “training” doesn’t automatically mean normal employment rules don’t apply.

From making sure staff receive at least National Minimum Wage for time spent working and training, to keeping livery or training charges separate from wages and getting accommodation arrangements right, there are a few important things for employers to consider.

Our latest blog looks at on-the-job training and the key responsibilities employers need to keep in mind – including what to consider if you're taking on an apprentice.

👉 Read the full article and make sure your training arrangements are working for both your team and your business.
https://equestrianemployers.org.uk/blog/914/on-the-job-training:-getting-it-right

02/10/2026

This time next month our Employer Support Services Manager Claire will be part of a fabulous line-up of panellists and speakers at the ABRS+ Conference.

Book your tickets using code EEA10 for a discount!

Find out more: https://www.abrs-info.org/events/conference-2026/

16/09/2026

💡 EEA HR Advisor Claire says: "While there is no law in the UK stating whether or not grooms should be paid for a trial period, there is guidance about when an employer should be paying the National Minimum Wage (NMW). This guidance acknowledges that employers may ask potential employees to carry out a trial."

"A trial period should only be as long as it is necessary for you to decide whether someone can do the job. Generally speaking, this is unlikely to be more than one day. Any trial period over one day should be paid at NMW rate." 💷

"Grooms should only be asked to complete tasks that they would be doing regularly if they got the job, and should be supervised and assessed. If you just leave them to get on with it, this would indicate that they are actually working and should be paid."

Staying on top of employment law can be tricky. Let the EEA do the hard work for you.
Join today for just £49.50 per year. www.equestrianemployers.org.uk

16/09/2026

Do younger workers deserve their 'snowflake' label? Recent research suggests not. But workers being afraid to call in sick can be a negative reflection of workplace culture...

"If absence is routinely questioned or viewed negatively, workers can become reluctant to take legitimate time off for fear of being judged. That is a "huge red flag".

As many as half of people report working when sick. The reasons for this are complex, experts say.

14/09/2026

🐴You run a yard because you love horses, but does it feel like you're spending endless hours on legal compliance and HR paperwork?

✅An EEA membership can help.

With instant access to easy-to-use online tools, including legally compliant contract creators, staff handbooks packed with the latest guidance and how-to health and safety guides, you'll save time, money and stress.

⏰Don't let HR drain you time and energy. Let the EEA handle it.

Find out more: equestrianemployers.org.uk/membership-benefits

10/09/2026

Think you don’t need Employers’ Liability Insurance because your groom is freelance? Think again.

Calling someone a “freelancer” doesn’t automatically mean Employers’ Liability Insurance isn’t relevant.

Whether you need cover depends on the actual working relationship between you and the groom - not simply the job title or label you use.

If you have someone working for you on a freelance basis, it’s important to understand whether the relationship could mean you have employer responsibilities and potential liability.

⚠️ Getting this wrong could leave your business exposed.

Don’t assume you’re covered simply because your groom is self-employed.

💡 EEA members can access specialist insurance options and guidance designed around the realities of the equestrian industry.

👉 Find out more about Employers’ Liability Insurance:
equestrianemployers.org.uk

08/09/2026

The horses don't know it’s the end of your working day… but your payroll does!

Extra hours are common in the equestrian industry. A horse needs care when it needs care - but as an employer, you need to make sure those additional hours are managed fairly and correctly.

So, overtime or TOIL?

🔹 Overtime = hours worked beyond an employee’s contracted hours. Whether this is paid, and at what rate, will depend on the employment contract and any agreed arrangements.

🔹 TOIL (Time Off in Lieu) = time off given later instead of payment for additional hours worked. Any TOIL arrangement should be clearly agreed, properly recorded and genuinely available to take.

Good practice for employers:

✅ Agree how additional hours will be managed
✅ Keep accurate records of hours worked
✅ Make sure TOIL can actually be taken
✅ Check your contracts and policies reflect your arrangements
✅ Make sure you understand your responsibilities around working time

Extra hours shouldn’t become a grey area.

EEA members can access further guidance on overtime, TOIL and managing working hours through their member dashboard. 💻

👉 Not an EEA member? Find out how we can support your equestrian business:
equestrianemployers.org.uk