Looking after your Grooms' Minds

In Mental Health Awareness Week, we look at the topic of 'When you take on staff, you take on responsibilities.'

Employers have a duty of care not only to provide for their employees in compliance with employment law but also for their physical and mental welfare. 

The challenges of being alert to mental well-being are not to be underestimated, but most employers who are riders have a number of the necessary skills already. It is a collection of skills that riders use every day which have been honed over a lifetime and perhaps now drawn upon unconsciously. The skills are:

• The sensitivity to be aware of every slightest shift in the behaviour of their horses.
• The highly attuned observation of each change and the ability to adjust your response, your behaviour accordingly.
• Looking, listening, feeling, sensing, responding by using your knowledge gained through long experience.
• Underpinning these skills is a deep level of care and acceptance (with little judgment) and your motivation to manage, to train, to develop, to           work with the horse wherever the horse is in their learning.
• Being able to communicate despite the lack of human language.

It is these extraordinary skills that could be applied in a different context in your role as employer.

It may be more challenging at first to observe signs in a human being rather than sense your horse’s behaviour when you are riding BUT the skill set is similar. It may be that you are naturally “better with horses than humans” BUT the skills can be developed and it is a crucial part of running an equine business.

What signs might you see?

One in six young people will experience an anxiety condition at some point in their lives (Anxiety UK). Anxiety reduces confidence, physical health and thinking ability and thus interferes with their ability to do their job.

When an employee is in the early stages of stress and mental dis ease (no that’s not a typo), they could appear quiet, sullen, withdrawn, argumentative, seemingly over energetic (hyper) or tired and low energy. People respond differently. The important part to notice is that there is difference from the groom’s normal behaviour however slight.

In the majority of cases they do not understand themselves what is happening and they do not want it to be happening. In the majority of cases they will not be able to explain what is going on even if you notice and ask. Indeed they will probably want to avoid or brush off any enquiry and hide back in their work.

The touches of OCD behaviour that (let’s face it) are a requirement for the job imperceptibly seep into daily routine. The checking of door bolts gradually multiplies to five six seven checks - to taking  a photograph for reassurance when back in their groom’s flat. The fear of what might happen today - the horse that might escape, get injured “on my watch”, whose sharpness might prove too much. The responsibility causes a constant underlying stress level which cannot be contained and is debilitating unless recognised and supported early.

They want to be the strong, tough, resilient employee that is demanded and expected from a groom. All in the equine industry work extreme hours, often in uncomfortable conditions, for low pay because of the great recompense - being with horses.

The equine employment culture is deeply and powerfully ingrained - if you cannot manage the working conditions, there are many lining up behind you enthusiastic and desperate to follow their dream. All of these pressures of course affects the groom’s well being.

What is happening for them?

It is helpful to have an understanding about what symptoms a groom under pressure might be experiencing:

• Becoming easily agitated, frustrated and moody
• Feeling overwhelmed, or as if they are losing control or need to take control
• Having difficulty relaxing and quieting their mind
• Feeling bad about themselves (low self-esteem), lonely, worthless or depressed
• Wanting to avoid others
• Feeling anxious, worried or afraid for no obvious reason
• Worrying constantly about everyday events or activities
• Continually checking whether they did something correctly
• Being so panicky that they are unable to function in certain situations, like dealing with challenging horses or talking to their employer about tricky subjects
• Being scared of doing something wrong and therefore not taking initiative
• Feeling pressure to be “in the hard work club”

Without relief or rest from this stress, symptoms can escalate and it is important to seek medical help.

What can you do?

• Understand the importance of dealing with the early signs. It may not be visible like a broken leg but it is and can become a debilitating medical condition.
• Use your professional (equine) skills everyday to pay attention to any changes in your employee’s behaviour.
• Have regular (weekly) team meetings.
• Have 1:1 meeting with each of your staff at least every other month (a sit down face to face one not whilst hacking or while driving the lorry etc)
• If you sense there has been a change, schedule a time with them to talk about:
  • how they are finding the work
  • what parts of the work they find tricky/stressful
  • how they are feeling about those tricky times
  • if appropriate, feedback sensitively and non-judgmentally that "you have noticed that they may be finding things stressful at the moment and that you would like to help." 

Don’t take a “I’m fine” if you sense all is not well.

Ensure they have somebody they can talk to if they seem uncomfortable/unable to talk to you as their boss.

Suggest they use the Grooms Minds Support Line and recognise that you are the starting point for them getting support.