I want to tell you about the best job I ever had. The days were long and the To-Do list never got any shorter but it really was the best job. I was simply lucky enough to fall on my feet running with the rider I worked for, I very quickly became family. Unfortunately, that’s a rarity these days, so many yards and riders are screaming out for “good” grooms. So I want to tell you what I think makes a good groom. 

Much the same as horses: if they’re fast and cheap, they won’t be any good and if they’re fast and good, they won’t be cheap. I was at a 2* international show in France in the February just gone and a conversation resonated with me. I was talking to a show jumper with no more than four horses and one groom. She was saying to me how shocking the turnover of grooms is and why can’t they just stick to a job? Now she was in a different position altogether with fewer horses than an average professional – there was enough time in the day to ensure her horses had the adequate care and time for training. That isn’t a common occurrence across professional yards these days considering how competitive the market has gotten. There aren’t enough staff, there is nowhere near enough money and there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to run a professional yard on a numbered pair of hands. The rider I was talking to has had her groom for over 6 years but she is in a financial position to provide her staff with a wage in which they can truly live off – if this was the case across the industry I’m certain the turnover would be much less frequent. 

My boss was totally honest with me from the off he told me, “you won’t get rich off the wages but you’ll be rich in experience.” He was right, the experience I got in that job is utterly priceless and I will never forget it. I learnt how to be a very good groom in that job. I made more mistakes than I could count but I learnt from each and every one. My poor rider hired me with no previous grooming experience, I couldn’t plait, nor clip or bandage. It’s safe to say I owe all of my current ability to him. Due to the experience I received and the mistakes I made I think I can now highlight some of the differences that make a good groom great.

1. Communication – This one is fatal. Ensure you communicate everything and anything. You’re much better to be safe than sorry. Don’t be afraid to ask! More often than not, if you’re thinking it then someone else probably is too.
2. Passion – You have to be passionate about what you’re doing. The equestrian industry is not one where you can work well without passion. The days are long, there are more bad days than good but the feeling you get when you come across a good day is simply priceless. 
3. Be respectful – This one is definitely one for the top of the list and shouldn’t really have to be highlighted at all. Leave your ego at the door and view it as an opportunity to learn something new.
4. Pride – No matter if you’re representing yourself or another brand/rider you should want to take pride in the horses you’re around. Their turnout and performance. If you take pride in your job and what you’re doing, you will naturally become more and more of a perfectionist.
5. Being thorough – This follows on from my last point. Ensure you’re thorough in every job you do and you will never doubt the standard of your work. Channel your inner perfectionist, it’s better to have one job 100% done than 20% of many jobs.
6. Teamwork – Regardless of your role you are always a team player in this job. You’re working with your horse, working with your rider and potentially working with another groom. You have to be willing to work on all aspects of teamwork. You cannot let your ego jeopardise your standard of work in this industry, you simply won’t last very long.
7. Be willing to learn – Every day is a school day. You have to be open minded and willing to learn the different ways yards and riders do things, I can guarantee that every single place you work will do something or other differently to the last. 
8. Get to know your horses – This one is so so so so so important. Obviously, if you’re working a short-term freelance this is easier said than done, I would recommend asking every question imaginable just so you have a bit more of an idea of a horse’s quirks. The more you get to know your horse’s personalities the easier it will be to spot if something isn’t quite right, the earlier you spot something off the quicker it can be resolved.

I adored my grooming job, I learnt so so much and have experienced an incredible amount because of it. I wouldn’t change a thing. I have made lifelong friends and families that I would move mountains for. It was a job that changed my life for the better and I will forever be thankful for the opportunities I’ve been given along the way.
I would recommend grooming to anyone with a heart full of passion and a hunger to learn – it’s a great project to sink your teeth into.