Ever wonder how top-level grooms end up in dream jobs travelling the world, caring for the best horses and working for famous FEI competitors? Sometimes the best grooms find their positions after working their way up from the bottom, or after years of searching. Other times, grooms without international-level experience find themselves catapulted into fantastic jobs by chance.
Here are six unique stories from Canadian FEI grooms about how they found their jobs, and their advice to help you to get your start in the world of grooming.
1. Follow Riders You Like on Social Media
FEI groom Florence Archambault happened to grow up with Equestrian Canada’s 2024 Dressage Athlete of the Year, the amazing young star Camille Carier Bergeron. Florence had no formal grooming experience when Camille offered her a job in November, 2020, at Camille’s stables, Les Écuries Élégance in Laval, Quebec. Her horse experience at the time consisted of leasing a horse and competing at small shows.
Florence Archambault had an amazing 2024 season grooming for Camille Carier-Bergeron and Finnländerin.
“Just two weeks after I started, I was offered the chance to travel to Florida with the team,” said Florence. “I accepted without hesitation.”
Florence, who had never been to an FEI show, remembers her first season in Florida as a “formative experience” where she learned everything on the job.
“I was fortunate enough to discover the world of high-level dressage surrounded by some of the best riders and grooms in North America,” Florence said.
Throughout 2024, Florence had a front row seat to Camille’s budding partnership with Finnländerin. Last year’s stellar season culminated with the highlight of Florence’s career so far, the chance to accompany Camille and Finnländerin to their Olympic debut in Paris.
“Witnessing the progress of a rider and their horses and being part of a close-knit team is an incredibly fulfilling experience,” said Florence.
In addition to learning the trade of grooming, working with Camille has also given Florence the opportunity to ride more. She has benefitted from Camille’s coaching and significantly improved her own riding skills.
“For me, working with Camille has been one of the most meaningful and rewarding adventures of my life, both personally and professionally,” said Florence.
When looking for jobs, Florence advises grooms to take the time to seek out riders they think they can work well with. “Good chemistry is key to a smooth daily routine,” she noted.
Florence advises approaching riders you admire at shows or clinics to ask if they’re looking for employees. If you can’t speak to them in person, you can follow them on social media. “Social media is a great way to discover stables, follow their world, and find opportunities.”
2. Cultivate Experience from Other Horse Jobs
“I always knew [grooming] was something I wanted to do, but never knew the title was ‘groom’ until I met my current employer, Jill Irving, in April 2023,” said FEI groom Julie-Anne Munns.
Before signing on with the top Canadian dressage rider, Julie-Anne was working as a landscaper in New Brunswick. Her employer remembered that she had specialized horse experience on her resumé and knew Irving was looking for help.
“I had no idea who Jill was or her history and I have enjoyed getting to know her these last couple of years,” Julie-Anne said. “She is a very knowledgeable and caring boss.”
Julie-Anne grew up with horses, but she never considered the possibility of working with them at the top levels as a possible profession.
‘Jill Irving likes to say I began in the little leagues and went right into the NHL.’ ~ Julie-Anne Munns
“I first rode western because of my dad and aunt. When I started homeschooling at the age of seven with my mom, she helped me find farms that gave English riding lessons and both of those first barns taught me how to jump.”
When she didn’t have the funds for lessons, Julie-Anne would volunteer at horse farms. She also took co-op credit courses in high school with EC hunter-jumper coach Lorie Ham at Breakthrough Farms, where she got hands-on experience with stable management and basic sport horse health care. After she finished school, Julie-Anne got a full-time job at Breakthrough Farms, where she helped manage a barn of 30 horses for seven years.
“Lorie taught me so much and even gave me free hunter/jumper lessons for all my hard work,” said Julie-Anne.
After moving back to New Brunswick, Julie-Anne caught her lucky break when Jill Irving was looking for someone to be Olympian Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu’s lead groom in Wellington, Florida. Fraser-Beaulieu is helping Irving bring the upper-level dressage horses Jaccardo, Leeghwater, and Médoc up the ranks.
“Jill Irving likes to say I began in the little leagues and went right into the NHL,” said Julie-Anne, who recently won the Best Groom Award at the Lovstä Future Challenge in Florida, where Fraser-Beaulieu took first place.
To find the best jobs, Julie-Anne urges grooms to keep learning as much as they can, to keep an open mind to possibilities, and to find positions that allow them to love what they do. A little luck also doesn’t hurt!
“The biggest advice I can give to future grooms is to keep an open mind. This is a team sport and everyone’s opinion matters. It’s not just about the rider; it’s about grooms, vets, farriers, coaches, family, and friends.”
3. Trust Word of Mouth
Stefanie Walchuck got her job with the incredible four-time Canadian Olympian Mario Deslauriers by word of mouth — possibly the best tried-and-true method for finding grooming jobs.
“I was looking to change jobs at the time and a good friend of mine, who used to train with Mario, heard that he was hiring and recommended I reach out,” said Stefanie. “I did a half-day trial with him and then went straight to a show, and the rest is history.”
‘We all start somewhere, and each job teaches you new skills and what you may want, or not want, in a position.’ ~ Stefanie Walchuck
Stefanie came to grooming from a riding background. She had been competing her own horses since her early childhood, but when it was time for university, she sold her horse and started working in a barn on the weekends to keep horses in her life.
After studying at the University of Calgary, she found a position as a flatwork exercise rider. The position also included stable management duties and FEI grooming work. In 2019, she found her current position with Deslauriers’ team. Narrowly missing out on Tokyo in 2020 due to a paperwork issue, she ultimately made her Olympic debut accompanying Deslauriers and his horse Emerson to Paris in 2024.
Stefanie encourages grooms looking to find fantastic jobs to learn from knowledgeable industry professionals. Experience is the key to finding a position that works the best for you.
“You’ll learn something new from everyone you talk to,” said Stefanie. “We all start somewhere, and each job teaches you new skills and what you may want, or not want, in a position.”
If you’re completely new to the industry, Stefanie advises looking at internet job sites like YardandGroom.com and local Facebook Groups like Ontario Horse Jobs and Horse Jobs in Alberta. Also, the Ontario Equine Education and Employment Program (OEEEP) has been educating students on all aspects of horse care and matching them with suitable employers since 2022. Assistance in finding a relevant job in the horse industry is offered upon completion of the free interactive training course.
Remember to always be cautious and safe when looking for work online. If possible, direct questions to others who have previously worked for the employer.
4. Use Trial-and-Error
Dakota Davidson was lucky enough to make a connection with her current employer, British FEI show jumper Isaac Hall, through a family friend. But her first job as a groom in Europe taught her that her that trial-and-error can be key to finding a great job.
Dakota Davidson, rider and groom at Isaac Hall Equestrian in the UK.
After doing a working student position in the summer as a high school student, she got a job offer to work in France through YardandGroom.com.
“It sounded like everyone’s dream job,” said Dakota, “But after a month of working I started to see truth of this ‘dream job’ and realized I quickly needed to leave.”
Dakota didn’t want to return to Canada after having moved her life abroad, so she took a chance with Isaac Hall Equestrian and ended up loving it.
She started out in a basic position involving grooming and doing yard chores, with occasional riding, but was quickly given more responsibilities. She now oversees the care of 45 horses, including ridden horses, young stock, broodmares, and livery (boarded) horses. She organizes farrier schedules and vet visits, and treatments such as physiotherapy. She also starts and backs the stables’ homebred horses, manages the rehab of the show jumpers, and exercises the boarders’ horses. In addition to all that, Dakota competes one of Isaac’s show jumpers and grooms at national and FEI shows.
Before becoming an FEI groom, Dakota groomed her own horses, and helped out at her local barn, but had little competition grooming experience.
“I didn’t even know how to clip before starting at Isaac Hall Equestrian … It’s the type of job you learn and adapt to on the spot,’ she said.
It’s important, Dakota advised, to have at least a little bit of familiarity with your potential employer before committing to anything.
“Don’t take something just because it’s offered … talk to people you know and tell them what you’re looking for. The horse world thrives on good communication. Let employers know what your expectations are, but also be humble and be willing to learn in order to thrive.”
5. Start as a Working Student
FEI Nations Cup eventing rider Katie Malensek and her sister, former Young Rider and current horse trainer Jacqui Evans, are known on Instagram as the @Equusisters. Both got their start in the world of international competition as working students.
Katie, now a small animal vet in Florida, got her start as a working student for Team Canada eventing rider Jennifer Irwin, and then for Olympic eventer Bruce Mandeville. She worked with Bruce during his Olympic career, and learned the trade of grooming from Bruce’s head groom Sarah Howells.
In addition to preparing her own horse to compete at the North American Young Riders Championships, Katie’s daily responsibilities included caring for a string of upper-level eventers. With Irwin and Mandeville, she learned to bathe and braid multiple horses for shows, clean tack, and pack the trailer.
Jacqui Evans and Katie Malensek before Katie’s dressage test at the TerraNova 4* Event in Florida.
“I learned so much from some of the best Canadian eventing riders,” said Katie. “These positions are invaluable, because they give you exposure to high-level competition preparation and quality horsemanship.”
Before opening her own boarding and training facility in Florida, Jacqui got her start as a groom and working student for Canadian eventers Jennifer Irwin and Karl Slezak. She groomed at some of the best CCIs in North America, including Bromont, Foxhall, and Radnor.
In 2021, she moved to Florida to help her sister develop her up-and-coming event horses, and continued to groom for Katie at competitions.
“I had groomed for Katie many times in her Young Rider years, and we fell right back into that comfortable routine,” said Jacqui. “We have a great way of working together that requires few words, but complete understanding of each other and the horses. I guess it’s just our sisterly instincts and care for horses that makes it flow so seamlessly.”
“Jacqui has been an amazing help to me and my horses,” said Katie. “I think her best quality is that she is such a calm and patient horsewoman who always notices the little things and puts the horses first.”
For those looking to get into professional grooming, Jacqui and Katie advise taking lessons in basic groundwork practices and equine behaviour before becoming a working student, volunteering, or shadowing a groom in the workplace.
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn,” said Jacqui. “Everyone can use an extra hand at horse shows. Find a groom and start up a conversation about your interest in grooming, offer to be an extra set of hands, help with the simple stuff like bathing and untacking, and before you know it they won’t know how they ever did it without you!”
Katie routinely relies on the local equestrian community to find recommendations for grooms. She advises potential grooms to ask working grooms for tips, advice, and guidance. “It’s also a great way to get contacts in the community for future work,” she said.
Katie and Jacqui invite any curious would-be grooms looking for jobs to approach them at shows or on social media – you never know, you just might find your dream job!
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