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“There is some success every now and then, but most of the time you are facing setbacks and dealing with disappointment,” Emma Uusi-Simola tells WoSJ about the reality of working as a groom. “That is why you really have to love horses to be able to do this – it is the love for these animals that will keep you going.” 

And the Finn, who has worked as Steve Guerdat’s show groom for the past decade, knows what she is talking about. “In my opinion, a good groom is someone who first and foremost loves horses. Additionally, you need to be pretty stubborn as well – and you cannot be lazy.”  

Emma, who was awarded as Cavalor FEI Best Groom in 2023, started riding in Finland when she was eight. “Our neighbour’s daughter was riding and I followed along with her,” she recalls. 

In Finland, most riding schools have a system in place where you get a horse to look after and the lessons are not only about riding – you are taught the basics of horse care as well. “I started at a riding school, and then I got a few horses of my own. After high school I wasn’t very motivated to continue studying, so I took a gap year and went to Germany to work for Yrjö Suomus. It was important for my parents that I would continue to university, but my gap year ended up being four. However, eventually I returned to Finland – but continued to work with horses, first for Mirella Lesonen and then for Mikael Forsten.” 

A good groom is someone who first and foremost loves horses

In 2014, Heidi Mulari – another Finn who worked for Steve Guerdat at the time – contacted Emma and asked if she would be interested in a job in Switzerland as she herself wanted to do less shows. “I went there to get a better understanding of how they worked and decided to join the team,” Emma explains. 

As Emma joined Guerdat’s team, Heidi was able to stop doing the shows and work as a manager at home before moving back to Finland in 2022 after 17 with Guerdat. “Heidi was here for a long time – providing me with support and safety – and having her softened the whole situation,” Emma says. “Another thing that has changed since I started, is that Steve has got his own place where we can focus more on our own horses and truly have our own system.” 

“Like with much else, less is more when it comes to horses,” Emma says when asked about her working principles. “I am a firm believer in horses needing more brushing than washing. I wash them when they are really sweaty, but I don’t use shampoo on them – I might shower them and then brush them clean when they are dry. That is one of the main things for me and the first lesson I want every new team member to learn – as well as handling the horses in a calm way.” 

Like with much else, less is more when it comes to horses

“Another point I find important is having a routine and sticking to it. Especially with sensitive horses, like with Vernie, I always have to keep the same routine and do everything the same way; he knows the routines and they bring him safety. Also, horses are made to move, so I like to take them out as much as possible. I believe that moving is the biggest key in keeping them sound. When it comes to traveling and feeding, I like to keep it really simple as well. Feeding depends on each individual horse, our horses eat different feeds based on their energy levels and as they get older they might need more support in terms of supplements.”

Since last summer, Emma has looked for another groom to help her share the workload of their busy show calendar. “First of all, I cannot drive and be awake for two days in a row every week due to the traveling,” she explains. “That is one of the biggest reasons why I can’t do all the shows alone. Nowadays, the show schedule takes us all around the world, from one end of Europe to the other the next week. Logistically, it is not possible for one person to do it all. The traveling we do is something I wish the shows would consider more when coming up with their timetables: Having a late night class on a Saturday when we all have to drive home on Sunday is the worst thing to do.” 

It should be truly about the horses and what is best for them

“Now that I have tried to find another show groom, I have noticed how everyone thinks I will anyway want to do the biggest shows – which is absolutely not the case,” she continues. “I love to go to the lower-level shows where the younger horses start up and the older horses get going again. It seems that for many grooms nowadays, the five-star shows are all they care about and people seem willing to change from one rider to the other just to go to the shows they want to go to. Not so many seem to be willing to work long-term and go through all the ups and downs that are inevitable in sport. I think the greatest example of good grooms are the older German grooms who have been with their riders for decades and have worked with multiple horses for years – and they keep coming up to the highest level whenever their horses are ready. Teamwork like that is nice to witness.”

“What I would want to see for the future, is a bit more focus on the horses,” Emma points out. “It should be truly about the horses and what is best for them, not about what looks cool on Instagram.”

“I understand the world we live in is different now than when I started, but I wish people were a bit more humble coming into the industry. You won’t learn if you think you know it all from day one.” 

“There has been improvement and grooms do get acknowledged more,” Emma continues to tell about the varying working conditions show grooms are faced with. “However, it is kind of superficial in my opinion; we get offered water and coffee and that is made to be a big deal. In reality, I am sure all of us would appreciate it much more if the fact that we have to feed our horses every single morning around seven – even if we might be finished with our work at 2AM – would be taken into consideration, and if the stable areas and truck parking were safe and convenient to work in. Show grooms don’t get a lot of sleep, and even if we might be able to nap a few hours during the day in our chair in the stable, it does not replace the lack of proper sleep at night.”

The hours are very long and the late-night classes are a killer for everyone

“Personally, the constant sleep deprivation is the most difficult part of the job, because I drive myself. Not all grooms drive, so it is not the same for everyone, but regardless, the hours are very long and the late-night classes are a killer for everyone. Those classes are often the ones where your older horses are jumping, and logically, those horses usually require more care afterwards. Realistically, you are always going to need two hours after a class and I wish the organizers would understand this.”  

“Furthermore, a good employer must give as much as they take,” Emma points out about another important aspect. “Grooms have to be fairly compensated for practically giving their life to their horses and riders.”

Emma’s favourite part of the job is seeing the horses improve. “Seeing the younger horses stepping up, seeing their improvement; that is the best. I love going through the whole journey with a horse, from a youngster to the biggest classes. Especially if a horse took a lot of thinking to figure out, once you find the keys and see the results when they get to do the bigger classes, maybe get a ribbon – and maybe even a smile from Steve – that is what I enjoy the most.”

I love going through the whole journey with a horse, from a youngster to the biggest classes

“There have been many great moments,” Emma says as she reflects on her time with Guerdat. “I would have to say that Bianca winning bronze at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon was huge, and so was winning the Europeans last summer with Dynamix. In Tryon, we did well on the first day, but in the two team rounds we were not clear, so we were not in a good position going into the final. To climb from eight to third in that final is something I will never forget. The first Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final win was a great moment to experience as well, and these days whatever Vernie does is always nice!”

“Vernie has always been sort of an ugly duckling, who we had a lot of challenges with at the beginning,” Emma tells about her favourite horse Venard de Cerisy. “A gymnastic line built in the indoor when Vernie should jump, those days were not easy and it was always an upset Steve coming back to stables. Then we moved to the countryside, where we have derby fences and when he got to jump those he somehow understood his job and it all changed. He has only gotten better with age, and it has been amazing to see his transformation.” 

“I would want us to win the Olympics,” Emma says when asked if there are any goals left for her after over a decade alongside Guerdat. “I keep giving myself these goals that I want to reach, because every day is not going to feel like the best day ever and having a clear goal in mind makes it easier. Surely doing this job gets harder the older you get, but I don’t believe that there is a certain age when you “should not be grooming anymore”. Everyone has to know their own limits and do what makes them happy.” 

20.3.2024 No reproduction of any of the content in this article will be accepted without a written permission, all rights reserved © World of Showjumping.com. If copyright violations occur, a penalty fee will apply.