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“The first thing that comes to mind is remembering that they're horses first,” Margo Thomas – who for the last seven years has worked as Laura Kraut’s show groom, accompanying the current world number nine to hundreds of horse shows as well as multiple major championships including two Olympic Games – tells World of Showjumping about her principles in caring for her horses.

“They're horses and have their own personalities and their own way of thinking and doing things. I believe in them having happiness in their day as well, not just that they work, get their hay and their grain and that's their purpose in life. At home we turn our horses out in the paddock as much as we can and try to give them as much of a life outside of their work as possible,” Margo says.

To World of Showjumping, Margo tells about her journey from eventing to showjumping, the importance of teamwork and how she hopes to give back to those pursuing a career in grooming.

Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, Margo grew up riding and showing. “I wanted to be a professional rider, and started eventing when I was in high school,” she explains. “I went to Virginia Intermont College and got my degree in equine studies, which was a great opportunity that got me out of Louisiana – because it's not what you would call the hub of horse riding. Going to Virginia Intermont was great networking, and I still have friends I went to school with.”

“After I finished college, I had a job as a working student for an eventer. I was grooming for an eventer named Jen Simmons, and one day, she came to me and said she was going to quit riding. She explained to me that even though she had had opportunities, she could see her owners were starting to cut the budget. She was 20 years older than me, and it kind of hit me as a rider; is this going to be me in 20 years, quitting because I couldn't make the opportunities work? That's when I moved over to grooming.”

The next job Margo found happened to be at a showjumping barn. “I was there short term, but it was interesting doing something different from the eventing. Soon after, I got an opportunity to go to Wellington to work for Norman Dello Joio. I was there for the season, went to Spruce Meadows that summer and really just found that I loved grooming showjumpers.”

After being a groom and a manager for Sharn Wordley for two years, Margo found her first opportunity to come to Europe, freelancing for Daniel Bluman. “After working for him, I luckily decided to travel to Hickstead to see some friends during the Nations Cup week. Laura was there and I got a chance to speak with her and her groom – and was able to start working for her a month later.”

“From the get-go, I was able to do the real thing; I couldn't believe it when they told me I would be going to places like Saint-Tropez, Washington and Toronto with Laura. It felt like such a big opportunity and a huge step up, and I felt I wasn't worthy of it. Sure enough, the next month I did Paris, Geneva and Olympia – and I apparently was Laura's groom!”

“It's maybe a little bit imposter syndrome; I had been grooming five-stars for a few years, but mostly in America, and Laura is such a big name, especially as an American,” Margo shares about her self-doubt at the beginning of her time with Kraut. “Because Laura bases in Europe, I hadn't met anyone that worked for her. When I was interviewed, I was told I might be grooming for a client – which I thought would have been fine, as I was ready to do anything to get in the door. It's such a renowned program with Nick Skelton, Laura and her sister Mary Elizabeth – they just make such a great team. To be a part of that was a great opportunity, and I was happy to be any piece of the puzzle.”

When Margo first started working for Laura, she learned a lot from Sam Burrell, who at the time had worked with Kraut for a decade. “Sam could tell me everything about the care for the horses, what bridles they should go in, what backup bits I should bring. When I had back-to-back shows, she always made sure my horses were clipped and ready to go. She was such a great support when I started. Also, Laura's sister Mary Elizabeth has been great for insights and support throughout the years.”

“It took time to get to know Laura, but she's not super high maintenance,” Margo shares. “She trusts my opinion and respects that I know what I'm doing, and that goes really far with me. She's not breathing down my neck all the time, worried that I'm not taking care of the horses well. That made it an easier transition; I was given some of the tools, but I also was trusted that I know I could take care of the horses and I knew what was best for them.”

“A big part of the success that I have now at Laura's is that I have worked with my colleague Alex Tyler-Morris for the last four to five years,” Margo points out. “We both work together as Laura's grooms, and we have been able to work closely and communicate well. We don't have assigned horses at Laura's; we both equally care for all of the string. What makes us successful is communicating with each other; we stay in touch constantly about what the horses have been doing or what's changed. We do some shows together, but a lot of times we won't see each other because he'll do one week and I'll do the next.”

“It's the teamwork that we have, as with all of Laura's team at home, that helps make Laura's programme successful. A big important part of my career at Laura's has been working with Alex. It definitely takes both of us to keep this whole thing going and also makes it so we can each have days off.”

During her time with Laura, Margo has taken care of extraordinary horses, including the legendary Confu and Kraut’s two-time Olympic medallist Baloutinue. “I've had some pretty special horses to care for along the way for sure. I'm not supposed to say that I have favourites, but Confu was like my best friend,” Margo says. “He was more like a companion to me. Baloutinue is another horse I’ve built a special bond with. He stayed in Europe rehabbing this winter, and I just had him back at a show last week – and his presence really just changed my whole attitude. Just seeing him and being back around him makes me happy.”

“We also have horses like Bisquetta and Una Mariposa, horses that we've had for so long. Seeing them through their ups and downs, you get to know them like the back of your hand… and that is special. I also get to flat ride a lot at home, so I get to know them well. Baloutinue's favourite thing is to go hacking in the woods, and what I love to do at the end of the day is to take him for a long hack. It's good for your soul to spend some time with them on your own.”

“Getting to know all the horses well is rewarding, and some of the big wins we have had along the way also stick out as great memories,” Margo tells about her most memorable moments. “We got Baloutinue four months before the Tokyo Olympics, and that we were able to earn a silver medal was pretty incredible. We've had Bisquetta since she was seven, and now she's 12. Getting to watch her win her first couple five-star Grand Prix classes last year, really be there for her whole upper-level career and watch every step, has been amazing. It is really exciting when you get to see all the years you've been putting into them pay off and see the horses be successful. Sometimes there is so much that goes on behind the scenes; for example, Confu got sick one winter and we never thought he'd make it back. However, he did recover and went on to win a Saturday night Grand Prix in Wellington – that is a really happy memory.”

“It's funny being on the American team, because I'm actually one of the only American grooms,” Margo tells about being part of the U.S. squad. “I think it's a different kind of pride when you get to represent your home country. The American team has such a great support system with the team management, the vets and the physios. To some extent it feels like a well-oiled machine. We don't win every week, but it's a wonderful team to be a part of. You don't always get to go double clear, but it's an amazing feeling when you do.”

“The industry is definitely trying to recognize grooms more,” Margo continues. “We're not just some nameless, faceless parts in the background; we are the backbone of the industry. Organisers trying to make sure we have food, have the truck parking close by and find ways to make our lives easier sure is a step in the right direction. However, there is more that could be done with the scheduling of events. I was at a show recently where the first day, there was a five-star and a one-star, and the first day, all three five-star classes were back-to-back. I was done showing before 2PM, but I had not stopped moving since 5.30AM, trying to lunge my horse, get the next one to the ring, lunge the next one, throw some braids in, try and get the magnetic blanket on… If organisers could recognize that grooms are doing it all on their own, maybe they could put a one-star class in between, just to give the grooms some room to breathe and grab lunch.”

“Being aware of the tax you're putting on the grooms with your scheduling would be the biggest change that I would love to see,” Margo highlights.

As a way of giving back, Margo is involved in the World Class Grooming Career Development Grant, launched by Emma Ford and the Aiken Horse Park Foundation. “I hope that with this grant, someone can spread their horizons, go work at a professional barn and get the stepping stones and the experience to make this as a career,” Margo says about a grant that is designed for grooms who are ready to take the next step, combining a $5,000 financial award with a hands-on mentorship experience at the top level of dressage, jumping, or eventing. “We want to give an opportunity for someone to be a second groom at big shows, to see the reality of high-level sport. It's not a working student or a rider position; we want to support someone that wants grooming to be their career and give them a chance to see first-hand how upper-level grooms’ work.”

30.6.2026 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.