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“Championships are always the goal, and the dream we work for every day,” Sylvain Benoit tells World of Showjumping. “That is why we do what we do and work hard every day all year around. A championship is not just another show; it is always a dream, and a big occasion if you get to go.” 

There are not many better in the business than Sylvain, who for the last decade has been by Gregory Wathelet’s side as his show groom. Originally from France, the 42-year-old has worked as a groom since he was sixteen. Sylvain started his grooming career in 1998, when he joined the French rider Christian Ehrmann’s team. Later on, he went on to work for Nicola Philippaerts before joining Wathelet in 2015 – and the rest is history. 

“I had known Gregory for a long time,” Sylvain recalls. “I started directly as his show groom, and my role has not changed. During a normal week, I spend Mondays cleaning my truck, take Tuesdays off and then leave to a show on Wednesdays.” 

When it comes to horsemanship, Sylvain believes in learning by doing. “I first started as an intern at Ehrmann’s. I went to a special equestrian school and we did these practical periods where we worked for one week, then went to school for the next. I believe that as a groom, you have to create your own system through your experiences. With horses, you learn day by day, and you also learn from the mistakes that you make. There is always someone to help you, and you can learn from everyone. I think you need to create a system you believe in. Different horses have different needs; some horses need more attention, more care, some less – you have to manage them individually, and therefore the learning never really stops.” 

I believe in keeping everything as natural as possible

“My system is really simple,” Sylvain continues. “The first thing I teach to a new team member is to be nice to the horses, to listen to them carefully and to respect them. For me that is the most important thing; to respect the horses and treat them well. I believe in keeping everything as natural as possible; I believe the horses become stronger this way. I prefer it when the horses don’t need too much, just bandages after a big class, clay after the Grand Prix on Sunday… Some horses need a massage blanket, but not all of them.”

“Naturally, the team at home is very important,” he points out. “When we are on the road, the horses that stay at home need to be well taken care of and they need to be ready for the next show. It is essential to have good people around you.” 

From being European silver medallists with Conrad de Hus (Con Air x Locato) in Aachen in 2015 to winning team gold at the European Championships in Rotterdam in 2019 with Nevados S (Calvados Z x Romualdo), Sylvain and Gregory have had many memorable moments throughout the years. “The best moment so far was for sure in Aachen with Coree, when she won the Rolex Grand Prix there in 2017,” Sylvain tells. “Coree is an amazing mare; she is an unbelievable competitor and such a cute character. The Olympics in Tokyo, where Nevados was part of the Belgian team that won bronze, were also a great experience.” 

I feel the same for all of my horses and I think they should all be handled with the same respect

With horses such as Coree (Cornet Obolensky x Liberty Life), Nevados S, Forlap (Querlybet Hero x Heartbreaker), Ace of Hearts (Aliandro B x Ra) and Bond Jamesbond de Hay (Diamant de Semilly x Kannan) as part of his team, Sylvain has taken care of some very impressive equine athletes over the years. However, for him, every horse should be treated the same. “I don’t have a favourite,” he says firmly. “The best horse we might have in the stable is not the favourite; every horse is the same for me – Coree, Nevados, James, they are all on the same level. I feel the same for all of my horses and I think they should all be handled with the same respect.” 

“Our best horses have all been very different,” Sylvain continues. “They have given us so much and made so many dreams come true, not only for me but for our team and for the Belgian team. They have all been important horses and very unique, they always tried their best. They have all been different characters, and it took time to get to know them and figure them out.” 

What Sylvain likes most in his work is doing the shows. “We go to many different venues,” he explains. “Places like Aachen, La Baule, Dinard – the traditional shows that are made for horse people – are my favourites. There are so many shows now, but from my point of view, a good show is like La Baule; an outdoor venue where you arrive early in the week and even though the week is long, the classes are during the day, not too late in the evening, so that you can enjoy your stay as well. Indoor shows where you are working all night and then drive back in the night when you are already tired are not exactly a highlight. The best shows have a realistic schedule, so that you can rest and also be social with other grooms. And first of all, of course the best shows have facilities that are safe and good for horses.”

The best shows have facilities that are safe and good for horses

“There are shows that are more for the people than for the horses,” Sylvain continues. “For sure it is nice that you get to go to amazing cities, but for the horses, bringing them in the middle of busy city centres is not nice. I understand that there are politics in the sport as well and that money plays a role; it might not be easy to get the public to come to the middle of nowhere. I think we have shows that are for horse-people; with good stables, space to walk, to go for grass… And then we have shows that are only for the public.”

Being a show groom today comes with many new demands compared to a decade ago; using applications, filling in health certificates, recording temperatures in the FEI HorseApp, and staying on top of all the FEI rules to know what is allowed and not, are some examples of what comes with the job. “All these things you have to do prior to even arriving at a show take a lot of time,” Sylvain explains. “And I hate the phone anyway! I think that the digitalization of everything has broken the real communication between people. I prefer to speak face-to-face, instead of having a WhatsApp group for every show.” 

I think it is the responsibility of the grooms and their riders to draw the lines and say ‘no’ when it gets too much

“Some shows take care of grooms, others don’t – which is a shame,” Sylvain continues. “At many four- and three-star shows there is nothing for the grooms, while Peelbergen sets a great example by serving breakfast to everyone even at a two-star show. In general, the schedules of the shows could be managed better. During the indoor shows, grooms are in the stable until midnight and the next morning the horses need to eat as well, so there is not much time for sleep. Outdoors, some smaller shows accept so many entries that the days get very long as well. I understand that it is difficult to make everyone happy; the organisers want entries and public to make a nice show but there should be a balance somewhere."

"With so many shows these days, we have to travel so much, and it is hard if you don’t get enough rest between the shows. However, I think it is the responsibility of the grooms and their riders to draw the lines and say ‘no’ when it gets too much. There is a limit to what anyone can realistically do, and I think we should stop and say ‘no’ more often. When it gets busy, take a freelance groom for one show, hire a driver or take a second groom with you. There has to be communication between the groom and the rider, and you also have to be realistic in what is possible and how much one person can do. It is dangerous to drive when you are tired, not only for the horses but also for everyone else on the road.” 

“I hope that people who decide to work with horses do it for the right reasons,” Sylvain says when asked what he would want to see for the future of the sport. “You have to understand that this is a hard job. We get to take care of really special animals and if you only want to travel, it is better to do something else and travel without the horses. We are there for the horses, first and foremost, the days are long, and you should not count the hours.” 

You have to love this to be able to do it, there is no question about that

“However, I think everyone has to do as they like; some people – like me – love their rider and their horses and prefer to stay with them through the good and bad, while others like to freelance and try different things. I like to work with Gregory. I think it is more rewarding to know the horses and rider for a long time, to be there through their whole journey. When the results finally come, it is a great feeling – to go through the ups and downs with the same team. Gregory is honest and simple – he is a true horseman. He is still the same person I started to work with almost a decade ago, we have seen good and bad, and he has always been correct.” 

“I love my job and the day I don’t enjoy it anymore, I will do something else,” Sylvain concludes. “You have to love this to be able to do it, there is no question about that. It is not a simple job and you really have to love the horses, it is too hard to do this without passion and love. If you don’t want to spend time with your horses, don’t – but then you can’t expect great results.” 

4.9.2024 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.