Text © World of Showjumping

“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 Thomas – who for the past seven years has worked as a show groom for Laura Kraut – tells World of Showjumping about the inaugural World Class Grooming Career Development Grant. “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.”

The World Class Grooming Career Development Grant, launched by Emma Ford and the Aiken Horse Park Foundation, offers a unique pathway into high-performance sport. Designed for grooms who are ready to take the next step, the program combines a $5,000 grant with a hands-on mentorship experience at the top level of dressage, jumping, or eventing. Through structured guidance from elite professionals, selected applicants will gain real insight into international grooming while building the skills, confidence, and connections needed for a long-term career. With applications open until July 1, this initiative aims to make the profession more accessible, more sustainable, and more recognized.

“When I was younger, I started in eventing and then moved over to showjumping and luckily found jobs that were each a stepping stone in the right direction,” Margo explains. “However, you don't always get those opportunities along the way. The idea is to create an opportunity for grooms that aren't at the upper levels yet, who really see themselves doing this as a career. We lose people, especially in America, because here you can be on your parents' insurance until you're 26, but when you have to start actually making money, it's hard to support yourself as a groom.”

“Currently, this program is only available in America, but we hope to grow once we have more support in the future,” Margo points out. “Applicants must meet the following requirements; they must not have previously groomed at the Olympic, World, or Pan American Games, and must be between the ages of 23–35 at the time of application. We also expect them to have at least three years of experience in the equine grooming industry and be currently employed or interning in an equine-related role. In addition, they must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident and demonstrate a clear commitment to pursuing a professional career in one of the three Olympic disciplines.”