Every year the FEI General Assembly ends with their Awards Gala - where the FEI Best Groom Award is presented. This year IGA member Bettina Cardinael was the winner, from a very strong shortlist.
We caught up with Bettina about her win and the Awards Gala experience.
What was the FEI Awards experience like?
Firstly, it was really nice to get the chance to spend a couple of days in sun and nice weather; it’s raining a lot in Belgium now!
I met so many people too, like the people from NAMEF (the Namibian Equestrian Federation) who won they FEI Inspire Award.
They were so passionate about their work it really was inspiring! I also spoke to many people from the FEI, and I really felt like they took me seriously.
Lots of people came up to talk about the FEI video, and they said not only that they could see how hard grooms work, but that they could also feel the emotion of the job. It’s amazing to have that recognition, and I felt really respected by everyone there as well... the Gala night itself was amazing.
What difference do you feel awards like this make?
The recognition is great. Of course without it I would still work as hard but it is amazing to have something like this.
It also gives me more confidence, that I am doing things on the right track and should keep going in this way.
Last time we spoke, we asked if is there one thing you hope will change for grooms in the future?
That’s really hard. I think I hope that what changes is more than social media recognition.
Maybe I’ve picked well, but I’ve always had jobs where I have worked really hard, but I have had balance. I got holidays, and days off, I have good accommodation. Of course this will never be a 9-5 job but there does have to be balance.
I talk to too many grooms who don’t have that, and a social media post saying ‘thank you to my groom’ does not outweigh horrible accommodation or any of the other things you hear about.
Finally, is there anything else you would like to say?
Just that I think it’s really good to experience how much more grooms are considered now. It’s really important that being a groom is seen as a real profession; and we have to achieve that together with the riders and the FEI.
I spoke with Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi who won the Rising Star Award, and he was so interested in how we do things in eventing, and asked lots of questions. That’s really good to feel that we can all learn from each other.
Finally I am so thankful for all the support – from Lara, from the people who voted for me, and from the Belgian Federation…. Even though I am French they have been very supportive!
And of course, thank you also to the FEI and Cavalor for supporting this Award.
Congratulations to all the winners at the FEI Awards - and to all those who were nominated. Thank you to Bettina for taking the time to talk to us and share her experiences.
The IGA is the representative voice of grooms working in FEI sport - we are working to ensure grooms are recognised for their contribution to horse sport, and treated as valued professionals.
