Voting is open for the FEI Awards until Sunday 13th October.
Today, we have the latest in our interviews with the four brilliant nominees - Pille-Riin Roosileht.
How does it feel to be nominated for the FEI Cavalor Best Groom Award? (and maybe especially as a Driving groom 😊)
Of course it is a great honour and big surprise as Driving grooms are not the most decorated people -despite the fact that they do maybe the most complex job in the equestrian backstage.
This nomination makes me an ambassador for all the girls and boys who work tirelessly in order to bring their athlete and horses to the spotlight. So yes, it is a very good feeling to be seen.
What are you most proud of in your career?
I do not have a specific proudest moment, but it is in general a very good feeling to see my driver and horses coming out of the arena or finishing a competition in such a way that horses and driver are happy.
I also very much enjoy seeing my groomed horses running beautifully on the horse inspection and looking fabulous.
But to be honest, even working at home every day with horses, bringing out the best in them, preparing them for drive, washing them off after exercise, seeing them peacefully grazing or having fun in paddock also brings me joy and makes me proud.
These are the moments that I am working for.
How do you feel awards like this are important for the groom community?
The job of a groom is not an ordinary 9 to 5 job. There is no Sunday, Christmas or bad day because horses are living creatures who must be taken care of 24/7.
Grooms job may include driving the truck, guarding the box during colic, packing all the necessary competition equipment and being available all the time during preparation at home and competition.
To stand on top of the podium the complete team has to be in top form. And not only on the big day but every day.
It is the groom who wipes the last sweat before entering the arena, cleans the dust off the shoe of the athlete, stands at the ringside biting their nails andthe groom is the first one to take care of the athlete and horses immediately after the performance.
But who are these grooms? How many people can name these grooms? When do they get an award or a rosette?
So having this award given to me or any of the other nominees is serving one purpose: recognition and appreciation. It would motivate more people to become a groom if they feel that they are appreciated.
You can vote for your 2024 winners here
Thank you to all the nominees for taking the time to answer our questions; we know you are all worthy winners, and it is great to be part of celebrating the contribution you all make to equestrian sport.
