Karina Krause is groom to Lativa’s Rihards Snikus, who is a Grade 1 Para dressage rider.

Along with his long time partner King of the Dance they are heading to Versailles for the 2024 Paralympic Games. 

How long have you worked for your rider?

I have known Rihards for a very long time, but I started to groom for him shortly before the Tokyo Paralympic games. I don't work with him at home only on shows; if his trainers are on vacation then I lunge King of the Dance.

Paris will be my second Paralympic games. I am very excited to go to Versailles. I think it's going to be a very beautiful place to be.

Do you have a favourite Paralympic memory from Tokyo?

We got bigger cheers than the Gold medal winner! Everyone wanted pictures with us and said we were their favorite team.

Do you have a mascot or a lucky charm to take to the Games?

I don't have a specific mascot or charm for the Games.

I have an everyday lucky charm, it's an orange plastic little childrens’ shovel that I found on a beach and I believe it has brought me luck ever since.

What’s one thing you wish more people understood about being a Para dressage groom?

As a Para groom I can't ask help from my rider. Even though I know he would love to help out, he just can't.

However, I'm a showjumping groom on a regular day. Sometimes I have 8 horses on a show and that's a lot of work.

With my Para team I've had max 3 horses at show and that's so much easier.

So what I think I'm trying to say is if you get an offer to be a groom for a Para rider, don't be scared -it's pretty much the same just maybe a bit less work😁!

Do you have a piece of advice for any grooms just starting out in their career?

My advice is to anyone just starting out is be absolutely sure that this is what you want, to do this job you have to love it 1000% .

Being a groom is hard but it is also very rewarding.