Since the 2020(1) Olympics in Tokyo, equestrian Olympians compete as teams of 3 with an alternate rider who can be substituted in during the competition if needed.
This role is unique, and grooms and riders travelling to the Games as alternate combinations face their own set of challenges for the time they are at the venue.
Natalie Campbell travelled to Versailles as groom for Great Britain's alternate dressage combination Indigro and Andrew Gould.
We took the opportunity to catch up with her about the experience.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career so far.
I’m 33 and live in Pulborough with my amazingly supportive partner and our dog.
I’ve been working in dressage for about 10 years. I started properly after I finished uni and didn’t know what I wanted to do next... I fell into a job on a dressage yard and the rest is history!
I lived and worked in Australia for 2 years just before lockdown and then settled back home for good. I’m currently yard manager and competition groom for Andrew Gould; I’ve been here for about 4 years.
What is Versailles like as a venue? Was it what you expected from an Olympics?
Versailles was a stunning venue, beautiful scenery and lots of grazing area for the horses. It wasn’t too big to get around, as long as you had a bike.
It was a bit different from what I expected; we were stabled by discipline rather than nation so you didn’t have the barn of GB horses all together.
As grooms, most of our time was spent behind the scenes where it was quite quiet.
You didn’t realise how many people were there until you went past the barriers into the public areas. This was nice for the horses as it meant that it felt like any other show to them in the stables and exercise arenas.
What is it like being a part of Team GBR at the Games?
It felt amazing to be part of Team GBR. It was a really proud moment to receive our kit. Watching the other disciplines compete for GBR on-site was amazing!
Having teams of 3 with a travelling alternate combination is relatively new to the Olympics – how did you find the experience of being on site and on call?
It was definitely very different being on site and training but not having to compete.
As a groom it didn’t affect the way I care for my horse: I think it’s more difficult for the rider, having to be prepared that you might get called up. Indie had a whale of a time just training and grazing all week!
Being able to watch and support the other 3 and celebrate their achievements was great.
What are some of the challenges of being in the fourth slot, and how have you handled them?
The most difficult thing I found was to truly feel part of the team when your horse isn’t competing. Although you want the best team to go, and I believe they did, it’s hard to be on the sidelines.
For me, the positive was the learning experience that Indigro got to have. He’s never done a big championship, so to go and get used to working in that environment, without the pressure of competition has been a great education for him.
I feel now he’s really set up for the next one.
We also had a great support team who treated and cared for him as if he was competing too.
Are there any stand-out moments of your Olympic experience?
Watching our teammates secure Team Bronze, and Lottie win individual Bronze was pretty special, and seeing pictures of Snoop Dogg watching dressed up in dressage attire was pretty good!
If you had to give just one tip for a groom who is dreaming of working at an Olympics one day what would it be?
Work for a rider that you believe in, that your morals align with, and stick with it.
Learn as much as you can and say yes to every opportunity. You never know what it can lead to.
Thank you so much to Natalie for sharing her story with us, and for the important role she played at the Olympics. Being at the Games as the alternate combination has many challenges, so it's great to hear Nat's positivity and team spirit shining through.
Photo credit Kim Masson
