Sarah Choate works as an event groom and an IGA Rep. We caught up with her about her career so far and her approach to the horses she cares for.

How did you begin your career as a groom?  

I’ve always been a horse-crazy girl; my parents thought it was just a phase, but when it became apparent it wasn’t, they signed me up for Pony Club.

The Pony Club system started my foundation of knowledge and horsemanship. When it was time to decide on a college I chose Otterbein University where I double majored in Equine Business and Veterinary Technology.

During my time at Otterbein, I rode on all three equestrian teams, competed my own personal horse, and worked on staff at the school’s barn.

As graduation approached, I started to really think about what I wanted to do in the industry and loved the thought of grooming at a high performance barn in Eventing.

Otterbein provided me with the skills and knowledge to confidently reach out to programs I was interested in. I connected with Benita and Lucia Strini of Plain Dealing Farm Eventing in Scottsville, VA. I interviewed with them, got the job, and the rest is history!

I’ve been part of the PDF Eventing team for nine years now and have moved into the role of Head Groom. The family atmosphere and small, tight-knit team of people and horses is a big part of the reason I’ve worked at PDF Eventing for nearly a decade! 

Are there any grooms who inspire you?  

Though it may sound cliche, I take inspiration from all the grooms I come into contact with or follow on social media. I’ve learned interesting tips, fun tricks, unique takes on things, and great advice on how to navigate this challenging but rewarding industry.

I appreciate each groom’s different perspective and how much we can all learn from each other. Everyone has their own system, but in the end we are all doing it because of our love for the horses! This is the great unifying factor in the groom community. 

What have been the major highlights of your career so far? 

Seeing the horses I’ve been working with for years move up levels successfully has been a major highlight and incredibly gratifying.

We’ve had one of my favorite horses, DHI Kevin G (or ‘Kevin’), since he was 5. He has always been my buddy, and we’ve developed a strong relationship through a lot of groundwork. He can definitely be the anxious type, but he also wants to do his best.

Watching him grow from a green five year old to winning a 2*L, then winning a 3*L, then moving up to the Advanced/4* level this year has been incredible to witness and be a part of. 

Working with these horses has brought me to amazing events, such as the Young Horse Championship at Mondial Du Lion in France, The Event at Rebecca Farm in Montana, Bromont in Canada, Tryon International, Morven Park International, and The Kentucky Horse Park.

I’m also very proud to have been awarded the Groom’s Award for the 4* division at Great Meadow International for our gorgeous Advanced/4* horse, Excel Cool Quality (aka ‘Waffle’). It felt amazing to be recognized for all of the hard work we put into having Waffle look and feel his best. 

Do you have any favourite lessons that your horses taught you? 

The horses have all taught me that in order to authentically be there for them, I have to continually work on myself as well. Because of them, I’ve been able to form a deeper well of patience and calm within myself. 

That way, if a horse is having a difficult day or finding something we walk by daily scary all of a sudden, I have more empathy and compassion for helping them work through their issue instead of labeling them as a “bad horse.” 

They have taught me to pause, look at a situation, and evaluate how I would want someone to treat me from the horse’s perspective. We do this hard and challenging job to help the horses be their best in every way possible, but also to be their advocates and friends. 

What changes would you like to see happen in horse sport over the next few years? 

Horse welfare still needs to be put above anything else within our industry. Riders, trainers, grooms, stewards, and judges need to step up, say something, and take action if they see something happening that’s wrong. 

The horses deserve our protection and love; we wouldn’t be able to do any of this without them. 

Though great changes have been made in regards to the grooming industry, I’d still love to see the culture and industry standards continue to improve and focus on integrity.

Grooms should be entitled to competitive pay, benefits, a contract, vacation time, and adequate time off during the week. 

“That’s just how the industry is” should not be an acceptable response to poor working conditions.

I believe that taking these steps will improve the industry, give grooms a better work/life balance, and reduce the amount of turnover and burnout. Grooms are an essential backbone of the horse industry and deserve to be treated as such.