Our second YETI Groom of the Quarter winner is Laura Baulleret. Laura is a freelance groom, currently working with Michael Duffy.
We caught up with her to learn more about her career so far.
How did you come to start working as a groom?
To be honest, I failed at school, I had no interest in it; and I definitely didn’t want to be working in an office behind a desk. That idea was pure anxiety for me.
I started giving a hand to my Junior/YR friends at shows. Then I was given the opportunity to go to Sunshine Tour for a month and met professional grooms for the first time.
I had an epiphany: this is what I was going to do for the rest of my life. Travel and be with horses.
Are there any people or horses that shaped your path?
A really pivotal moment was when I met Henrik Gundersen, a Danish trainer. I was at Hickstead CSIO5* working for Penelope Leprevost.
He saw how I worked, offered me a job & he gave me a chance. He taught me all the ropes of what it is to be a real horse person.
I was a rough diamond at the time, just winging it. I didn’t really know how to do things or why.
He really took the time to integrate me in a good team and polished me in the American way. That’s how I groomed for Emilie Martinsen (DK) and cared for Carisma (later ridden by Danielle Goldstein). I did my first World Cup final in s'Hertogenbosch in 2012 with them.
Carisma was such a character, a really spicy mare that would only rely on one person and at the time, that was me. She meant the world to me.
She taught me so much, how to be patient, how to be deserving of her trust and work around her edges, not the other way around.
Also, I must mention my time with Alexandra Paillot (France) & Polias de Blondel; she was the first female rider to win the French Elite Championship.
It was an incredible achievement and as someone who supports women so much, it was amazing to be part of.
Alex, Polias & I had such a strong bond. We did everything together.
Polias was the best horse to care for, so easy & kind but still sensitive, especially at the show. He truly was my best friend & it was incredible to see him blossom together and reach the top level.
The YETI Groom of the Quarter is all about celebrating grooms who have made other grooms’ lives better. How does it feel to be this quarter’s winner?
Fantastic! I feel so honoured and somewhat very proud of myself. I’m a people pleaser and I always try to do a lot for my community so it’s so nice to be appreciated.
And thank you to YETI for supporting this award, as well as the other work they do to celebrate and support grooms.
What do you most value about the horse sport community?
The unity; whether in times of trouble or in sportsmanship. I loved how a lot of people recently stood behind Simon (Delestre) during the GCT of Prague in the name of sportsmanship.
[He was eliminated on a technicality because his helmet was not fastened while he was in the arena.]
But also, I always have friends I know I can call if anything happens - whether my truck broke down or one of my horses is unwell.
They will always be someone by my side to give me a hand. Although the community has changed a lot throughout the years, the unity between grooms still remains the same.
What are your strategies for managing energy and avoiding burnout during busy show seasons?
Surround yourself with the right people and the right team. It’s ok to have bad days and it’s even more important to know you can rely on your people to help you go through it. Communication is key too.
I’m very lucky currently to be working with Michael Duffy. He is such a good person and above all a true horseman.
We recently have been on tour for 3 months in the US with no days off – it was never logistically possible with shows and travel.
He had no problem helping me get through the day or letting me sleep couple of hours extra at the show in the morning when I had a late night the day before.
At the GCT NYC, he told me to come at 8 am. When I arrived, the horses were fed, stalls clean, bandages rolled and he was coming back from the wash rack after taking the clay off his horse.
I was speechless. I felt so appreciated and I thought to myself, I could give everything to the man; at the end of the day, I know he has my back and I have his.
If you could change one thing about international horse sport, what would it be?
Driving. I find it preposterous that we are expected to drive on top of everything else.
I do enjoy it but going to the shows back-to-back really takes a toll on the mind and body.
For that, I enjoy showing in the US as most barns relies on transport company to ship their horses to the show. Of course, it means a few more logistics; you can’t just pack up and leave.
But it’s much safer.
I can’t believe there isn’t better regulation of working and driving hours.
Because I am in Mexico or the US during World Cup qualifiers, I don’t have the problems with late night classes that a lot of my friends have.
I won’t go too much into it, but I don’t think it is fair on them to do such long shifts.
Finally, I wish the FEI was a bit more understanding regarding temperatures. I wish we could reset the horses' sheets every few years.
I had it happen once that I arrived at a new stable and some horses already have several sanctions.
Then you get to the show, tired because you have been on the road non-stop, forget to do the auto certification and you get a fine although you only forgot to do it once.
It just seems unfair to me to be sanctioned from other people’s lack of consistency.
Do you have any other thoughts you want to share about this career?
Be kind to one another, reach out to the people around you who are struggling - even if they look like they've got it all figured out, we have all been there.
And if you’re struggling don’t hesitate to reach out; we always have friends in the stables.
Also, never stop learning from each other, horses included. The day you think you know it all, is the day you need to stop doing this job.
Give your horses grace on the bad days. They most of the time don’t understand what we want from them, so be patient. Consistency is key, don’t rush the process.
You should give yourself grace too. We are only humans and mistakes happen. Learn from them and get better.
And finally, if you don’t feel valued and appreciated in your job, move on. There are a lot of opportunities out there, especially with all the tools and agencies.
Don’t be afraid to go from place to place until you feel like you are in the right place. It might not be a 'good look' but at the end of the day, the job is hard enough without working with people that don’t treasure you.
I know, I have…
Thank you to YETI for supporting this Award. Laura's prize will be arriving with her soon - and congratulations again to Laura.
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