‘Love for horses drives you on’: prime showjumping determine backs worldwide grooms

There is no such thing as a approach to final in equestrian sport with out a deep love for horses, says the brand new chairman of administrators of the Worldwide Grooms Affiliation (IGA).

The IGA stated it was “very proud” to welcome John Madden to the function, as an “vital signal of its development”.

John, who’s married to prime US showjumper Beezie Madden, began as a groom and moved into an assistant coach function. He began John Madden Gross sales in 1984 and has coached riders and horses to championship degree, in addition to holding a wide range of roles for US Equestrian and serving as FEI leaping director and vice-president.

IGA govt director Lucy Katan stated: “I’m so happy to welcome John Madden to sit down as chairman of our board. He brings such a wealth of information and expertise, and has at all times recognised the important want for worldwide horse sport to be extra ahead considering and open to adaptation.

“Because the IGA enters its third yr I really feel this appointment is a crucial sign of our development; and exhibits that the voice of the worldwide grooms is being taken critically on the very highest ranges. Having such a well-respected determine standing alongside us to signify the grooms is one other nice step ahead in bringing constructive growth for FEI grooms all over the world.”

John stated it was his love for horses that led him to equestrian sport, “very similar to most grooms I meet and work with”.

“This sport and the horses demand a lot of all of us, and our grooms deserve a powerful organisation searching for his or her greatest pursuits,” he stated.

“In the end, every thing we do to enhance circumstances and schooling for our grooms betters the lives of our horses, which each and every horse particular person can agree is an admirable objective. I’m honoured to function chairman of the Worldwide Grooms Affiliation and be working with Lucy Katan and her associates to proceed their mission.”

The IGA was based in 2022, when a memorandum of understanding was signed with the FEI, to be the voice of worldwide grooms.

John stated he accepted the function as, having been a groom, he is aware of the game wouldn’t exist with out grooms’ “laborious work and diligent care”.

“The grooms deserve a powerful organisation just like the IGA searching for his or her greatest pursuits,” he stated.

Requested what makes an amazing groom, he added: “First – you need to love the horses. There is no such thing as a approach to final on this sport with out that love; it drives you to proceed on the laborious days. The second most vital high quality is a thirst for information, a real need to proceed to be taught and enhance. Clark Shipley, who was a groom for us for many years earlier than his dying from most cancers in 2020, used to speak about how a lot he picked up on the highway simply from preserving his eyes open.

“He had a lot expertise, however what made him an amazing groom was that he by no means thought he knew all of it. He wished to continue learning, hold getting higher. That, and he had an amazing sense of humour, which can also be vital on the lengthy, laborious days.”

John stated adjustments that must be made for grooms embody “affordable” schedules, day off, a superb staff to assist and a residing wage that permits them to avoid wasting for the long run.

“I feel most riders and homeowners would agree they need the identical, however the calls for of the game and the wants of the horses usually lead individuals to stray in direction of unreasonable expectations,” he stated. “I hope we will work to maintain bettering circumstances for grooms by way of schedules and dealing circumstances so the most effective of the most effective can keep on this trade with out burning out.”

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H&H information editor

Eleanor is an skilled journalist who spent over eight years working for native and nationwide newspapers earlier than becoming a member of H&H as information editor in March 2016. Captivated with equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all facets of the trade, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of alternative is showjumping, through which she competes her personal horses, and he or she additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping exhibits by way of to worldwide championships.