Grooms are a vital part of any competition barn. While grooms often are behind the scenes or alongside the ring, some of them also compete themselves. Nicole Aden, Meg Kepferle, and Andi Lawrence are three current or former eventing grooms who have found their own success in national and FEI eventing competitions. A few weeks ago, all three finished in the top 16 in the competitive CIC2* A division at the Plantation Field International Horse Trials in Unionville, Pa. They shared how they got their start as grooms and how they are chasing their own dreams in the competition arena.

Aden, 24, is the head rider at Alexandra Knowles Eventing in Midway, Ky. She started as a working student after graduating from college in 2016. After a few months, she took on the groom position. “I did not know much about professional grooming; I basically just knew how to braid,” Aden explained. “However, I knew this position would allow me to travel to all of the big events that I dreamed of competing at, so I gladly took on the role and responsibility.” She held the groom position for a year and a half before taking on her current position as the head rider.

Lawrence, 24, is the head groom and barn manager at Kim Severson Eventing in Charlottesville, Va. She had a similar journey to becoming a groom. Lawrence joined Kim Severson Eventing as a working student in 2015. Six months later, she stepped into the head groom and barn manager position. In addition to typical groom duties, Lawrence's farm maintenance duties include dragging the rings, mowing the fields, and repairing fencing.

Meg Kepferle, 33, is the owner and trainer at Kepferle Equestrian in Long Valley, N.J. In 2009, Kepferle was teaching up-down lessons at a private barn in New Jersey but wanted to ride and become more involved with the upper levels of eventing. She started helping Doug Payne for free in exchange for the opportunity to learn and ride horses, which led to a grooming gig at Fair Hill International that fall.

Kepferle admitted she did not know what she was doing but received guidance from Ashley Adams and Cat Hill. She took on a full-time position that winter with Payne. “I fell in love with the job,” Kepferle said. “Obviously the job is hard, but it was a way for me to afford to be in the lifestyle. I was covering my bills and still being exposed to the upper levels.” Kepferle also worked for Sinead Halpin for six years beginning in 2011 while Halpin was collecting top results with Manoir de Carneville. She continued with her usual groom duties but also did more management-oriented tasks, including billing and marketing the business.

The events that Aden, Kepferle, and Lawrence have groomed at include the top three-day events in the U.S. and abroad. From the American Eventing Championships to the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event in the states to the Aachen CICO3* in Germany, Les Étoiles de Pau CCI4* in France, and the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in France are only a few of the events that these three have traveled to with their charges. They also enjoyed some extended stays abroad with Kepferle spending a summer in England with Manoir de Carneville leading up to the 2012 London Olympic Games and Lawrence spending last summer in County Cork, Ireland with Kim Severson’s top horse Cooley Cross Border.

Despite their busy schedules, Aden and Lawrence competed throughout their time as grooms. “It was a difficult job to do both, but grooming taught me invaluable skills when it came to competing my own horses,” Aden explained. “Learning how to balance and manage your time wisely is imperative when trying to compete and groom at the same time.” She and Truckee Bash, her 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, began competing at the two-star level this year and are contesting the CCI2* at The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International.

Lawrence bought Cooley Northern Mist, her 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare, shortly after she started as a working student, competing the horse from the Novice to the two-star level during her time as the head groom and barn manager. “Sometimes [Kim and I] would go to the same competitions and other times I would try to work my schedule of shows opposite to what she was going to,” Lawrence said.

Kepferle took a different route back to the competition ring. She did ride horses during her time with Doug Payne and competed some young horses during her stint with Sinead Halpin, but she began the process of starting her own business in 2015. Her main focus was and still is teaching lessons, but she needed to boost her riding resume to attract clients. For a year, Kepferle took over the ride on Caherconree Cooley from Halpin to get back into competition scene. “It was awesome! We got along like wildfire,” Kepferle said. “It was the right time in my life.” She now rides Anakin, Rogue Won Syndicate LLC’s nine-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. The pair moved up to the two-star level this year and aims for a solid go in The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International CCI2*.

The future looks bright for these women and the different goals that they have set for themselves. Aden aims to reach the top level of eventing. “My life goal is to become a four-star rider. It is what I have wanted since I was very young and that goal has never changed,” Aden shared.

Lawrence hopes to do some CCI2* competitions and move up to the advanced level next year, but has higher aspirations as well. “I hope when I start doing some three-star competitions with her in a couple years that I will start doing more international events overseas,” Lawrence said.

Kepferle’s goals changed over the years. She dreamed of being a professional rider when she was younger, but through her experiences, her interests adjusted slightly. “I really love coaching; I love that team aspect of the sport,” Kepferle said. “I like working with people who are like-minded and maybe come from a similar background as I do and need that extra boost.” Though Kepferle has found her niche, she still loves riding and competing. Her short-term goal is to get around Fair Hill International cleanly, and next year, she hopes to do more two-star events and maybe a three-star event next fall.

All agree that their time as grooms helped them as riders, competitors, and equestrian professionals. Aden sees grooming experience as a necessity for aspiring professional riders. “It is a humbling experience, and makes you a well-rounded horsemen,” Aden said. “It definitely has taught me what it takes to get to the top of the sport and to have to work for it. Grooming was my opportunity to be immersed in the big competition and now I feel like I have the knowledge to help get myself there.”

Lawrence believes traveling to the various competition venues is helpful as she prepares herself and her horse to participate in such major events one day. “I have spent a lot of time around the other competitors when they are at these big events or are overseas competing on a team, and I can see the amount of pressure and stress,” Lawrence said. “Being a head groom, going to these events, and seeing what is expected have been the most educational things for my riding and my preparation for my horse and shows in the future.”

Kepferle is grateful for all that she learned during her time as a groom. “It has made me a tremendously better rider because it makes me think about [the horses] and how they are processing information,” Kepferle said. She also has been able to develop her skills training horses by riding a variety of horses with different backgrounds, which has helped her create her own training methods. “[Being a groom] made me realize what it actually takes to do what I want to do.”

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