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Written by Mark Filipponi of Poni Bloodstock USA
A person becomes a groom because they have a passion for the sport. The pay is minimal, 80 hour work weeks, no benefits, and no job security. If your horse races good it is sold and you are out of a job. If your horse does not race good it sold or turned out and you are out of a job. It is similar to walking a tightrope. It is a difficult job. You are taking care of a 1,200 pound animal that can hurt you seriously in a split second. Like everyone else horses have good and bad days. You never know when they will strike. Almost every groom has scares on their body because of being struck by a horse. But no matter how difficult the horse the groom will always love it. When the horse is sick the groom can sense it before the trainer. The groom knows the daily habits of the horse and if they change suddenly the groom knows there is a problem with the horse. The owners occasionally give the groom a tip but it is minimal compared to what the groom really deserves. In the major stake races they always interview the trainer, driver, and owner, but not the groom. The groom is the forgotten person. Why would anyone want to become a groom? When your horse finishes first it gives you a high feeling of accomplish which no other job can give you. You are proud to be the groom of the horse. But when your horse does not race good you feel bad. It is an emotional roller coaster with low and high peaks. There is no in between. The difference between an average and above average stable is the grooms. They are that important. There have been competitive stables that went downhill after losing their best grooms. The groom is the person that has always been in the background. People do not notice the groom but the job is enough satisfaction in itself.
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