Honouring the dedication, skill and sheer effort and love of horses this individual displays in the care of their charges day and night.
Behind the scenes, grooms are the linchpins of every yard, whether away at competitions or a vital cog at home, so who takes your vote in the annual Horse & Hound Awards?
Absorbine Groom of the Year 2025 shortlist
Jess Errington
Harry Meade’s groom of nearly two decades
Jess has cared for eventing world number one Harry Meade’s horses for 18 years.
“I’m not from a horsey family, but I was lucky to go to Stonar, a horsey school, and then went on to do a horse management course at college,” says Jess.
“I knew I wasn’t going to be good enough to ride at top level so I wanted to do the next best thing. Deep down, I always wanted to groom, but never thought I would be good enough to groom at top level.
“Travelling to amazing places, looking after wonderful horses and making great friends along the way, is my favourite part of the job. I love all the horses, getting to know and forming bonds with them, and have a particular soft spot for Et Hop Du Matz and Grafennacht.”
She adds: “My top tips for being a groom would be to trust your gut instinct – it’s nearly always right – ask lots of questions, and get to know your horses and rider, as you’re the one who will pick up if something isn’t right.”
Polly Holbrook
Keeping the yard shipshape so the stars can shine
“A cup of tea and a smile will take you a long way – and wear waterproofs in the winter!” says Polly Holbrook, home groom to European eventing champion Laura Collett, sharing some of her best nuggets of advice.
Polly studied for her British Horse Society qualifications at Huntley School of Equitation, starting there in 2008, and has since worked on eventing and racing yards. She also spent four years as a teacher, before returning to eventing and has been at Laura’s since 2021.
“I’ve always absolutely loved eventing, working alongside athletes and making horses look beautiful,” she says.
Laura’s Olympic medals and wins at Badminton and Luhmühlen naturally feature among her highlights, as does being involved with the yard through London 52’s incredible achievements. Watching the young horses progress through the levels is another favourite part of the job.
“I love the mares; Hester and Bling have always been my favourites, and there’s a young horse called Frenchman’s Creek, who I absolutely adore – he’s just stunning. But all the horses are special,” she adds.
Nieve Jorgensen-Smallwood
“I love being the person the horses trust”
Nieve, groom at Bridgehill Farm Livery, Sussex, has been surrounded by horses her whole life.
“My mum and grandma had horses, and my great-grandad even delivered milk by horse and cart,” she says. “I was sat on my first horse at just six weeks old!”
Nieve, 21, knew early on that she wanted to work as a groom: “I’ve worked hard to make it happen.
“I love being a constant in the horses’ lives, the one they trust when they panic – that’s everything,” she says, crediting Connemara Riley as her greatest teacher.
Nieve’s proudest moment came after a fall that left her with a broken humerus, pelvis and nerve damage. “Being told I might never ride again was devastating, but getting back on my pony was the best feeling.”
Her top tip for grooming: “Patience is everything. You can win over any horse if you just step back and take a breath. And being a groom is a lifestyle not a job.”
Kim Masson
Juggling work and elite dressage grooming
Kim balances her full-time job in marketing with grooming for dressage rider Becky Moody – using her annual leave to support Becky at major shows.
“I was quite late to horses, I started riding when I was 16,” says Kim, who caught the bug and was hooked, and started grooming for friends she made at riding club.
When Kim got her own horse, she started training with Hannah Moody, Becky’s sister, which led to grooming for Becky at big fixtures.
Grooming at the Olympics is, of course, a standout. Special moments come in all shapes and sizes, and a compliment from grooming hero Alan Davies on Kim’s quarter marks is another treasured memory.
“The times when I feel the most pride in grooming is usually straight after the test, taking the horse back to cool off and making sure they’re OK. It’s a feeling of relief and pride,” she says.
Adam Short
From a “green lad who loved horses” to the championship stage
The Blenheim Europeans marked a full-circle moment for Adam Short, groom to Tom McEwen. Blenheim 2018 was the first time he was in sole charge at a three-day – William Fox-Pitt’s Oratorio, who finished second. Fast forward to 2025, Adam watched as Tom and JL Dublin won individual bronze.
“I did a year at university, which I didn’t enjoy very much, so I applied for a job with the Fox-Pitts,” said Adam, whose equestrian journey started when he was three years old at Stepney Bank Stables, Newcastle upon Tyne, of which he is now patron.
“I didn’t expect to hear back – I was just a green young lad who loved horses, and I was lucky to get the chance to work there,” he says. “That was where I fell in love with the sport and being behind the scenes.”
He adds: “The travelling is great, being able to spend time with horses away from home, and with your friends. I love the day-to-day, and one of the best parts of the job is seeing horses progress, from watching them wobble around their first BE100 to bombing around a five-star. That’s really special.”
Voting closes at 5pm on Thursday 30 October and the winners will be revealed at a star-studded ceremony on 26 November, and featured online, on social media and in the following week’s magazine (4 December). Read the H&H Awards 2025 terms and conditions
Previous winners of the Groom of the Year award
Previous winners of this award include:
- 2024: Jackie Potts, groom to William Fox-Pitt for over 30 years
- 2023: Lucy Scudamore, groom to Carl Hester
- 2022: Ruth Asquith, Nicola Wilson’s head groom, who joined her team in March 2016
- 2021: Tilly Hughes, groom to Laura Collett and was her travelling groom for the Tokyo Games
- 2020: Amelia Jay Sanderson, freelance groom
- 2019: Amy Phillips, groom to Piggy French
- 2018: Jane Felton, groom to Jonty Evans
- 2017: E-J Eldridge, yard manager at Stallions AI breeding station
- 2016: Alan Davies, groom to Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin
About the Horse & Hound Awards 2025
The Horse & Hound Awards are celebrating their 10th year, being held in partnership with NAF and Agria.
As ever, the Horse & Hound Awards winners will be nominated and voted for by you, with the exception of the Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement award, which is decided by a Horse & Hound panel. We will recognise both the big names who have made 2025 special and the unsung heroes who make it possible for all of us to enjoy equestrian sport and our horses, at every level.
The ceremony will take place at Dallas Burston Polo Club in Warwickshire, where some 300 people, including stars of this summer’s European Championships, will enjoy a glamorous evening of champagne, winner reveals, Oscar-style speeches and dancing on Wednesday 26 November.
