Provided through a partnership between STRIDER⢠& the United States Eventing Association, our Featured Clinician article series published on USEventing.com spotlights a different top industry influencer each month in dressage, showjumping or eventing. It is republished below for widest possible dissemination {Affiliate links below}
Meticulous attention to detail, curiosity, and a passion for the horses has propelled Emma Ford to three Olympic Games, four World Championships and countless international events. Working alongside Phillip Dutton as Head Groom for well over a decade, Emma Ford has quite an impressive list diligently cared for, happy, and superbly turned-out horses.
In 2015, Ford published World-Class Grooming for Horses: The English Rider’s Complete Guide to Daily Care and Competition
with Professional Groom Cat Hill, who formerly managed Olympian and CCI Five Star Eventer Mara DePuyâs program.
Together, the co-authors are expanding their positive influence over many horses lives by teaching workshops that educate riders in all aspects of equine management and care.
âOur goal is that we want people enjoy horses on the ground as much as when they are actually riding them,â Ford says. World Class Grooming clinics and workshops enable equestrians of varied disciplines, age groups, and aspirations to better connect with their equine partners.
âItâs really nice to know youâve been a part of expanding the knowledge. Cat [Hill] and I both say that our clinics are not about us talking for hours on end. With younger kids especially, at Pony Club clinics for example, itâs really fun to see the riders go from quiet as mice in the morning to talking non-stop by the afternoon. Theyâre wanting to share their experiences and information about the horses. It makes me happy that they are coming out of themselves a bit and enjoy that side of the horsesâ.
A Pony Club âBâ Graduate herself, Ford began to appreciate the value of proper horse care and the benefits of time spent with horses out of the tack at an early age. âMy granddad taught me to braid when I was eight. Looking back on those now I think, âoh, godâ! Things have definitely improved since then.â
âDoing Pony Club (and, of course, my parents) instilled such a âfrom the ground-upâ attitude. I did not go to a rally or a show or anything unless I did the work myself. I did so much learning from mistakes doing everything myself, and eventually had great ground management skills instilled in me. If you donât enjoy that side of it, youâre not going to get much furtherâ.
Ford followed her passion for horses to the United States where she worked for International Eventer Adrienne Iorio at Apple Knoll Farm in Massachusetts. âI was so lucky, I was riding and grooming and everything,â says Ford.
âAt that time, it was all about who you landed with. I ended up staying with Adrienne for seven years and developed into loving grooming more and more. In 2000 I flew to Blenheim with Show of Heart and that was a real turning point. We were stabled next to Karen OâConnor, I had the chance to meet Max [Corcoran] one-to-one, and spend time with the Australian team a bit. I remember saying to myself âI want to do this, I want to go where I can with thisââ.
In 2005, Ford went to work for Phillip Dutton, which required some adjustments and quick-thinking. âKudos to the folks who were here at the time and showed me the ropes. They taught me some things to prioritize. I definitely had a lot to learn.â
Fordâs willingness to continue to her knowledge base has helped her to keep countless top International horses looking and feeling their best over the years.âI do my best to turn the horses out as top notch as I can but I think there are some that do it better. I never stop learning. At every championships you learn something from someone. Iâll admit Iâm maybe a bit nosy and I wander the aisles- whether itâs your own team grooms or another, everyone has their own way of doing thingsâ.
âBeing a professional groom takes your life and your soul,â Ford admits. Though it doesnât seem she would trade it for anything.âIâve been doing this for so long, I know what it takes. Thereâs really nothing like seeing a horse do their first Four or Five Star competition. It brings me to tears every time. Horses donât go at that level without trust for their rider and the people around them.â
By directly connecting with the equestrian community through World Class Grooming workshops, Ford hopes that riders will come to understand that a properly turned-out horse is simply the beginning. âIâm really strong on asking âhow do you build compassion with the horse, with the team, and with the environment in general? I think itâs so important to involve compassion in everyday life. Then, building from there- how do you bond with the horse?â
âEvery horse is an individual. To me, bonding with the horses is about knowing every tic. If theyâre standing on the cross-ties and they seem a bit dull, what might that mean? What has happened? Are they sleeping in the stall more than usual? At shows, does the horse need to be left alone or does he need to be taken out of his stall. I have one now that I graze for 30 minutes before tacking him up because he seems to feel the nervesâ.
So much of the compassion-fueled outlook that Ford has stems from a profound respect for each horse she has been able to work with. âIf I pick one [favorite], I let the others down. Theyâve all brought me so much with their quirky personalities! I love figuring out what makes them tick and their characters in generalâ.
âI love working with the horses with quirky personalities, [Phillip Duttonâs] Connaught âSimonâ taught me that. He was a finicky eater and a terrible traveler, and I will never forget the best compliment Phillip ever gave me was when Simon shipped to Germany in 2006 for the World Games. Phillip said it was the best he had ever looked getting off the trailer. Then thereâs Mighty Nice âHappyâ⌠I struggle to explain him. Heâs such a character, he loves the attention so much.. thinks everyone is coming to see him.. Youâll see me at a show dragging him around like a pony. If I get after him he goes up in the air! He has learned and deserves to do what he wants, and thatâs all rightâ.
Fordâs accomplishments and continued successes have stemmed from all of her experiences with horses, both good and bad. For those looking to develop the skills and understanding necessary to become a professional in the industry, Ford says âtake a few years and work on the ground with a professional. Learn as much as you can! You might conclude that their management system isnât for you, but unless youâve learned different techniques youâre not going to learn what will or will not work for youâ.
You can find and easily register for upcoming opportunities to #LearnFromTheBest with Emma Ford via STRIDER
Click here to find a World Class Grooming workshop or clinic. For more details on Emma Ford and Cat Hill, visit www.worldclassgrooming.com.
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