The Unsung Heroes

TEXT: PHILLIPA ROSE-TITE PHOTOGRAPHY: IMAGES SUPPLIED BY UNITED AVIATION GROUP TAKEN BY SHAUN MALLETT AND HILARY O’LEARY

THE UNSUNG HERO’S

MEET THE GROOMS

My earliest memories are sensory. The heat of my sun-warmed pony’s back as I lie dramatically draped across Porky, my not-as-bombproof-as-promised-first-pony, pretending to be dead, as only a 5-year-old can.

The delicious ruffle of my hair as Right On Time searches me for apples, gentle lips nibbling on my ponytail, convinced it was the best hiding spot of all.

The smell of Mike Ross’s boot, packed with all sorts of delightful vet supplies, inspiring me to a career I was far too mathematically challenged to actually practice.

And the feeling of homecoming whenever I heard Lovemore’s delighted laugh ring out over the yard, a sound that came frequently, most often directed at me and my dreams of vet school or my frustration at not being able to do something.

I have been honoured, during my riding career, to have been taught by many great teachers, most of whom, I am sure, have forgotten me, as I never did quite crack the Derby heights I was so positive were in my future. But also during that time, I had four of the greatest teachers walk beside me, never losing faith, more astonishingly, never losing patience; listening to me whine, often cry, and sometimes behave like a spoiled teenager, even as an adult.

These teachers were Lovemore, Emmanual, Alfred and Robby. They gave advice, they quietly listened, they cajoled, they coached, they berated (particularly Robby, who didn’t like it when I ‘let my horse down’), they put up jumps, they put down jumps, they checked on me while I was checking on night stables, they walked sick horses with me, they teased me when I needed to be brought down a notch, they supported me when I needed to be lifted up, they were proud when we won, and they commiserated when we lost. They traded the horses they held for my babies when we were alone at an event and were just as delighted to hold both.

People who don’t know horses don’t understand the incredible trust relationship that is built between a rider and their support team. The relationship between the riders and grooms is often dismissed or overlooked, but I wouldn’t know horses the way I do if it hadn’t been for the lessons I learned from each of those men at some point in my life.

There are bonds forged between people when they care for the same animal. A shared love of a particular horse, the leap of faith to trust another human being to care for your treasured baby and, of course, the hours spent together that are required in order to build a winning team mean it’s inevitable that riders and grooms end up more like family than employers and employees.

We spoke to some of our current riders on the circuit, and the consensus is the same; “I couldn’t compete at the level I do if it wasn’t for the support and assistance of my groom”. Our riders depend on them not only to carry out instructions related to the horses but to provide the best possible care, attention and love to these sensitive, athletic animals. The grooms know and understand the vagaries of their charges, and this in-depth knowledge is what enables them to provide relevant feedback to their riders which in turn can make all the difference in a top class.

MEET SOME OF OUR GROOMS

NICOLE HORWOOD & ELIKANA MVULA Elikana has worked with Nicole for eight years now and is her right-hand man. “Elikana is gentle with the horses, and they feel at ease when he’s around. They trust him but also respect him”. Nicole goes on to say that Elikana always has her back, knowing just when, what and how to prepare for a show. “He thinks ahead and is my eyes on the ground during training, always reliable and always willing to go the extra mile”. AISLING & SHEPARD “I trust Shepard with my horses’ lives! I know that he takes care of them as his own and has a genuine love for them, as they do for him.” After 12 years, Aisling and Shepard know each other quite well, with Aisling describing Shepard as her right-hand man at home and at shows. “He knows me better than I know myself and is always such a positive, encouraging man to be around. He beams with pride when we do well and always says tomorrow will be better when we don’t”.

JEANNE KORBER & BENDA KAMMENYA “Benda has been working with us for nearly 12 years now and has definitely become part of our family. He takes such wonderful care of his horses and has a special bond with each and every horse he works with! He loves to tell me how my horses are feeling before I’ve even ridden them! For example, he’ll say that Lexington is feeling particularly strong today, so I must work him properly, especially if I have a lesson the next day. Or that Julia is feeling tired, so I must rather just take her for a hack.

Benda has also been so great and helpful with our kids. He loves teaching them about the horses and showing them how to care for them - groom, tack up, feed and do all the other stuff.” LORETTE KNOWLES-TAYLOR & FREEDOMS MOYO (AKA FREE/FREEZO) After 15 years at Farnham and ten years with Lorette’s horses, Ms Knowles-Taylor’s second husband (as she refers to him) adores her horses, a relationship that is entirely reciprocated! Lorette says she couldn’t manage her horse life without Freezo, who knows just when to push her and when to leave her alone, and she depends on him and his dedicated care of the horses who adore him.

DERBY FEVER IN BLACK & WHITE

PHOTOGRAPHY: MERLYNN TRICHARDT PHOTOGRAPHY