By DINETTE NEUTEBOOM, Founder HorseGrooms
In the equestrian industry, we celebrate skill with horses. Riders, trainers, barn managers, and grooms are often highly trained in horsemanship, riding techniques, and horse care. But when it comes to running a team, building healthy workplace cultures, and navigating communication challenges, our industry lags behind. Unlike the corporate world, where HR managers, team meetings, and leadership training are common, equestrian professionals are often left to figure it out on their own.
The consequences are real. Grooms leave jobs not because they don’t love the horses, but because they feel undervalued, unsupported, or worn down by toxic barn atmospheres. Some develop mental health struggles that could be eased, or avoided, if communication and leadership were stronger. Even barns with great intentions can struggle when team members don’t have the tools to talk openly, handle conflict, or lead with confidence.
HorseGrooms is tackling this challenge head-on with a new initiative: Speak, Lead, Thrive – Communication & Leadership for Stable Teams. This series combines articles, webinars, and later group coaching and masterclasses, designed to give grooms, and anyone working in a barn, the practical tools they need to create healthier, more supportive workplaces.
The series is led by two HorseGrooms Communication & Leadership Mentors: British leadership consultant Lizzie Herron (The Equestrian Leadership Consultancy) and U.S.-based equine behavior and leadership coach Danielle Aamodt (Enso Equine). Both bring extensive experience from the equestrian world and beyond.
Herron’s first article for HorseGrooms, Speak Up with Confidence: How to Raise Issues with Your Boss as a Groom, addresses one of the hardest parts of the job: finding the courage and the right words to talk to a manager. She offers practical advice on choosing the right time, staying calm and professional, and presenting solutions, not just problems. For grooms who have ever bitten their tongue rather than raise a concern, her article is a clear, encouraging guide.
Aamodt’s contribution, How to Lead in the Barn—Even If You’re Not the Boss (Yet), explores how leadership is less about titles and more about how you show up. Drawing on her background as a groom, USEF Director of Driving, university professor, and now founder of Enso Equine, Aamodt explains how grooms can set the tone through reliability, calmness, and teamwork. She emphasizes that great barns aren’t just staffed with great horse people, they’re built by people who lift each other up.
Now, the conversation continues live. On Monday, September 29 at 1pm ET / 19h CET, Danielle Aamodt will lead a free webinar in the HorseGrooms Community: Finding the Right Fit: Choosing a Grooming Job Where You Can Thrive. This session will give grooms tools to:
- Spot red and green flags when looking at jobs
- Ask smart questions in interviews
- Recognize healthy barn cultures where they can thrive, not just survive
“Finding the right job isn’t just about salary or perks. It’s about whether the barn culture, management, and team environment will support your joy, well-being, and mental health,” says Aamodt.
This webinar is open to everyone in the free HorseGrooms Community, not only grooms, but also riders, trainers, and barn owners who want to build stronger, healthier workplaces.
“This is a conversation our industry has needed for a long time,” says Dinette Neuteboom of HorseGrooms. “The equestrian world is built on teamwork, yet we rarely talk about how to actually support and lead people in barns. This series is about giving grooms and equestrian professionals the skills to build healthier, happier workplaces—for themselves and for the horses.”
With Speak, Lead, Thrive, HorseGrooms aims to address a gap that has long existed in our sport: providing equestrians with not only the tools to care for horses but also the skills to care for their teams. Because when people feel heard, respected, and supported, horses benefit, and so does the entire industry.
Join the Conversation:
Finding the Right Fit: Choosing a Grooming Job Where You Can Thrive
* Monday, September 29, 2025 | 1 pm ET / 19h CET
* Free in the HorseGrooms Community (membership is free at www.community.horsegrooms.com)
* Read how to join here.
About HorseGrooms:
HorseGrooms is a global platform created by grooms, for grooms, with a mission to support the people who dedicate their lives to caring for horses. Built on love for the horse and respect for horsemanship, HorseGrooms offers resources, education, and community to help grooms of all levels thrive in their profession. Through articles, guides, events, and its online community, HorseGrooms connects grooms worldwide and celebrates the vital role they play in equestrian sport. Learn more at www.horsegrooms.com.
