Behind the Scenes: Jackie Potts on Groom Welfare and Raising Standards in Equestrian Sport

The people who make equestrian sport possible are often the ones least visible.

Behind every horse that enters the arena or the start box, there is a groom who has spent hours preparing, caring, travelling and managing the details that allow that moment to happen. Yet historically, the voices of grooms have rarely been centred in conversations about the future of the sport.

In the latest episode of the Equitas Podcast, I was delighted to sit down with Jackie Potts on behalf of the International Grooms Association (IGA) to talk about exactly that.

Jackie is one of the most experienced grooms on the international circuit, having spent 30+ years working with five-star event rider William Fox-Pitt and, more recently, Japanese event rider Kazuma Tomoto. Her career has taken her to some of the biggest competitions in the world, giving her a deep understanding of both the rewards and the realities of life behind the scenes in elite equestrian sport.

Our conversation explored what the job of a groom really looks like today, and why the work being done by the International Grooms Association is becoming increasingly important.

The Reality of Life as a Groom

Grooming at the highest level can be an incredible career. It offers opportunities to travel the world, work with exceptional horses and be part of major international competitions.

But it is also physically demanding, often isolating, and requires long hours and intense commitment.

During the conversation, Jackie spoke openly about the mental health challenges that can come with the job, particularly when grooms spend long periods travelling or living away from home. The combination of pressure, responsibility and isolation can take its toll, and it is an area that the IGA is actively working to address.

Creating better support networks for grooms -
both practically and emotionally -
is a key part of the IGA's work.

Safeguarding and Welfare

Another important topic we discussed was safeguarding within the sport, particularly when teams are travelling to international competitions.

Accommodation standards, room sharing and general living conditions for grooms have become a growing area of discussion within the industry. For many years, these arrangements were simply accepted as part of the job, but there is now a stronger push to ensure that standards are fair, safe and respectful.

Jackie explained how the IGA has been advocating for clearer expectations around accommodation and welfare, encouraging organisers and teams to recognise that grooms deserve appropriate conditions while working at events.

A Voice at Events

One of the practical ways the IGA is supporting grooms is by having representatives present at competitions. These representatives act as a point of contact for grooms who may need advice, support or simply someone they can speak to.

In an industry where hierarchies can sometimes make it difficult to raise concerns, having an independent person available can make a significant difference.

This could be a small but meaningful step towards ensuring that grooms feel supported and heard.

Grooming as a Career

Perhaps one of the most important points Jackie raised during our conversation is that grooming should be recognised as a professional career.

Too often, the role is seen as temporary or secondary, despite the level of skill, experience and responsibility it requires. From horse management and competition preparation to travel logistics and welfare monitoring, grooms carry an enormous amount of expertise.

Improving working conditions, recognising professional standards and supporting long-term career development are all part of the wider conversation the IGA is working to drive.

Raising Standards Together

The International Grooms Association was created to provide representation, support and advocacy for grooms working at FEI level across the disciplines.

While progress takes time, conversations like this one are helping to bring long-standing issues into the open and move the sport towards better standards for everyone involved.

A key part of the work the IGA is doing is making support accessible and approachable. During our conversation, Jackie highlighted how important it is for grooms to know that help, advice, or a safe place to raise concerns is always available. The International Grooms Association encourages grooms to reach out directly and confidentially via contact@internationalgrooms.org.

🎧 Listen to the full podcast episode with Jackie Potts on the Equitas Podcast.