Grooming for Olympians

Becca Nicholson has worked for some top riders during her career and has the pleasure of caring for some very special horses along the way.

In 2021, a couple of the horses she worked with took part in the Olympics as part of the Brazilian Eventing team. During that time Becca was based in Wiltshire with Brazilian rider, Marcio Jorge. 

More recently Becca has returned to GBR working as head girl and travelling groom for Will Rawlin. 

Like many of our members, Becca was introduced to horses at a very young age and was completely fascinated by her aunt’s horses. When she became old enough, she started riding lessons and learning horse care at her local riding school where her love of horses continued to grow.

How did you end up working with horses?

"I got my first part-time horse job at the age of 17, whilst I was studying. Mainly breaking horses in, schooling and grooming at events. After I graduated from Uni, I got an office job in my field of study for 2 years.

That all changed when an amazing opportunity arose when I was offered a head girl position at Mary and Emily King's yard in Devon. This pulled me back into horses and I’ve never looked back since.

I was located with them in Devon for a while, then I moved up to Emily's current base in North Wales. From there I went to Andrew Nicholson’s in Wiltshire for a season, then moved to work with Brazilian rider Marcio Jorge for almost 4 years. Now I have returned to GBR as head girl and travelling groom for Will Rawlin."

What is your biggest achievement to date?

"There are a few moments I will always hold very dear to me heart, which give me a huge sense of pride.

1 - Bramham in 2018, when Emily and Dargun won the under 25's.

2 - Sending two very special horses from our yard to the Tokyo Olympics, making up half the Brazilian team, (Glenfly and Iberon Jmen), and watching them from home.

3 - The World Championships in Pratoni 2022… it was my first championship, and I just loved every single second. My little horse tried her absolute heart out and was incredible the entire week which made it so worthwhile."

Who has been your biggest inspiration with regards to your career?

"The lady who taught me riding and horse care when I was a kid, Caroline Ghorst. She passed away at an early age about 15 years ago but even now I still hear her voice… mainly her shouting at me when I do something not entirely in line with Pony Club! She was the most hard-working person I’ve ever met."

What are your top tips for keeping heathy as a full-time groom?

"Mentally, I think having good friends and family around you is a huge benefit. Having that listening ear when you’re feeling a bit down or when you have had a bad day really helps. To get your worries off your chest and have a voice of reason to go over things with is invaluable. I hope I’m that person for them too.

Physically, the job is strenuous and tiring so making sure I really try to look after myself is a must, so I don’t burn out. I’ll also see a chiropractor/sport massage therapist from time to time to relieve any niggles I get along the way. I don’t do an awful lot of riding these days so I will also go to the gym to keep my muscle strength up too. "

What keeps you going in your day-to-day job?

"Having a happy yard with everyone getting along is a must for me, so the ability to be able to have a laugh and a joke, (even with your bosses/owners/sponsors), definitely helps keeps everyone a bit saner. We spend so much time together that it would be pretty tiring being serious all the time. Plus, it helps people feel more relaxed…

I try to keep a healthy work/life balance. I enjoy catching up with friends, going for dinner etc. I may also go to the gym which helps me unwind or I may decide to just veg out on the couch binge watching the latest tv series!!"

Why would you encourage grooms to join the BGA?

"I love belonging to a community that is specifically for the industry I work within. Plus, the added benefit of insurance gives me peace of mind knowing that I’m covered should I have an accident.

Being able to speak to someone who has literally walked in your shoes and can offer real, frank advice, whether it be legal, mental well-being or whatever, is fantastic!"

A career as a groom can give you lots of wonderful memories. Follow Becca on Instagram to see more about her life as an Olympic groom

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