Five minutes with ......Debbie

We caught 5 minutes at Badminton with freelance groom and BGA member Debbie Carpenter.

Debbie is no stranger to the event circuit after working in the sport for 15 years, although this is her first 'full' Badminton Horse Trials.

Debbie is grooming for rider Sarah Bullimore, who has two horses competing, "I've always carried on wanting to come to Badminton and I'm very lucky to be a freelance groom and be here. You have to earn your right to be here and usually the head girl/ guy gets the privilege, so I really am very lucky" said Debbie.

"Badminton is special, it's the pinnacle of English countryside and for eventing it is what you aim for - as a groom and a rider."

Many grooms spend years building up a working partnership with their rider and it takes a special kind of person to come and groom at such a large event without having first developed that relationship, "I let Sarah  tell me what she wants.

She is well established at this level, they are her horses and everyone has their own way of doing things so I work to that. I've not worked with these horses before so that's been a bit of a challenge, but I'm really pleased with how everything is going" adds Debbie, who has an excellent reputation for her grooming skills on the event circuit.

Debbie is one of the many people who has already completed Groom Clean and says, "It really is very good and informative. I would encourage everyone to do it as it's important to know these things [antidoping rules and regulations]. It's really great for people who don't have access to funding or Team GRR training days.

"The SPILLERS nutritional certification is also great, it's a good refresher on what you would be feeding and why."

Debbie is also employed by Team GBR and will be going to the Junior European Championships in August as part of the GB Team. For anyone thinking of getting into grooming at this level Debbie has this advice, "I think you have to earn your right to be here. Work hard and do it with a smile. It all pays off in the end, no matter how many years it takes."

And finally "A big thank you to the BGA for supporting and promoting us. I urge all pro grooms, if you are not a member yet, please join our professional association."