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At competitions, you don't just win in the dressage arena or on the show jumping course. Before a horse even enters the warm-up, someone has to pack it, transport it, feed it, braid it, and prepare it down to the minute. This person is the groom. We talk about what goes into preparing for a competition from behind the scenes with Joanna Przepióra, a groom from Aleksandra and Joanna Szulc's Golden Dream stable.
Table of Contents
- From recreation to professional grooming
- Daily stable life versus competition trips
- Where to start packing and how seasons differ
- Horse documents - what not to forget
- What can't be bought on site
- Horse equipment - dressage vs. show jumping
- Spare in the tack trunk - what to take double
- Braids - sew or pin
- Rider's attire - regulations in dressage and show jumping
- Stall at competitions, feeding and watering
- Horse transport - horsebox, trailer and safety
- Loading - most common mistakes
- First aid kit and groom's emergency kit
- Competition day - from arrival to start
- Tips and tricks at the end
- Summary - a compendium for the competitor
Introduction
Good competition preparation is not just one moment, but an entire logistical operation spread over days: gathering equipment, horse documents, feeding plans, transport, and dozens of small details that are easy to forget in a rush.
Joanna Przepióra has been working as a groom in a dressage stable for five years, and she previously rode in show jumping stables. In 2024, she was part of the team traveling to the Olympic Games in Paris. This is the perspective of someone who has hands-on experience with competition packing, not just theoretical knowledge. In this interview, she explains step-by-step what goes to a competition, how dressage equipment differs from show jumping equipment, and why one item cannot be bought along the way.
It's worth adding one equipment context. Among the things that "cannot be bought quickly," the saddle is the number one item. In dressage, the dressage saddle is the element most precisely fitted to a specific horse-rider pair, which is why it is packed with the utmost care.
From recreation to professional grooming
Question: How did your adventure with horses begin, and how long have you been a groom?
Answer: My adventure with horses started about twenty years ago. I rode at various recreational stables, and five years ago, I moved to Łódź and started working as a groom at Golden Dream stable. So, I gained all my experience as a groom here, with Ola.
Daily stable life versus competition trips
Question: How does daily work with horses differ from work on competition trips?
Answer: In essence, it doesn't differ that much. Daily work involves feeding horses in the morning, then Ola usually rides, so saddling, preparing, cleaning. The main difference is the number of horses: at home, there are more to saddle, while at competitions, usually two, maximum three.
At competitions, however, the work lasts practically twenty-four hours a day. In the morning, you have to feed, and then, depending on the start time, the horses either go for a loose stretch after the night, or for a walk. Additionally, there's time to prepare the horse: cleaning, preparing equipment, braiding. You also have to keep track of all meals, as some of our horses get up to five meals a day. And after the start, you usually go for another walk with the horse.
Question: There are no paddocks at competitions, so the horse has to be in constant motion?
Answer: Yes. Apart from the start and training, the horse must go for a walk at least twice, precisely because it cannot be turned out in a paddock.
Question: How many horses do you usually travel with, and do you also take care of people training with Ola?
Answer: We usually take 1 or 2 horses, but sometimes there were 3. I mostly focus on Ola and her horses, but sometimes I also take care of horses in training.
Question: What do you like most about this job, and what is the most challenging?
Answer: I enjoy contact with horses and working with animals the most. The hardest part is probably the responsibility. At competitions, I could spend twenty-four hours by the stall, just to know that nothing is happening and everything is alright.
"I could spend twenty-four hours by the stall, just to know that everything is alright with the horse."
Where to start packing and how seasons differ
Question: How many days in advance do you start packing, and how does it differ between summer and winter?
Answer: In summer, packing is easier because there are far fewer blankets to take. In summer, I might take a mesh or cooler blanket, but not a fleece one, as it's too thick. In winter, there can be up to five blankets, even for one horse, so it's definitely more challenging.
I start packing depending on the number of horses, sometimes even three or four days in advance, by preparing all the necessary items. The day before departure, usually in the afternoon, I prepare the horse itself: I bathe it, oil its hooves, and thoroughly brush its mane and tail. In the evening, I additionally ensure the stall is clean so that the horse gets as little dirty as possible overnight. We usually leave early in the morning, so the cleaner the horse, the faster we can complete the final grooming procedures and efficiently prepare for the journey. Of course, it's impossible to completely avoid dirt, especially with grey horses, but it can be significantly reduced.
Horse documents - what not to forget
Question: What horse documents must you have with you at competitions?
Answer: Definitely the passport and up-to-date vaccinations. Depending on the country you are traveling to, different requirements apply to vaccinations and, for example, blood tests. For international travel, you also need TRACES documents.
Question: What are those documents?
Answer: Asia handles that part for us, so I don't want to say anything imprecise. From what I know, a person from the veterinary inspection comes, reads the chip, confirms the horse's identity, and issues the documents. They specify which stable the horse is leaving from and to, so that the animal's journey is controlled.
What can't be bought on site
Question: What is so important that it absolutely cannot be left behind, and what can potentially be bought on site?
Answer: You definitely can't quickly buy a saddle, and that's probably the most important thing. Among the equipment, it's the one item that simply cannot be replaced.
When it comes to feeding, each horse must have its own feed, because not every equestrian store will have the specific feed that a given horse eats, similar to supplements. However, small grooming items could be bought if necessary.
Question: Do you make a checklist?
Answer: Yes. When I pack for several days, I try to write down what I've already taken so that I don't have to unpack everything and check again later. I prepare a new list before each competition.
Horse equipment - dressage versus show jumping
Question: What horse equipment do you pack and how does the equipment for dressage and show jumping competitions differ?
Answer: Dressage riders have different saddles – that's the fundamental difference. There are also separate, dedicated stirrups for dressage riders and separate ones for show jumpers. The differences also concern bits: most models allowed in show jumping are not permitted in dressage. Additionally, there are martingales and various types of breastplates that cannot be used in dressage.
The protective boots also differ. Dressage riders cannot compete in boots, but show jumpers can. Show jumpers also tend not to use bandages; bandages are mainly for dressage.
Question: Are bandages being phased out today?
Answer: They are being phased out, partly due to overheating of the legs. From a groom's perspective, boots are also more convenient: in the warm-up arena, it's much quicker to take off velcro or stud boots than to unwrap a bandage many times from the leg. Unwrapping can also be dangerous, because if the horse gets spooked, it could run into us. Boots are simply more comfortable, and there are more and more models on the market that imitate the look of a bandaged leg.
Spare in the tack trunk - what to take double
Question: What is worth having in reserve?
Answer: I often bring an extra saddle pad, in case the first one gets sweaty. Plus, lots of braiding bands, because you can never have too many. I also sew braids, so I have a spare of needles and thread, because needles tend to get lost.
Braids - sew or pin
Question: Why did you decide to sew braids, and what are other methods?
Answer: Braids can be secured with rubber bands or by using ready-made Quick pins – you thread them through the braid and bend them. The effect is similar to sewn ones and it's quite a quick method. However, everything depends on the mane: a thicker mane braids much better than a thin one, which results in very fine plaits.
I try to sew every time. I work best with a thicker, not too long mane.
Question: How many braids should there be?
Answer: It depends on the horse's neck length and the amount of mane, but I usually end up with about seven or eight. I once heard a theory that there should be eleven, and also that the number should be odd to optically lengthen the neck.
Rider's attire - regulations in dressage and show jumping
Question: How do you put together a rider's outfit in accordance with the regulations, and what is mandatory in each discipline?
Answer: The requirements are largely similar, because both disciplines require an equestrian helmet – top hats are no longer used in dressage. The tailcoat in dressage differs in that from class C, it can be long.
In dressage, white elements are mandatory: white breeches and a white saddle pad. In show jumping, beige or cream colors are also allowed.
Question: What about glitter?
Answer: The saddle pad itself must be white, it cannot be in another color. A glitter trim or detail is generally acceptable, but in dressage, it's approached more rigorously.
Question: What about the stock tie and whip?
Answer: In dressage, riders wear a stock tie with their tailcoat, and men wear a necktie. A whip may be carried during competitions, but in championship classes, the test is performed without a whip.
Question: And the rider's hairstyle in dressage?
Answer: Hair must be neatly tied up and tucked under the helmet; no loose or braided ponytails should be hanging. Usually, a bun is made. Ola has short hair, so she makes a bun without a filler – simply tied and tucked away.
Stall at competitions, feeding and watering
Question: What makes up the stall equipment and how do you plan feeding so that the horse doesn't get out of rhythm?
Answer: If the horse is on straw, the stall is usually prepared when we arrive. For shavings, it's good for the groom, if traveling with their own transport, to arrive a bit earlier and spread them out in the stall, because they are usually in bales and need to be laid out manually. You need to remember about mangers - ideally two for water - and we often bring bowls for meals too.
We feed quite early, horses get food as early as half past five in the morning. Stables at competitions can be closed overnight, so as soon as they open in the morning, I go to feed. I plan the rest of the meals so that they don't clash with the start time. If the start is at noon, which is lunchtime, I arrange it so that the horse eats earlier and has time to rest - so that it doesn't start on an empty stomach, but also doesn't eat literally a second before training.
Question: What are the risks of bad feeding timing?
Answer: Colic, stomach pain, stress.
Horse transport - horsebox, trailer and safety
Question: How does traveling in a horsebox differ from a trailer, and how do you prepare a horse for transport?
Answer: The biggest difference is during loading, because horses are often much more willing to enter a horsebox than a trailer. The ride itself mainly depends on who is driving, and there is usually no major difference for the horse.
Our horses wear travel boots – if they are shod on all four legs, then on all four, if on the front, then on the front. We try to ensure that the horse doesn't eat for at least an hour before transport, or that it eats a mash if we're leaving later. During transport, they have hay nets filled, so they can snack along the way.
Question: How do you ensure comfort and safety in hot weather and on longer journeys?
Answer: In hot weather, we try to leave early in the morning. Horseboxes already have fans, so it's easier for the horses, but the earlier, the better. On longer journeys, we make a stop, even at a gas station, to check how the horse is feeling, if it's sweating or stressed.
Question: How did it look during the trip to Paris in 2024?
Answer: On the way to the Games in Paris, we made overnight stops. We covered the first section, from Poland to Germany, in one go, leaving around three in the morning. The stop in Germany was organized jointly with another Polish team rider. Then we set off for France, but not immediately to the Games venue, but to Jardy, where all the Olympians met. We spent the whole day there, and only the next day, according to the pre-arranged schedule, did we enter the Games venue.
Loading - most common mistakes
Question: What are the most common mistakes during loading?
Answer: The most common mistake is rushing and not understanding the horse's body language. There are moments when the horse is truly scared, and people try to force it in without giving it time to think. Other times, the horse is just stubborn - "it's nice here, but I'm not going anywhere" - and people give up at such moments. And the horse remembers that it was stubborn, didn't go, and didn't have to. My advice is to observe the horse, be calm and patient instead of rushing.
"The horse remembers that it was stubborn, didn't go, and didn't have to. That's why calmness and patience matter, not rushing."
Groom's first aid and emergency kit
Question: What must be in the first aid kit and the groom's emergency kit?
Answer: In the first aid kit, definitely disinfecting sprays, Alu-Spray for wound protection, cooling gels - but without doping substances. You must be very careful that supplements and cosmetics do not contain doping substances. And a groom's must-have items are tape for everything, zip ties, and ropes - they always come in handy.
A day at the competition - from arrival to start
Question: Briefly describe your day at a competition.
Answer: We usually arrive with the horses around noon, so they have time to rest. We lead the horse into the stable, unpack things, and the horse gets hay and water. On the first day evening, we go for a light training session to check how the horse feels after the journey and to allow it to calmly stretch its legs. On the second day, we get into the competition rhythm. Transport itself is demanding for the horse, as its body works throughout the journey to maintain balance.
Tips and tricks at the end
Question: What advice would you give to someone going to their first competition?
Answer: To treat it as fun. Be dutiful, be on time, but without too much tension. The goal is to be satisfied with yourself after the ride, gain experience, and do it with a smile, without stress.
Question: Your three tricks that save time and nerves?
Answer: First, if I agree to meet Ola at a certain time, I try to be ready ten minutes earlier, because she will definitely arrive earlier. Second, organized items in the tack box - when I know where everything is, I don't get nervous that something has disappeared. Third, plait the horse's mane earlier, so you don't stress later.
Question: What do you pack for any weather?
Answer: Lots of spare clothes and waterproof jackets to throw on, and extra rugs for the horse. In hot weather, a bucket for water and towels to cool down and wash the horse immediately after the start.
Question: Your biggest blunder at a competition?
Answer: Once in Samorin, when I was entering the stable with the horse through the door, he stepped on my boot and I almost fell in front of him, but I kept my balance. Another time, I forgot to attach the competition number. And once, while packing, I was going down a ladder and fell straight into a bucket of water, spilling it all over the stable.
Question: Finally - the Olympics. What made the biggest impression?
Answer: The Olympics make an incredible impression. Even the tent stables were of the highest standard, air-conditioned, everything perfectly organized, plenty of space for walks. A truly great experience.
Summary - a compendium for the rider
Key takeaways from the conversation in brief:
- Start packing in advance - even three or four days earlier, and keep a checklist that you tick off. In winter, count on more rugs.
- The saddle is something you can't just buy - just like the horse's own feed and supplements. Minor grooming items can be replenished on site.
- Documents: passport and up-to-date vaccinations are essential; for international travel, additional veterinary requirements and TRACES documents apply.
- Equipment depends on the discipline: different saddles, stirrups, and bits; in dressage, you don't compete in protective boots, and white breeches and a white saddle pad are mandatory.
- Plan feeding around the start - the horse should not move on an empty stomach or immediately after a meal; a bad moment risks colic.
- Transport requires attention: travel boots, hay on the way, early departures in hot weather, and stops on longer journeys.
- Patience wins during loading - rushing and ignoring the horse's body language is the most common mistake.
- Groom's emergency kit: disinfectants, cooling gels without doping, tape, zip ties, and ropes.
If you are choosing equipment for a specific discipline and want to ensure that the saddle fits both the horse and you, it is worth consulting personally - at the Equishop Fitting Center at ul. Oświęcimska 9 in Ruda Śląska.
