Thirty year-old Andrea Mottin is a groom at Roncobello, the highly specialised dressage centre near Milan in Italy where, alongside his co-workers he performs his duties managing the stables and looking after the horses for professional riders and owners. Roncobello currently has around 40 horses stabled there.
Originally from Como, “a city that I love very much”, he now lives in the province of Varese. Having always been extremely passionate about nature and animals since early childhood, Andrea grew up spending all of his free time in the countryside near his family house, which is located close to a World Wildlife Fund oasis. Andrea says “I have always been attracted to nature and wanted to study it”. He attended an agricultural school and then graduated at the Università Degli Studi di Milano in breeding and animal welfare.
Can you share your journey from when horses came into your life to where you are now
Andrea working at home
Ever since I was a child, I have known that I wanted to work with animals. My love for horses started when I was twelve when my godmother gifted me with ten riding lessons.
I have spent most of my riding career with my coach Ivana Havlinova, who has been training me since my teenage years. Thanks to her, I have learnt the basics of dressage, jumping and cross country, as well as all the groundwork, lunging and working with long reins, with her thoroughbreds and other horses. Over the years, I have gained experience working in various jumping and dressage stables, as well as with hippotherapy and equine-assisted therapy professionals. I have always seized every opportunity to work with horses, whether at friends’ stables or with their horses, or by taking advantage of the opportunities offered by university and various training courses in the field.
In 2019 I became a qualified basic instructor. I also attended a groom training course. I currently work with a friend’s Shetland and Welsh ponies. My role as a groom at Roncobello has enabled me to apply my studies in practice, working alongside riders such as Monica Iemi, Stefano Mantica, Anna Merveldt as well as many other riders and professionals in the sector.
What does your role as a groom involve?
Presenting a horse ready for a photo shoot
My main role involves preparing and untacking horses for riders or customers, organising schedules and outings, and ensuring that horses are ridden, lunged, taken to the paddock, put in the walker or on the treadmill, or hand walked as required. I lunge some horses every day, often accompany veterinary visits and administer any necessary treatments. I also monitor their daily feeding and keep the tack rooms, stables and other facilities tidy and clean. I manage feed orders and the laundry service, too. Occasionally, I accompany horses to competitions.
What makes what you do so special?
My work is driven above all by my great passion for these wonderful animals, and by the satisfaction that comes with doing a good job: grooming and presenting a horse well and keeping the stable tidy and clean. Organisation is a new and stimulating challenge every day. It is also obviously rewarding to see that people like my work and to make clients happy.
Tasks you least like doing?
I don’t think there’s anything about this job that I dislike doing, although looking after an ill horse is certainly a less pleasant experience. This can change all your plans and take up a lot of time, but every vet visit and situation can teach you something new.
Your most memorable moments?
Some of the moments I will never forget are the shows where I looked after the horses. Even for a groom, shows are very demanding, especially if you have a large number of horses to look after. However, they are also a very rewarding experience.
What are the hardest parts about being a groom?
Andrea preparing horse for a competition at Scuderie della Malaspina
I think the most difficult part of this job, at least for a home groom like me, is the daily organisation. Most people consider it to be more of a physical job, but I disagree. Sometimes you have to organise and manage several horses, riders or clients at the same time, and there are so many things to think about and keep in mind that it’s not always easy. What’s more, you often don’t have regular working hours, you can’t take all the holidays and vacations that people who don’t work with animals are used to, and there can always be unexpected situations.
Have you any advice for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
When I first started working with horses, my former boss asked me, laughing: “Are you sure about this?”. You can only do this job if you are truly passionate about horses. You have to be dedicated and work hard. From my experience, I would advise you not to miss any job opportunities, even if they initially require a lot of commitment and sacrifice, irregular working hours and low pay. All of this will be rewarded through the experience you gain. Try to work alongside experienced people and at renowned centres whose primary interest is the welfare of the horses.
What does it mean to you to work as part of the support team?
“horses will always be part of my life”
Working in a team can certainly be stimulating, but misunderstandings and arguments can also arise when people don’t get along. I think team building is essential. First of all, you need a lot of patience and understanding. You should also be open to learning from your teammates and accepting that your way is not necessarily the best way. Personally, I still have a lot of work to do on this. It is also essential to have continuous dialogue between professionals such as riders, grooms, farriers, veterinarians and physiotherapists.
Have there been any unexpected parts?
Before I started this job, perhaps I didn’t fully understand the world of sport horses, the management of suppliers and professionals who visit the stables, such as farriers and vets, or the constant monitoring and care of the animals, which sometimes means spending nights at the stables.
A horse that holds a special place in your heart?
Although I have never been able to afford my own horse, I consider this to be a strength. It has allowed me to ride and work with many different horses, giving me a great deal of experience that I might not have gained if I had focused on just two or three horses of my own. As a result, I tend to consider all horses as if they were mine! One of the horses I love the most is definitely the Welsh pony that I am currently working on with my friend’s children. I think she is extremely intelligent and, of course, extremely beautiful.
Your future aspirations?
Braiding
One thing I would like to do is work in some stables outside Italy, something I haven’t done yet. In general, I don’t know where I might be in the near future. I have already achieved and am achieving many of the goals I set for myself, both career and personal, and I don’t have any other specific goals or expectations at the moment. I am open to whatever the future holds for me. I’m sure about one thing: horses will always be part of my life, and I want to continue to accumulate skills and experience.
Your Top Tip
The best advice I can give is to always do what you love and are willing to sacrifice for. As for horses, observe them! The more time you spend with them, the more you will learn about them and the better you will be able to work with them.
Product you can’t live without?
I can’t work without a hoof pick. I always have one with me, and everyone makes fun of me for that. Of course, a good set of curry combs and brushes, are also essential, as is a detangler.