Emma Tice is a full-time groom for Jennifer Williams. Born in Peterborough, Ontario and now transitioning into living and working in Wellington, Florida full time, twenty two-year-old Emma travels alongside Jennifer to all competitions and works at the home base in Wellington with her in between shows.
How long have horses been part of your life, and how did that influence your career?
Emma with Jennifer and Joppe. K leaving the arena after an incredible ride in the Grand Prix Special. image courtesy of Lauren Pitylak
I grew up in Kitchener, Ontario, just outside of Toronto. As a kid, I never really felt like I had a sport or hobby that I connected to. From competitive swimming to any type of dance you could think of, I tried it all. Every Thursday night when it was time for dance, I suddenly ‘felt sick’ just to avoid going. I remember feeling frustrated that all my friends had their ‘thing’ and I didn’t. That changed when my mom came across a newspaper article for a local stable looking for kids to join their program and suggested I try horseback riding.
From the moment I stepped into the barn, I knew this was what I wanted to do. I joined a working student program, spending all my weekends and evenings after school working in exchange for lessons. Most of the girls at my barn loved jumping. I admire the skill of it, but I never really connected with it. In November of 2017, we took a barn trip to The Royal Winter Fair and it just so happened to be the night of the Dressage Freestyles. Watching the horses do one tempis down the diagonal to music, everything just clicked. I knew dressage was what I wanted to dedicate myself to.
My parents bought me a 500-dollar Appaloosa pony from a local auction, who taught me the basics and took me through training at local shows. From there, I began working and riding full-time at a dressage barn. I attended York University in Toronto for two years in the Environmental Sciences Program. I tried my best to balance school and horses but ultimately decided that working in dressage was what I wanted to do. Suddenly I was the one grooming at the Royal and at CDI competitions, meeting riders I have admired since discovering the sport. My parents purchased a Grand Prix schoolmaster, Westeross, who took me up to the Prix St. George level. Wes and I competed at some shows in Canada and then spent a winter season in Wellington, Florida, where I fell in love with the environment and sport even more. Being a part of a team, grooming at Global, and watching some of the best riders in the world unlocked a whole new set of dreams for me.
A group photo with Joppe. K, Emma, Jennifer and her daughter Lexi, her coach Oded Shamoni, and Joppe’s part owner Lisa. image courtesy of Lauren Pitylak
After returning to Canada, things became challenging. My horse was ready to retire, my health declined, and I started to feel burnt out. I questioned whether or not I could continue in the sport. Deep down, I knew I needed to go back to Wellington. I really admired Jennifer after seeing her rides on her beautiful chestnut horse at Global, so I decided to reach out. At first, there wasn’t a position available, but soon after I got a message from her business partner and dressage rider, Amanda Perkowski, about a new role working with Jennifer’s client horses. I got a temporary work visa and headed back to my favorite place in the world- Wellington.
From the very beginning, Jen trusted me with her horses, asked about my goals, and treated me with genuine kindness and respect. Amanda’s hardworking, professional team supported me at home while I traveled to groom at CDI competitions with Jen. She instantly reignited my spark for the sport and eventually offered me a long-term role. I feel so grateful to be working with her every day.
My journey has been shaped by incredible people, challenging and humbling moments, and so many life lessons. With every step, even the difficult ones, has made me into the person and the rider that I am today.
What does your role as a groom involve?
Emma with Jennifer and Joppe. K standing for the National Anthem after winning the Grand Prix in the CDI 3-star week 12 at Adequan Global Dressage Festival. image courtesy of Lauren Pitylak
I start my day at the first barn where Jen has two of her horses, Berlin and Joppe. I feed them breakfast and before I turn them out, I like to do an overall check on their legs and body just to make sure everything is normal, which I try to do multiple times a day. Then I turn them out or put them on the walker while I clean their stalls. Jen and her wonderful assistant rider, Ava, ride Berlin and Joppe first so I usually prepare them around 9am, making time to include any therapies like the PEMF blanket. After work, I give them a bath, ice them, laser them and include any other after work therapies they may need. Jen, Ava and I usually take the time to have a brief meeting about how the horses were in their ride, if we need to make any changes to their routine, and go over if we need to place any orders for anything. They head over to the second barn, where I join them later to check on the client’s horses there, help with organizing, and just meet with the team there to discuss how the horses are doing. I head back over to the other barn to feed dinner to the boys around 4pm and prepare everything for the next day.
What makes what you do special?
There are so many things that make what I do feel extra special, but one of the biggest is being able to represent someone like Jen. She genuinely loves the training process and especially starting horses in the sport, it’s truly so cool to see! She even started and took three generations of a bloodline to Grand Prix!
What inspires me most is how Jen goes out of her way to build a genuine community. She pushes me and everyone to do their absolute best, while still being kind, supportive, and building confidence. She sets high standards, but she also always provides the resources and support to achieve them. She genuinely cares about everyone, not only as riders, but as people. I know I can talk to her about anything, whether it’s work or personal. Her wonderful family is just as welcoming, and they make me feel like I truly belong.
Tasks you least like doing?
Joppe. K won the Grand Prix in the CDI 3-star week 12 at Adequan Global Dressage Festival. image courtesy of Lauren Pitylak
That is tricky- there’s truly not a task that I dislike. Even commonly disliked tasks like clipping, I love just putting on music and spending a few hours getting it done. I would probably say running errands or paperwork. Really any task that involves me not being at the barn and next to the horses!
Most memorable moment?
Jen and I recently returned from a six-week venture to Germany. I have never been to Europe, and I had the opportunity to groom at two of the best horse shows in the world, Hagen and Aachen. Watching the best riders in the world go into those iconic arenas is something I will never ever forget. I am so proud and grateful to represent Jen and Joppe at any competition but traveling to a new country and getting the opportunity to experience a new culture just made everything extra special.
Hardest parts about being a groom?
I would say the hardest part of being a groom is never really being able to shut your brain off. I am always thinking of what task I need to do next, a solution to a problem, or something I could be forgetting, even after the day is done or on a day off. I truly think it is crucial to have a support team that you communicate with about everything.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
Never ever let anyone question your worth. Know when it’s time to walk away from a situation and that it’s okay to start over if you need to. There will always be challenges in this sport, and it’s important to stay true to your values. Surround yourself with people who lift you up, support your growth, and genuinely care about you and the horses. When something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and know that it’s okay to move towards an environment that brings out your best.
What does it mean to you to work as part of the support team?
The final jog of the show season. image courtesy of Lauren Pitylak
It truly means so much to me being a part of a team like this, especially someone who displays so much gratitude for my work. Jen has so much patience in training the horses and works very hard behind the scenes to provide the best for them. She provides me with the resources and support I need to also give the best to the horses as well. We have so much fun at shows, but ultimately it brings me so much joy when Jen gets to show the world what patience and hard work accomplishes within the competition ring.
What unexpected rewards have you found in life as a groom?
Jen has helped me get really involved within the business side of working with horses, which is something I am really interested in. I have gotten the opportunity to handle ordering feed, shavings, hay, and feed and supplements. I have been able to take on scheduling some meetings and appointments, as well as communicating with clients with whatever they need! Being involved with clients has been incredible. I feel like I get to form a relationship with them and get to know them and their horses even better. I used to always think of grooming as a hands-on job, but being involved within some of the business aspects has been something that I really enjoyed doing.
You groomed at Aachen, how was that experience?
Attending Aachen was an experience I will never ever forget. Since falling in love with the sport of Dressage, I have seen videos of the iconic Aachen arena and have heard stories of riders expressing the unreal experience of riding under the bridge and into that ring. Walking in alongside Jen and Joppe felt like a complete dream come true. The whole city is turned into a festival. There are so many people from around the world coming to celebrate horses and the best athletes are there competing. Every competition is long and busy, but I think I definitely underestimated how much there was to see and do at Aachen. From the incredible opening ceremonies to the closing ceremonies- Aachen is packed with so many things to do- and I didn’t want to miss a single moment. Although they were very long days, I am forever grateful for the best experience of my life.
Through the highs and lows, everything about traveling to Europe with Joppe and Jen was a dream come true for me.
A horse that holds a special place in your heart?
Jennifer’s KWPN gelding, owned by Joppe Partners, LLC. Joppe. K will always hold a very special place in my heart. Not only is he incredibly talented and beautiful, but he also has such a unique personality. He is always kind and just genuinely a happy guy. Because of him and Jen, I have done things I have always dreamed of. From grooming on Nations Cup teams to traveling around Germany for six weeks- there’s no horse I would rather be next to than my favorite red head!
I just think it’s so important to stop and realise how much these incredible animals truly do for us. They teach us how to be patient, give us confidence, and teach us to be in control of our emotions. At the end of the day, we owe them everything and it’s up to us to be the best version of ourselves that we can be.
Future aspirations?
I aspire to continue building my riding skills! Ultimately, I would love to ride at the Grand Prix level someday. As a kid, I felt like I had to rush the process of getting through the levels. I never attended NAYC or other young rider-based competitions and always felt like I was behind compared to my friends and other people my age. Jen has taught me to enjoy my journey and the training process. Everyone is on their own path and has had their own obstacles to overcome in this sport and in life.
Product you can’t live without?
Jen showed me a product called Equine Elixir Chug for really hot days or traveling with horses. It’s like magic! I mean you mix a scoop of it in a bucket and the horses instantly drink the whole thing. There’s not a single horse that I have met that doesn’t love it.
Top Tip
Know that it’s okay to ask for help when you need it. The quality of your work is so important and if you are tired or not fully sure of how to do something, that is when mistakes can be made. Have a support system that encourages you to ask questions and that you can be open with.