Team behind the rider: Jennifer Barreto Broekhuizen

Jennifer Barreto Broekhuizen, was born on the magical island of Ibiza, Spain with an international heritage, her mum is Dutch and her father is half Mexican and half American. Currently based in Marbella working for international Spanish Grand Prix rider Alejandro Asencio, Jennifer works there as his home groom, show groom, and right hand women.

 

Can you share your journey so far?

I have always been around horses, I started riding very young.  I got this love of horses from my mum as she just rode for pleasure, going on hacks and helping out at the local riding school as a teenager. She was the one to teach me rising trot with her friends horse. I will never forget that. Despite that love, it did not occur to me that I could turn my passion into a career. T

here is no equestrian history in my family, except that my mother liked horses. Growing up in Ibiza, I worked in the hotel business. I started out as a receptionist for Melia Hotels International, working my way up the ladder and getting to become sales manager of two hotels. I was totally disconnected to the horse world at that time. But then I met someone special, who is my actual partner, Iván. And because of his support in chasing my dreams I bought my first mare, Yerbabuena. I eventually moved to Galicia, Northern Spain, but continued to work in the hotel industry as a sales and reservations agent for weddings, conventions, meetings, etc.

During this time I started competing my mare, and we took her all the way to Grand Prix, which I never imagined.  And because of this I met and befriended Helena, Alejandro’s wife and we kept in touch over the years. I then left the hotel industry and my partner and I started our own business, ZB SPORT HORSES, where we offered sales horses, training, lessons, and that is how my journey started in the horse world, working doing what I love most.

Beginning 2021 I had the opportunity to work for Yvonne Losos de Muñiz, where I learned a lot, and it opened my eyes to the elite level of this sport. I got to travel around the world, perfect my riding and ride Olympic horses.  It was an amazing experience. We ended our working relationship in summer 2023, and I went back to Galicia to work with my partner. In November 2023 Alejandro called me – and here I am in Marbella.  Now, both my partner and I are living here. I work for Alejandro, and Ivan runs our business ZB Sport Horses.

 

What does your role involve? 

Primarily I make sure our superstars are happy and receive the best care we can give them. But my job involves helping out with paperwork, competition organisation (travel, health papers, the whole lot). My goal is to relieve Alejandro of all the organisation as much as possible so that he can concentrate on the training and riding of the horses. I also get to help him out with riding some of the horses. It’s never boring, and I absolutely love my job and the connection I have with Alejandro.

 

What makes what you do special?

I would like to think its the connection I create with the horses, for me it is most important to make sure the horses are happy and relaxed.

 

Tasks you least like doing?

I couldn’t say, I find it all necessary to ensure the horses wellbeing. So everything I do, and every chore I have is for them to be happy, comfortable, relaxed, so its all worth doing. I also have to say, we have an amazing team at home, I get to concentrate fully on the horses, which is amazing.

 

What is your routine and prep for competitions?

Lists!…I have lists for paper work, lists for packing, lists of things to do, and I go over them constantly and go crossing out what’s been done, and even then when I’m on the truck and leaving the barn I’m always worried I have forgotten something. At the shows I make a schedule according to competing times, knowing the time to be in the arena and working our way backwards so I know when to braid and start preparing. I always give myself plenty of time, so I can do it all calmly to keep the horses relaxed, I don’t think they would appreciate me running around stressed out to the max!

 

Products you can’t live without?

I don’t use any specific products, I love the Braid-It Up mousse from NAF for braiding. For me the most important are good brushes and a good curry comb, nothing gets them shining as much as a daily good brush session. Also, the best shine is a healthy shine, when they have the right feed, right hay and are happy, they have a healthy coat which shines naturally.

 

Most memorable moment?

I find it hard to pick just one. To be honest I feel proud at every single competition we go to, we are always trying our hearts out, me as a groom, Alejandro as a rider, so each competition we accomplish I feel proud. But maybe I would highlight winning at the CDI Lier in Belgium this past February, seeing the Spanish flag up there was an amazing feeling!

 

Hardest parts of being a groom?

Being a groom is a hard job, it requires a lot of dedication, but if you have love for horses it all becomes quite easy. It also depends so much on the team that surrounds you and your work conditions, and I have to say I feel very lucky in that department, they all make everything easy and we are a well organised team where each one of us has a defined role at the barn.

 

What advice could you give to someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

You have to be prepared to give it your all. To be at the top of this sport you have to be committed and have a huge attention to detail. You must always be willing to learn, and simultaneously know that you can never learn or know it all.  And most importantly, keep your feet on the ground and stay humble, horses are experts in putting you in your place. I believe it’s also important to work for someone you believe in, and have the same kind of ideology, this makes a difference, as you spend so many hours working together. But above all, I think it’s very important to have clear working conditions. Don’t let people take advantage of you, which happens all too often in this job.

 

How important is it to be part of the support team?

I find it’s crucial for an elite rider at the top of this sport to have an amazing support team behind them. If they feel everything is organised and under control, they can really concentrate on giving their best out in the competition arena. And a support team has to be there through thick and thin, in the victories it’s always easy to support. It’s the hard days where you really have to come together as a team.

 

What have been some unexpected parts of being a groom? 

As I already had a horse related company, being a rider as well, and having competed myself, I was kind of prepared for everything to come.

 

A horse that holds a special place in your heart?

My heart horse is and always will be my mare Yerbabuena, who is now retired and just had her first foal, she is up in Galicia living in the field with her own little herd, and I miss seeing her every day so much. At Alejandro’s barn, my two special ones would have to be Gaviao dos Cedros and Straight Horse Sezarion. They are the ones we have been competing with the most lately and I have travelled so many kilometres with them and spent many hours at their side that I see them as my own.  They each have their own very special character

 

Funny story?

It wasn’t funny at the time, but when I first started with Alejandro, Gaviao made my life hell. He really put me to the test, and I didn’t sleep my first week of work because of him. Now I think back on it and laugh, because now we love each other, he whinnies at me and we are the bestest of mates, we have a very special relationship.

 

Where do you see yourself in the future? 

I would like to think of myself being able to continue supporting Alejandro on his adventures, but would also love to start competing myself again, of course with Alejandro by my side as my mentor and trainer!

 

 Your Top Tip

Do it with love, you can never go wrong if you pour your heart into it.