Molly Ryan is an international show groom for Anmore Dressage based in Hampshire. Twenty one year-old Molly works with dressage riders Jezz and Lucy Palmer at Anmore Dressage owned and run by Martin Price.
When did horses come into your life, and how did that journey lead you to become a groom?
Molly loves spending time with the horses at Anmore Dressage
I haven’t always been around around horses. Me and my sisters where given riding lessons as a Christmas present when I was around thirteen years old at our local riding school Fort Widley. I then went on to do Pony Club and Saddle Club there helping on weekends in return for riding lessons. I quickly realised I had the horse bug and never looked back!
During my secondary years at school I was very lucky to be able to do a work placement at another local riding school called Catherington Equestrian Centre, so once a week on a Friday I would be allowed out of school and was able to work there for the day – this is when I really knew I wanted to work with horse and learnt a lot about routines, time keeping and responsibilities of what that would take. When I left school, I went to Sparsholt Collage where I learnt a lot more of the theory behind horses and grew my knowledge as well as being able to do some hands-on practical learning. While I was at Sparsholt, we needed to do work experience. This is where I started my work experience for Steph Wood Dressage it was completely different to what I’d ever done before and a completely new insight to the dressage world and competition horses.
After my first year at Sparsholt I finished with a distinction in my level three equine diploma. I was working a lot for Steph over the summer and quickly realised that I much preferred being in the industry hands-on. I was very lucky going into my second year, she offered me the head girl position on her yard, and it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. I then went on to groom at stay away shows with her and had the responsibility of running the yard with her competition horses. After my amazing time with Steph, I then went self employed as a show groom, a bit of a risk as I was still only young, but I knew it was something that I wanted to try.
I fell on my feet really after that, working the mornings for JLP Dressage Jezz and Lucy Palmer and the afternoons for Sadie Smith Dressage. It was very fast paced and a lot to take on board working at two different yards for top riders, but I loved it! I learnt so much from them all and individually. It was amazing to go to so many shows with so many different types of horses at all different levels. But also learning how high my standards needed to be in looking after top competition horses not only at shows but all the days in between. That then leads me to where I am today working at Anmore Dressage. I have since been able to groom at some amazing international shows.
What does your role as a groom involve?
Molly getting the tack ready for competition
My role as a Show Groom involves the day-to-day care for the horses getting them ready for exercise and what that involves before and the after care of the horses after they have been worked. As well as all the prep before shows packing and organising everything the horses need and could want. And caring for them at the shows. I do a lot of plaiting, trimming and clipping.
What makes what you do special?
What makes my role special is the time I take with the horses and my attention to detail to each and every one of them, thinking of them all as individuals, as no one horse is the same so being able to adapt my care for each one and what they need with the ability to pick up if anything is slightly off for them whether that be at home or a show.
Task that you least like doing?
My least favourite task would probably be raking the sides of the school in.
Memorable moments?
Molly (back to camera) with Jezz Palmer and Premier at the FEI World Breeding Championships
One of my proudest moments of being a groom is probably going to the FEI world breeding championships for young horses in Verden with 5 year old Premier owned by Anmore with Jezz Palmer after taking Premier to his first ever show as a 4 year old to then be able to take him to his first international show at worlds the year before to then be selected as a 5 year old was really special and to see all the hard work Jezz puts in every day to each horse pay off, watching them on the world stage was truly amazing and watching them in the small final against the world’s best made me very proud that I am a part of this journey with them. All the young horses first shows are really special to me and always make me so proud, they really do just take everything on board and look happy doing their jobs. Another special show for me was HOY’s with Jezz and Romanno Weltino another horse owned by Anmore who I have been very lucky to look after for many of years so seeing them at another special show was amazing, at home her stable name is Princess and she well and truly lives up to her title.
Hardest parts about being a groom?
Probably the hardest part about being a groom is the long days in all weather conditions, but the good days definitely outweigh the bad ones and that’s why we do what we do.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
Molly performing last minute checks for Lucy Palmer
If I could give anyone a bit of advice who’s wanting to be a groom is to take any opportunity that comes your way, even if it feels a bit daunting and different you’ll always learn something new everywhere you go. And to have pride in what you do.
What does it mean to you to work as part of the support team?
We are very lucky to have an amazing team at Anmore, but I also feel very lucky to be Jezz and Lucy’s Groom they are amazing role models to me and they work extremely hard and have such a passion for what they do, It’s infectious. My role to them is very important, as riders they have a job to do so if I can take a little bit of the pressure away by them knowing their horses are looked after day in day out that is when they can really focus on what they need to do. Everyone’s role in the team is very important, and their successes also feel like the teams’ successes and that is why it makes it so special.
Have there been any unexpected parts of being a groom?
I don’t think there was any unexpected parts of being a groom. I think as you do the job you learn what it takes to be a good groom how you progress doing that, so I don’t think it was necessarily unexpected, but there is always lots of learning.
Horse that holds a special place in your heart?
Molly and Tyga Fleur Caledonia collecting scores for the Winter Regionals
All the horses hold a very special place in my heart for all very different reasons. They all have very big personalities, and I definitely love watching them all progress and turn into amazing dressage horse. But one horse in particular, would be Tyga Fluer Caledonia Anmore. I have been very lucky to be given the opportunity of competing her myself. Our first season competing last year we qualified and competed at the summer nationals. She has taught me so much with the help of Jezz and I feel like it’s opened a completely different door for me and my love in the industry. She really just is the sweetest horse, typical mare but I think that’s why I love her!
Future aspirations?
In the future, I hope to still be learning and growing in the industry we have lots of exciting horses coming up so it’s all very exciting.
Top Tip
My top tip is probably always make a list before a show day planning your times out making sure you always allow yourself enough time and to plan your day out, shows get very busy so being one step ahead always helps.
Product you can’t live without?
The one product I couldn’t live without would probably be Quick Knots! They are great so quick and easy for plaiting and when you have lots of horses competing you need to make time up when you can!