Olivia Berry is a dedicated FEI show groom for TYL Dressage, working for top rider Katie Duerrhammer. She splits her year between the bustling equestrian scene of Wellington, Florida in the winter and the scenic landscapes of Greenwood Village, Colorado in the summer. Originally from Maryland, Olivia is a true East Coast native who’s embraced the mountain lifestyle. She has been an integral part of the TYL Dressage team for the past four years.
Have you always wanted to work with horses?
Funny thing is yes! I have always been around horses; at an early age my mom had me on them riding. Then I got into other sports growing up and didn’t want to do the same things as my older sister, until one day the horse bug bit me! I went back to riding in the Hunters with Jaime Hinson Sullivan at her farm, Snapdragon Stables.
Can you share your journey from the early days to where you are now?
I ended up landing at Kent Island Sport horses with Wendy and Marty Costello just helping around the barn, riding, until they offered my first job and I worked for them until two years into college. Through them I got an early very educational understanding of handling and riding, I met Richard Malmgren and JJ Tate who I still have a relationship with today. I would go with Wendy to foal inspections at hilltop farms Inc (foreshadowing right there.) I bought my first horse from their farm. I met Sarah Fulton Smith through them who I became working student through and furthered my passion for developing horses. This farm forever holds a special place in my heart because it is home.
Then I went off to college, at Regent university, I kept horses in my life, but was going to school for Paralegal Studies and a minor international relations and foreign policy. Big girl dreams to go and become a nations advocate for the Native American in politics both here and abroad. Unfortunately all of that changed when I had a freak accident with my personal horse that ended with me getting a Trauma Brain injury. So school got put on pause, I made a full recovery and I fell back into what was easiest, horses.
I ended up spending the next two years, managing horses at a polo farm located in southern Virginia Beach and still getting my foot back into high performance working at a hunter farm for Anita and Kasey Green; Bridlewood Farms. Until I decided one night to email Hilltop Farms about a position, within three days I was back in Maryland interviewing for their Broodmare and Foaling department. This is where the journey picks up and I fall in love with horses all over again. I spent I around 8 months working with the young horses and foaling again and I remembered how much I loved this part of life. We presented them for their inspections, sales videos, were present for every foaling, foal watch, and handled them in every basic aspect of their life beginnings which is such a fun process! This is where I became close with Jess Fay and started riding with her on my personal horse. As I developed a relationship with the training department, I started filling in for their grooms if someone was sick or took a vacation, until a position opened with Michael Bragdell and then we took a trial run of the show groom/head groom run in Florida for a month which is ironically where I met Katie. We brought our six to stay at TYL where Michael was riding with Debbie McDonald. I ended up becoming friends with Katie and her former head groom Emily and just kept in touch.
After season, I went home with Michael and hit the ground running. With 14 horses in our string, there was lots to manage, but it really taught me all the ins and outs of high performance and how to step up my game as a FEI groom. We spent most of our time in between Florida time showing between MD, PA, and NJ: chasing scores for Lamplight. We also the boys (the stallions) had big goals such as being presented for the breed registries, so we had to get them ready and prepped for the stallion inspection we had every fall, the AHS inspection, as well as the OLD inspection. Meanwhile maintaining a normal life balance for them with turnout, riding, and just down time. Honestly, if you want to find a farm with the program that provides horses a good life balance between the breeding shed/ being a performance horse/generally being a horse, Hilltop farms has found their rhythm.
I can confidently say I fell in love with the job and my horses here and it was so fulfilling (hard work) but fulfilling to help Michael chase his goals! Hilltop opened so many doors and helped me make so many new connections.
After almost 3 years, I found myself in a position to pivot, Katie was hiring, and I looked and told her she has a groom. With a quick whirlwind, I was driving my truck out to Colorado, and flying back down to meet them at the end of season in Florida. And I’ve been with them ever since
What does your role involve?
I really love my role here in our program because it really unites the divide you can often find between home grooming and show grooming and makes so flexible and cohesive. At home, we all share the same roles feeding, turnout, tacking, therapies, etc. (basically quality time with the horses!) then I also get to go to shows which is my favourite. At shows you can either find me ringside with either Katie, our U25 rider Emma Asher, or our sponsor. This season I spent it ringside with Emma and her two Hashtag and Hocus Pocus.
What makes what you do special?
There’s nothing specifically special about my role, but I do think it’s more foundational to make something special. Every moment with a horse spent, every attention to detail (a girth that needs tightened/missing chin pad/your horse needs to pee before it gets tacked to go into the ring) are the things that make my job special. Because it takes some building to help make the magic happen. If you know your horse/know your rider, it helps them focus on them being able to go further their partnership, which in turn helps make the magic happen.
What tasks do you like the least?
Honestly there’s nothing specific to my job that I dislike, the only exhausting thing is the great migraine twice a year driving across the country but even then if you have good driving partner it’s not so bad.
What have been some of the proudest moments?
2021, Devon with Michael and Qredit, my heart horse and my boss taking a win and their personal best. One of the highs of my life just to see horse who’s important to you give his all.
2022.Five-Year-Oldd Champion with our horse Valor and Adrienne Lyle
2024 season with Katie and Rosebank, that horse is one to watch, he is just so magical and always gives his all
2025 this year, showing through the U25 with Hashtag and Emma, and then Emma and Hocus Pocus doing their first Senior test and show together! Looking forward to Lamplight with Hashtag and Emma.
What are the hardest parts about being a groom?
I think the hardest parts can be the long hours and the hot days. They are the days that remind any super groom, that they’re human too.
What advice could you give to anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
Always be willing to learn. In our industry we have so many great resources to learn from and to be around. To come industry, you have to realise you’ll never know it all and even if your point of view is one way; doesn’t mean you should be willing to learn from a different POV on the same issue/idea etc.
Be flexible. With long hours, ring mishaps, emergencies, being a part of dynamics and just day to day schedule changes, the most important part of being a team is being flexible. It’s important to keep your flexibility, so that your rider/your horse/your coworkers feel like they can count on you for things and feel like things will be well received.
Do right by the horse. In this industry there’s a lot of pressure in general, the most important part of this job is the horse. Which is why as grooms it’s our job to be there for them as their advocates. If a leg feels funny, a saddle isn’t fitting right, even down to something so small as a boot is slipping down, the best thing is if you see something, say something and be proactive their best interest and don’t get lazy.
Don’t forget your human too. With long days and chaos, it’s important to eat healthy, drink water and pay attention to how your body feels and rest.
What does it mean to you to be part of the support team?
To work as a team, means to lean on your team and be willing to jump in when you can. You’re assigned to a few horses, but you’re short staffed for the day, be willing to pick up extra work to get you all off at a decent time. Divide the work, conquer it. Don’t ever go into the team environment and think that’s not my problem, because that’s not what is going to build team morale or benefit the horses. You want your rider to be able to focus on your horses, not the drama. At the end of the day, just work hard, support each other, and BE KIND.
What have been some unexpected parts of being a groom?
Loving it so much. I feel like that’s the crazy part, but I also think the part people don’t see is the sacrifice we all put in for the horses. As much as you see the time put in for the horses, I think people don’t remember it makes it hard to be there for family obligations, maintain relationships, and just normal life milestones. Luckily if you have a team/farm like I do; they believe in work life balance and they always support being there for things as you can. For the ideas of being with a partner, it’s important to have a foundation and checking in just like you do with your work team, to remind them that yes the horses are important but so are they. The horse industry is hard work, but you do it because you love it.
Tell us about a horse that holds a special place in your heart?
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There’s a few, but the most important ones to me:
– ES Donavan (Kent Island sport horses). He was the stallion I grew up with and is the reason I do this for a living now
Qredit Hilltop: he will forever be my heart horse; he and I had such a special bond. Yes, he’s retired from sport but still has a job to play in the breeding world. But he and I had such a special bond, I try to make it out to see him at least once or twice a year
Quartett ( Ted): he’s the whole reason I came to Katie if I’m honest, he’s a full sibling to Qredit. He’s played such a special role and our program and he’s such a special horse. From taking Katie to Aachen and WEG to now taking our sponsor into the ring in the Grand Prix. He’s the wonder horse
Where do you see yourself in the future?
Future will be me chasing my dreams of supporting the sport. Big goals wise: I want to get back into school to get my genetics and soil science degree so I can help support the horses even better than can now. I’m sure I’ll want to slow down eventually, but for now we keep chasing the pavement.
Top Tip
As Marina Lemay said in her interview with you, curry! Your horses’ coats will thank you. Curry your horses with a metal curry, then a jelly curry, then brush them off. The metal curry for the hair and the jelly curry for the dirt. Then post ride rinse them once then jelly curry them and rinse them again.
Are there any products that you can’t live without?
Witch hazel is my favourite because it’s great for fungus, but it also keeps their coats so happy. I always give them a good spray while they’re getting groomed pre-ride and then post rinse post ride I spray them again. If it’s freezing out and you have a dirty horse you need sparkling clean, mix it with a little isopropyl alcohol and water, you have a bath in a bottle
Shapely No 1. light oil is such a great product! I always use it post bath and curry it into their coats. As well as once or twice a month spray their bottle 3/4 water 1/4 oil, and give their coats a good curry to help replenish the good oils in their coats.
QuicSilver, as a groom who has a grey horse in her grooming string. This product is the only purple shampoo that does the trick. I recommend if you need a poop remover spray, put two spoonful’s of purple shampoo in 3/4 water and 1/4 alcohol into a spray bottle and use its great for getting stains out once curried in and wiped off.
What advice can you give for planning ahead when going to a competition?
Always be prepared! Think you might need something extra, bring it. Don’t go crazy overboard and pack an anvil in your trailer, but highly recommend prepping that ring bag like a turtle shell (sugar/towels/water alcohol/extra noseband.) Ask your questions beforehand unless they’re in the moment at a show, you want your logistics planned out so that you don’t have to worry about things and your rider can focus on the show.