The unsung hero of equestrian sports: Bettina Cardinael’s journey to 2024 FEI groom of the year

The heart of a groom

Grooms are the invisible thread stitching the fabric of equestrian sport, attending to every detail to ensure horse and rider are taken care of. For Cardinael, the role goes far beyond feeding and grooming. It’s about building a relationship with each horse — learning their quirks, calming their nerves and understanding their unspoken needs.

“That’s something people don’t realise about being a groom — it’s a real relationship,” Cardinael told Olympics.com. From feeding, to grazing, to saying good night and everything in between, Cardinael is there, a steady, familiar hand.

Each horse under her care requires a unique approach. Origi, Lara’s Olympic horse, craves attention but needs firm boundaries. “You have to be sweet with him, but not too much,” she explained. “Otherwise, he’ll try to walk all over you,” she laughed. Hooney d’Arville, on the other hand, needs reassurance. “She’s sensitive and needs to know everything is okay, that no one’s upset with her.”

These bonds are tested most at high-stakes events like the Olympic Games. When Origi or Hooney feel overwhelmed, Bettina is the one to calm them. Her methods are simple but effective: playful tricks, steady routines, and, above all, consistency. “We create little habits at home that we replicate at shows to help them feel confident,” she shares. One such routine? “I put a treat in my hand and make Origi guess where it is. It takes his mind off of any stress.”

Even the human half of the team benefits from Cardinael’s knack for lightening the mood. “Lara, Justine [a coworker], and I have this tradition before every event. As I hand her the horse, I say, ‘Mon sac est fait’, my bag is packed. It’s our way of keeping things light and not taking ourselves too seriously.”