Honouring the dedication, skill and sheer effort and love of horses this individual displays in the care of their charges day and night
Absorbine Groom of the Year winner 2024
Jackie Potts
The path to being a top groom: Jackie was working for an agency when she went to the Fox-Pitts’ for a week – and stayed for 31 years. She has also been instrumental in Japan’s Kazu Tomoto’s championship bids: “William was 23 and had maybe won an open intermediate. I often look back and think, ‘I’m not really sure we’ve done all that.’”
Career highlight: “The first Olympics was amazing, but seeing them from babies at pre-novice to going round the big ones is just as much a highlight. They’re my boys and girls.”
A special horse: “I have a top 10, or maybe 12. It’s really hard to say – Tamarillo, Chilli Morning, Moon Man; it would go on for ever!”
Top tip: “Be prepared. If you’re prepared beforehand and have everything you need, plan everything and give yourself more time, then if things do go wrong, you’re generally able to cope.”
Also on the shortlist…
Frankie Dunn
The path to being a top groom: Frankie joined Team Campbell nearly three years ago and is head travelling groom – “I’ve always had horses and worked with them, and wanted to work in eventing.”
Career highlight: “Probably when Georgie won the four-star long at Lignières with Global Quest. All the hard work comes together for that one moment.”
A special horse: “Diachello, Jesse’s Olympic horse, is very special. He’s like a big Labrador, and my pet. Global Quest too; he was a handful but there was something about him.”
Top tip: “Just throw yourself into it – it’s not the sort of job you can do half-heartedly. You’ve got to love every step of the way – if you don’t, there’s no point.”
Jess Errington
The path to being a top groom: Jess went from college to Harry Meade’s 17 years ago and is now head girl.
Career highlight: “Coming third at Badminton in 2014 (Wild Lone), but Burghley this year – to get three horses there and them go so well, all three in the top 12, was unbelievable.”
A special horse: “Away Cruising. He’s been here since he was four and is now 17 and about to do his 10th five-star; to have had him all the way is very special. He’s an absolute character and really fun to have around, a show-off in front of a crowd. He has a heart of gold and is a lovely kind person, but good at pretending he isn’t to people he doesn’t know well!”
Top tip: “Trust your gut instinct. If you get to a show and people are doing stuff you don’t do, stick to your routine. And work hard; if you do, you’ll get anywhere in life.”
Stacie Bromley
The path to being a top groom: Stacie is going into her fourth season with Olly Murphy Racing, having spent eight years with Warren Greatrex.
Career highlight: “Definitely leading up Strong Leader when he won the Grade One at Aintree. It was amazing; the job is always worthwhile, but it’s the icing on the cake when you win a big one like that.”
A special horse: “I have lots of favourites but Strong Leader and The Wolf. Strong Leader is very laid-back, the cool guy, and Wolfie is a bit particular about who he likes. He was at Warren’s and is now here, so I’ve known him a lifetime and I just love him.”
Top tip: “Just enjoy the horses!”
Previous winners of the Groom of the Year award
Previous winners of this award include:
- 2023: Lucy Scudamore, groom to Carl Hester
- 2022: Ruth Asquith, Nicola Wilson’s head groom, who joined her team in March 2016
- 2021: Tilly Hughes, groom to Laura Collett and was her travelling groom for the Tokyo Games
- 2020: Amelia Jay Sanderson, freelance groom
- 2019: Amy Phillips, groom to Piggy French
- 2018: Jane Felton, groom to Jonty Evans
- 2017: E-J Eldridge, yard manager at Stallions AI breeding station
- 2016: Alan Davies, groom to Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin
About the Horse & Hound Awards 2024
The Horse & Hound Awards returned for a ninth year in a row, in partnership with NAF and Agria.
As ever, the Horse & Hound Awards winners were nominated and voted for by you, with the exception of the Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement award, which was decided by a Horse & Hound panel. We will recognise both the big names who have made 2024 special and the unsung heroes who make it possible for all of us to enjoy equestrian sport and our horses, at whatever level.
This year we returned to Dallas Burston Polo Club in Warwickshire, where some 300 people, including Olympic and Paralympic superstars, enjoyed a glamorous evening of champagne, winner reveals, Oscar-style speeches and dancing on Wednesday 27 November.
