Even though Laura Pape grew up surrounded by horses, she did not expect to be in the spotlight at the center of world-class dressage. That all changed when she started grooming for her mother, Grand Prix dressage rider Susan Pape, last August.
“I rode as a hobby when I was a child, but then I didn’t. I never really felt that good about it,” she said. “And then for a very long time, I rejected basically everything that had to do with horses.”
Unexpected Hiatus
After finishing High School and missing out on a university place, Laura worked as a receptionist at a physiotherapist’s office while reassessing her options. Laura’s father Ingo Pape comes from one of Germany’s most famous horse breeding families, a reputation founded on her grandfather Günter Pape.
When applications to other jobs and educational opportunities did not work out, the unexpected hiatus saw Laura return home to her roots, the Hengststation Pape Stables in Hemmoor, Germany, and unearth her connection with horses. “I went back home and started working as a groom, and that’s been working out quite wonderfully now,” she said. “But I am still applying for university.”
The London International Horse Show
Initially based at the stables preparing horses for lessons, Laura, 20, progressed to become the full-time traveling groom, working for her mother towards the end of last year. They hit the road to some top-class competitions – the Stuttgart German Masters in November and December’s London International Horse Show held at the Excel London in Britain’s capital.
“That was honestly my favourite horse show of all time,” Laura said. “It was so incredibly organised. Everyone there was so passionate about what they were doing. And the crowd was just incredible.”
Born in northern Germany, Laura describes herself as “very European,” with German roots, British ties, and a strong association with the Netherlands, where her mother grew up. Susan rides for Britain – her mother was German, but her father was British. For that reason, the London show carried added emotional weight. Members of Susan’s English family, rarely able to attend competitions, were there to watch – a moment Laura described as “incredibly special.”
Comeback
It was also a milestone for Giulilanta, Harmony Sporthorses LLC’s mare, ridden by Susan and making a comeback to the international arena at 14, after suffering a serious leg injury at the age of 11, which sidelined her for two years. “There was a point where we didn’t even know if we could keep her as a breeding mare,” Laura said. “And now, the past three shows she keeps topping her personal best.”
The Emotional Aspect
The most recent of those came in the 3 Graces Dressage CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle part of Friday Night Lights at the Global Dressage Festival. In front of a packed house, Susan and Giulilanta scored a personal best of 81.745%. Susan concluded the test by punching the air in excitement, and both mother and daughter found themselves in tears in the aftermath. I think my knees actually went out when I saw our final score,” Laura said.
“I think probably the emotional aspect of it is what surprised me the most [about grooming]. The hours, the devotion – you know about that. But the excitement and the thrill of professional athleticism that sweeps you up like that is really something special.”
Devoted To Horsemanship
Prior to Wellington, Laura’s father had been around to help guide her, but with him at home in Europe, this winter she relies on help from the Harmony team, including dressage rider Michael Klimke and his longstanding groom Nico Wienströer.
“I’m incredibly grateful and incredibly privileged to work with these people who have devoted their lives to horsemanship,” she said. At the heart of them all remains her mother.
Best Rider In The Entire World
“My earliest memory is my mother winning the world championships with Cayenne in 2007,” Laura said, recalling the victory in the 5-year old division at the 2007 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden, Germany. “Despite whatever the numbers or the stories say, my mother has always been the best rider in the entire world to me.”
This groom interview is part of an ongoing series by HorseGrooms, featured throughout the Wellington season in the official publications of Wellington International, the WEF Weekly Wire, and the AGDF Times. By highlighting the grooms behind elite competition, Wellington International supports HorseGrooms’ mission to give greater visibility to the people whose daily care, horsemanship, and dedication underpin top-level equestrian sport.
HorseGrooms collaborates with events, horse show organizations, brands, and professionals worldwide to share practical knowledge and real stories from the people who care for horses every day, from local barns to top-level competition venues.
For support options and to learn more, go to www.horsegrooms.com/get-involved
Sarah Eakin has a long history of sports reporting and covering equestrian disciplines – particularly show jumping, polo, racing and dressage – for a range of international publications as writer and editor-in-chief. In 2024, Sarah launched Paper Horse – an online magazine with an eclectic mix of stories from the horse world at www.paperhorsemedia.com. Paper Horse is an official Media Partner of Wellington International. Sarah was born in England and came to the US in 1996 as Sidelines’ Polo Editor; at the time she was chief polo writer at the Horse and Hound and Polo Correspondent to The Daily Telegraph. She married US professional polo player Gary Eakin and stayed Stateside traveling throughout North America while covering equestrian events. She is also an author; Wed, White and Blue, her first novel is on Amazon.
