The equestrian world is filled with talented, hardworking people like riders, trainers, barn managers, and of course, grooms. Yet while most are highly skilled with horses, few have ever been taught how to build healthy teams, manage people, or navigate workplace communication. Unlike the corporate world, there are no HR managers in barns, no weekly team meetings, and very little structured training around leadership.
The result? Miscommunication, unhealthy barn cultures, and too many grooms leaving jobs that don’t support them.
At HorseGrooms, we believe this needs to change. That’s why we’ve launched our new series, Speak, Lead, Thrive – Communication & Leadership for Stable Teams. The series brings together two experts, Lizzie Herron (The Equestrian Leadership Consultancy, GB) and Danielle Aamodt (Enso Equine, USA), who share articles, lead webinars, and eventually give small group coaching and masterclasses for our HorseGrooms Insiders.
Both Lizzie and Danielle combine professional expertise with a deep understanding of the equestrian world. Lizzie recently shared her article Speak Up with Confidence: How to Raise Issues with Your Boss as a Groom on this website. Danielle followed with How to Lead in the Barn—Even If You’re Not the Boss (Yet). These resources marked the beginning of a bigger conversation about communication, leadership, and workplace wellbeing in barns.
Now, we are taking the next step with a free webinar open to the entire HorseGrooms Community.
Free Webinar “Finding the Right Fit; Choosing a Grooming Job Where You Can Thrive”
Date: Monday, September 29
Time: 1 pm ET / 19h CET
Location: Inside the HorseGrooms Community (membership is free!)
In this webinar, HorseGrooms Communication & Leadership Mentor Danielle Aamodt will share her expertise on how to:
- Spot red and green flags in barns
- Ask smart questions in interviews
- Recognize healthy team cultures where you can thrive, not just survive
Danielle brings unique insight to this conversation. A former groom with a decade of hands-on experience, she later served as USEF’s Director of Driving, leading U.S. teams at FEI World Championships. Today, through her business Enso Equine, she helps people and teams improve communication, leadership, and connection—often drawing lessons from herd dynamics.
“Finding the right job isn’t just about salary or perks. It’s about whether the barn culture, management, and team environment will support your joy, wellbeing, and mental health,” says Aamodt.
Why This Matters
The stakes in our industry are high. When grooms feel supported, communication improves, and barns run more smoothly. Horses receive better care, teams are stronger, and people are more likely to stay in jobs that make them happy.
“This is a conversation our industry has needed for a long time,” says Dinette Neuteboom of HorseGrooms. “The equestrian world is built on teamwork, yet we rarely talk about how to actually support and lead people in barns. This series is all about giving grooms and equestrian professionals the skills to build healthier, happier workplaces—for themselves and for the horses.”
That’s why we encourage not only grooms, but also riders, trainers, and barn owners to join this webinar. Everyone who works in a team will benefit from understanding how to create positive, supportive barn cultures.
Join Us
This webinar is free for all members of the HorseGrooms Community. If you’re not a member yet, joining is easy and free; just sign up here.
Don’t miss out: RSVP today and join us on September 29 at 1 pm ET / 19h CET.
Important Links
Join the HorseGrooms Community
RSVP for the Webinar on Choosing the Right Grooming Job
Danielle Aamodt’s Business Enso Equine
Lizzie Herron’s business The Equestrian Leadership Consultancy
As a preparation for this webinar, read Danielle’s recent article on leadership in barns and Lizzie’s powerful article on how grooms can raise issues with their boss.
HorseGrooms is a platform of resources, education, and support for grooms by grooms. This is an online community, hub of resources, and spotlight of industry highlights born out of love for the horse and love for the sport. But our mission goes beyond simply providing resources and creating content.
Our goal is to create a space to keep horsemanship alive; for grooms to support and educate each other; and to help advance the craft of grooming. HorseGrooms is dedicated to ambitious grooms everywhere.
