For years, people from all over the country, and even from other parts of the world, have asked if the HorseGrooms MeetUps would ever travel beyond Wellington. While HorseGrooms previously hosted a MeetUp at Desert International Horse Park in December 2024, the historic Upperville Colt & Horse Show marks another exciting step in bringing these educational gatherings to more locations and more equestrians across the country.
It has been a long-term goal for HorseGrooms to expand our educational MeetUps beyond Wellington. We truly hope this is a first step in reaching more horse people in more locations around the country and the rest of the world. With the support of partners who believe in sharing knowledge and supporting the people behind the horses, there will be not one, but two educational opportunities during the legendary horse show in Virginia.
Founded in 1853, Upperville is the oldest horse show in America and a place deeply woven into the history of equestrian sport. Set among the rolling hills and stone walls of Virginia horse country, the show has long been known for its tradition, atmosphere, and love for horses. For many equestrians, competing or working at Upperville is something special.
Saddle Fit Fundamentals with Stübben North America
On Wednesday, June 3, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, HorseGrooms and Stübben North America will host a free educational MeetUp focused on saddle fit fundamentals besides the Grand Prix ring, at the west end.
The session will help grooms and equestrians better understand how saddle fit affects horse comfort, movement, and performance, and what practical things they can look for in everyday stable life. As always with HorseGrooms MeetUps, the goal is to make high-quality education accessible in an approachable and welcoming environment and contribute to improving the lives of horses.
The MeetUp is open to all equestrians, not just grooms, and pizza will be provided.
RSVP is required and is possible through the HorseGrooms Community or via this Google Form.
Free CPR Chest Compression Training with Dr. Michele Hollis
In addition to the MeetUp, and in collaboration with the Equestrian Health & Safety Foundation, HorseGrooms also helps to bring free CPR chest compression training opportunities to Upperville throughout the week of the horse show.
Dr. Michele Hollis, HorseGrooms’ in-house physician and the Medical Director of the Equestrian Health & Safety Foundation, will be available most days near the Grand Prix field under the tower with CPR training manakins for anyone who would like to learn or practice chest compressions.
This opportunity is completely free and open to all equestrians. A donation to the Equestrian Health & Safety Foundation would be appreciated but is absolutely not mandatory. We’d love to have many people practicing these compressions to get acquainted with the technique that maybe, one day, helps save a life.
Attendees practicing chest compressions during the MeetUp at Eyecandyland in Wellington, last February.
While full CPR certification courses include a larger educational program and online components, learning proper chest compressions alone can already make an enormous difference in an emergency. Knowing how to respond when someone collapses, stops breathing, or becomes unresponsive may help keep a person alive until emergency services arrive.
Equestrian Health & Safety Foundation
The Equestrian Health & Safety Foundation is the official Health & Safety Partner of HorseGrooms. Their mission is to improve health and safety awareness within the equestrian community, and HorseGrooms is grateful for their continued support and dedication to educating horse people.
The chest compression training was previously offered during a HorseGrooms MeetUp in Wellington at Eyecandyland, where the response from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Many participants shared afterward how valuable and empowering it felt to learn these potentially life-saving skills.
It is great that Upperville now provides the opportunity to reach even more people.
Dr. Hollis will be available throughout the full show week. If you are interested, please call or text her beforehand to arrange a time. Her phone number is (804) 350-7278. Even if you only have ten minutes between classes or barn duties, we strongly encourage people to stop by and take advantage of this opportunity.
Caring For Horses and The People Behind Them
HorseGrooms believes caring for horses also means caring for the people behind them. Education, horsemanship, welfare, and community have always been at the heart of what we do, and we could not be more excited to bring that mission to such a historic event.
We hope to see many of you in Upperville.
Helpful Links
Click here to learn more about the Upperville Colt & Horse Show.
Click here to learn more about Stübben NA and check out their products.
Click here to join the HorseGrooms Community.
Click here to RSVP for the Saddle Fit MeetUp in the HorseGrooms Community (members only).
Click here to RSVP for the Saddle Fit MeetUp via the Google Form.
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.
