HorseGrooms MeetUp | Tuesday, March 10 | Eyecandyland | 6:00–7:30 PM
We are pleased to announce our upcoming HorseGrooms MeetUp on Tuesday, March 10 at Eyecandyland in Wellington, where we will focus on a subject that deserves more attention in our industry: mental pressure in high-performance barn environments.
Titled “Stronger Brain, Stronger Groom: Managing Stress, Pressure, and Performance,” this MeetUp will be led by Dr. Myrelis Aponte, a neuropsychologist, mental health coach, international lecturer, and CEO of Vital Development. Dr. Aponte brings extensive clinical and teaching experience, along with practical, science-based tools that apply directly to the day-to-day realities of equestrian professionals.
Why This Topic Matters
Grooms and equestrian professionals often work in fast-paced, high-responsibility environments where long hours, travel schedules, competition demands, and constant decision-making require sustained focus and resilience. In Wellington especially, where the season moves quickly and expectations are high, managing mental pressure is not optional. It is essential for both wellbeing and performance.
This MeetUp will offer practical strategies and insights designed specifically for those working in barns and competition settings.
What You Will Learn
During this session, Dr. Aponte will share brain health strategies tailored to horse grooms and equestrian professionals.
Participants will:
• Understand how chronic stress affects the brain and body
• Learn to recognize early warning signs of overload and burnout
• Explore simple, brain-based tools to regulate stress quickly in real time
• Build daily habits that support clarity, focus, and long-term performance
She will also introduce The Equestrian Stress Score, a quick self-assessment developed specifically for show barn professionals to better understand their stress levels and identify areas for support.
A Practical and Thoughtful Session
This MeetUp will focus on awareness, prevention, and practical tools that can be used immediately in daily work. Our goal is to create space for open conversation around a topic that many experience but few discuss.
Dr. Myrelis Aponte
Dr. Aponte is a licensed clinical psychologist and former associate professor in the Ana G. Méndez System, as well as doctoral faculty at Inter-American University of Puerto Rico. She is widely recognized for her clinical work, lectures, and coaching across the United States and Puerto Rico, and now also shares her expertise through her writing on mental and emotional balance.
To learn more about her work, visit www.dramyrelis.com.
Event Details
HorseGrooms MeetUp Mental Pressure
Tuesday, March 10
6:00–7:30 PM
Eyecandyland, Wellington, FL
Please RSVP inside the HorseGrooms Community or via this Google Form so we can plan accordingly.
We hope many of you will join us for what promises to be a valuable and meaningful evening together.
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.
