Horse care has never been more advanced. New products, therapies, treatments, and management techniques appear every year, each promising to help horses perform at their best.
But after spending more than three decades caring for some of the world’s top show jumpers, professional groom Sue Schlegel has learned that excellence often comes from something much simpler.
In the latest episode of The HorseGrooms Podcast – Presented by Horcery, Sue shares the practical philosophy that has guided her long career with John and Beezie Madden: observe your horses, stay consistent, and avoid changing things simply because they are trending, while remaining open to new developments that genuinely benefit the horses.
It is a quiet approach. But it has helped keep some of the sport’s best horses performing at the highest level.
Sue Schlegel in Wellington. Photo courtesy of KIND Media
Consistency Is More Powerful Than Complexity
One of the biggest themes throughout the conversation is that not every horse needs a complicated daily management routine.
At the Madden stable, horses follow a consistent schedule that includes turnout, time on the walker, riding, and plenty of observation. At home, legs are not wrapped simply because it is part of the routine; they are wrapped when there’s a reason to wrap them. Horses are not bathed every day. Therapies are used when they are needed, not because they have become fashionable.
That doesn’t mean less care.
It means every decision has a purpose.
As Sue explains throughout the episode, unnecessary treatments can sometimes do more harm than good. “If they don’t need it, it’s more irritating to them sometimes.”
It is a simple statement, but one that reflects decades of experience managing top horses.
Great horse care starts with understanding the individual horse rather than following a checklist.
Observation Is Still One of the Most Valuable Skills
Modern technology gives us more information than ever before, but Sue reminds us that one of a groom’s greatest tools is still careful observation.
Knowing how a horse normally behaves, moves, eats, and feels allows small changes to be noticed before they become bigger problems.
That knowledge cannot be learned overnight. It comes from spending time with horses every day and paying attention to the little details that many people overlook.
It is one of the reasons experienced grooms are such an invaluable part of every successful stable.
Traveling Doesn’t Mean Reinventing the Routine
Among horse people, there are different opinions about keeping horses comfortable and healthy while traveling long distances.
Sue’s experience suggests that long-distance transport does not require major changes in management.
Instead, consistency remains the most important factor.
Whether horses are traveling from New York to Florida or flying internationally, the emphasis remains on keeping routines as familiar as possible. Feeding stays largely the same, exercise continues as normal, and unnecessary changes are avoided whenever possible.
Even details like feeding mash before or during shipping are approached with caution.
Consistency reduces stress, and horses generally handle travel best when their normal routine changes as little as possible.
Simple Tack Care That Stands the Test of Time
One of the most enjoyable parts of the conversation is Sue’s well-known tack cleaning routine.
There are no secret products or complicated techniques.
Warm water.
Allow the leather to dry slightly.
Then, glycerin soap. Belvoir glycerin is Sue’s favorite.
Then, a small amount of Lexol.
Like so much of Sue’s horse care philosophy, it is a straightforward system that has proven itself over many years through regular, careful maintenance.
Great Employers Help Great Grooms Stay
While the episode focuses on horse care, it also offers an important lesson for stable owners and managers.
When asked why so many staff members stay with John and Beezie Madden for years, Sue doesn’t point to one single reason.
She talks about reasonable workloads, enough staff, good organization, trust, health insurance, quality housing, and feeling respected.
Those things create an environment where experienced people choose to stay.
In an industry that often struggles with staff retention, that may be one of the most valuable lessons in the entire conversation.
Supporting grooms ultimately benefits the horses as well.
Learning Never Stops
Sue also encourages young grooms to keep watching experienced horse people. “Watch other people and how they do things, and you’ll learn a lot.”
Many of the skills that define great grooming are difficult to learn from books alone. Watching how experienced professionals handle horses, organize their day, prepare for travel, or notice subtle changes teaches lessons that cannot always be explained.
Combined with curiosity and a genuine love for horses, those observations become the foundation of a successful career.
And perhaps Sue’s most important advice is the simplest of all: “You have to really like the horses.”
Listen to the Full Conversation
Sue Schlegel has spent decades caring for elite show jumpers, but the lessons she shares are not reserved for international competition barns.
Whether you care for one horse or twenty, the principles remain the same:
- Keep routines consistent.
- Observe your horses carefully.
- Avoid unnecessary complexity.
- Build trust with both horses and people.
- Remember that excellent horse care is often found in the small details repeated every day.
If you enjoyed these insights, listen to the full episode of The HorseGrooms Podcast with Sue Schlegel, where she shares even more practical advice on daily horse management, shipping horses, tack care, and building a lifelong career in the horse industry.
Find Sue’s podcast episode on the Equus Radio Network.
Presented by Horcery
This episode of the HorseGrooms Podcast is presented by Horcery.
Horcery’s AI-powered Stall Monitor helps horse owners, grooms, and barn managers stay connected to their horses around the clock by monitoring activity inside the stall and sending intelligent alerts when unusual behavior occurs. It’s an extra set of eyes that can provide valuable peace of mind when you’re away from the barn.
HorseGrooms listeners receive 5% off a Horcery Stall Monitor with the discount code HORSEGROOMS05.
Read this article or go to horcery.com to learn more about these helpful tools in the barn.
More HorseGrooms Resources
Looking for more practical horse care education?
Subscribe to the HorseGrooms monthly Newsletter to not miss anything, explore the HorseGrooms articles, educational webinars, community, and HorseGrooms Insiders, where experienced horse care professionals from around the world share the knowledge that helps horses thrive.
Become a HorseGrooms Insider to receive access to exclusive webinars, live Q&A sessions with industry experts, educational resources, mentorship, discounts, perks, and more. Everything is free when you are an Insider.
Use the discount code HGPODCAST to receive 10% off your HorseGrooms Insiders membership.
Lead photo courtesy of HorseGrooms
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.
