The heart of a groom
Grooms are the invisible thread that runs through equestrian sports, paying attention to every detail to ensure that horse and rider are well cared for. For Cardinael, the role goes much further than feeding and caring. It’s about building a relationship with each horse: getting to know their quirks, calming their nerves and understanding their unspoken needs.
“That’s something people don’t realize when they’re grooms – it’s a real relationship,” Cardinael told Olympics.com. From feeding, to grazing, to saying goodnight and everything in between, Cardinael is there, a steady, trusted hand.
Each horse she cares for requires a unique approach. Origi, Lara’s Olympic horse, craves attention but needs firm boundaries. “You have to be nice to him, but not too much,” she explained. “Otherwise he’ll try to walk all over you,” she laughed. Hooney d’Arville, on the other hand, needs reassurance. “She is sensitive and needs to know that everything is okay, that no one is mad at her.”
These bonds are most tested in high-stakes events such as the Olympic Games. When Origi or Hooney feel overwhelmed, Bettina is the one who calms them down. Her methods are simple but effective: playful tricks, fixed routines and, above all, consistency. “At home we create small habits that we repeat during shows so that they feel confident,” she says. One such routine? “I put a treat in my hand and let Origi guess where it is. It takes his mind off all the stress.”
Even the human half of the team benefits from Cardinael’s talent for lightening the mood. “Lara, Justine (a colleague) and I have this tradition before every event. As I hand her the horse, I say: ‘Mon sac est fait‘, my bag is packed. It’s our way of keeping things light and not taking ourselves too seriously.”
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