HorseGroom of the Month Stefanie Walchuk

Behind the Barn Doors: A Groom’s Journey to FEI Level Success. An interview with Stefanie Walchuk

How did your journey with horses begin?

I’ve been riding since I was six years old as my grandfather had trail horses - this eventually turned into taking lessons at a local riding school where I rode and competed through my junior years before going to college and selling my horses. 

Going to college, I knew that if I wanted to continue riding I would have to figure out a way to pay for it myself. So, during school I would work at the barn on weekends training school horses - from there I was offered a flag rider position at a barn in Calgary which is in Southern Alberta, Canada. This evolved into a manager position where we would go to California for the winters to stray away from the Canadian cold. I enjoyed my time in California so I ended up staying there for a few years.

After a while in California, I ended up taking another job where we went to Florida for the winter and I really liked it out there, so I decided to go east and develop my career from there. Currently, I am grooming for four time Olympic show jumper and winner of the 1984 World Cup Final, Mario Deslauriers. 

What does a typical day in the life look like for you working for Mario?

It depends a bit on whether we’re on the road showing or at home obviously - we currently have six horses and I have one girl that works with me regularly, as well as a small team at home that helps out on occasion. So I’m either on my own working when we’re on the road or I have two or three others helping out when we’re at the barn. 

Our days look pretty typical as one would imagine, we have a schedule for taking care of the horses and tasks like feeding and turnout are delegated out amongst the team. We all have a hand in taking care of the equines on the property. Showing looks a bit different as that’s where I take the reins for most of the care while we’re at shows just to ensure everything goes smoothly.

What’s your favorite part of the day working with the horses?

I honestly really love that we work in a routine - our program has a routine and our horses have their routines, and I love that I get to be a part of that. It allows me to have a good relationship with all of the horses individually, and that’s something that I really value. 

I also am really fortunate that we get to travel quite a lot, so I’ve been to places that I never imagined I’d get to go. Getting to watch all of the different shows that we go to and experience new things at each location - it reminds me of how fortunate I am to be where I am today.

If you could give your younger self any advice about being a groom, what would you say?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions! 

I was sort of thrown into being a groom as I was just flat out riding when I got offered my first position. So when I first started out, I knew nobody and nothing about being a professional groom. It didn’t help that I’m kind of a shy person, so I would get nervous to ask questions of others. 

It took a while for me to figure out the show life and to begin opening up to people in the community - once I broke out of my shell a bit, I was able to ask people for advice and learned so much more about being a groom. Stepping out of my comfort zone and talking to people I don’t know was one of the biggest learning curves, but it really helped me to connect with people who were more experienced so that I could learn from them.

What tip or trick do you do with the horses that you think others may not know about?

Keeping it simple is one of the most underrated things in the equestrian community - I think sometimes we over complicate things so going back to basics can do a lot of good. Not everything needs a magic trick or a special way of doing things, so taking things back a step and returning to basics can be very beneficial.  Sometimes, we get caught up in searching for quick fixes or special tricks, when in reality, the foundation often holds the answers we’re looking for.

What’s your favorite product from Corro that you would repurchase?

The Back On Track blankets are absolutely incredible - they’re really high quality and there’s a good range of sizes to fit all of our horses. They’ve got lighter sheets as well as heavier blankets so that you can pick the right blanket weight for whatever temperature it is at the time. I also love that they have neck pieces which are great for layering when it’s really cold, and for when the horses are clipped. 

Corro also has a great variety of fly sprays - I’ve tried out quite a few different brands of fly spray since there’s so many on the market. It’s nice to see that Corro carries so many different options so that people can decide which products work best for them. 

If you could pick one behind the scenes moment from your career that felt like a huge accomplishment, what would it be?

One of the biggest moments of my career has to be attending the Paris Olympics last summer - it’s an opportunity I could never have imagined being able to receive, and it was just an incredible experience. So much work goes on behind the scenes to be able to make it to the Olympics, and it was just an honor to be a part of Team Canada. 

I’d have to say another more recent highlight was our nine year old horse, S&L Quatro Van De Meerputhoeve who's also better known as Pete, won his first five star Grand Prix this summer. He’s such a talented horse, but there was definitely a learning curve to adjust to working with him because he gets so nervous. Seeing him come so far as to win his first five star performance is such a rewarding experience. 

What do you do on a daily basis to keep the job fun and engaging?

Everyone that works at the barn gets along great, so it’s pretty easy to keep the job fun. We love having music on while we work, and enjoy cracking jokes with each other - it’s just a great little community that we’ve created. Working with genuinely good people makes the job easier because it doesn’t feel so much like work, but more like having a good time with friends. 

How have HorseGrooms helped you and how are they helping the groom community?

The open forum where people can help each other answer questions as well as ask their own is such a helpful tool. Having a common resource where grooms can get second opinions or just seek out camaraderie is amazing. 

I also really like the informational videos - it’s nice to give other grooms an inside scoop on different topics so they know a bit more about what to expect. Seeing how other grooms do things can give you new insights and maybe ways to make your life easier that you never thought about. Overall, having an organization that not only provides resources for grooms, but also recognizes us as a big part of the team is just outstanding. 

Meet the Corro HorseGroom of the Month

At Corro, we know that behind every great horse is a dedicated groom. Many of us have worked as professional grooms ourselves, so we understand the skill, commitment, and passion it takes to care for horses at the highest level. That’s why we’ve partnered with HorseGrooms, the leading global platform for grooms, to recognize an outstanding professional each month.

Each Corro HorseGroom of the Month is selected from HorseGrooms Insiders, an exclusive membership for grooms looking to learn, grow, and connect with industry experts. Winners receive a $100 Corro gift card and are featured in this special interview, which we’re proud to share with the Corro community and on the HorseGrooms website.

Join us in celebrating this month’s honoree and their incredible contributions to horse care!

About HorseGrooms

HorseGrooms is a global platform dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for equine grooms from all levels and disciplines. HorseGrooms’ Insiders membership in the HorseGrooms Community offers exclusive Q&A sessions with top grooms, a supportive online community, discounts and perks especially for grooms, and valuable resources to help grooms succeed in their careers.

• Grooms: Become a HorseGrooms Insider and unlock all the benefits. Join Here

• Trainers, Riders & Barn Owners: Show your appreciation by gifting your groom an Insiders membership—a meaningful way to invest in their growth and expertise. Learn more here.

• Stable Owners & Managers: Support the mission of HorseGrooms by becoming a Stable Supporter and help to provide more resources for grooms across the industry. Learn more → Stable Supporter Program

Learn more about HorseGrooms at horsegrooms.com