Profile of Steph Simpson, Boyd Martin’s Barn Manager

[Texarkana]

@beowulf

In case it wasn’t clear, my post wasn’t a criticism of Steph or her choices. She is incredible. My post was directed towards exploitative pros in the industry, who are going to read that article and use Steph as the gold standard. The article insinuates that the Stephs of the world move the goal posts for other employees and I don’t think that is sustainable or fair in an industry where workers are exploited, work long hours for free or no pay, rarely have health benefits or competitive salaries, the list goes on… Having boots on the ground experience as a worker in multiple UL programs, it struck a chord. YMMV.

I’m grateful for my current job, though I feel absolutely insane to admit I miss the intensity of shows and sales/training. There is something about being in the fray that is very rewarding for some types.

I get what you are saying. Been there, done that.

Steph is worth her weight in gold. But it’s also a favorite American past-time to propagate the fallacy that hard work trumps all. I’m not saying this article is trying to do that, but it could be interpreted that way.

In 99% of situations, working 80+ hours a week does not mean that in a few years you too will be walking across the lawns of Versailles. Steph works very hard. With her skill, work ethic, and luck, she has made it to the biggest stages in the sport.

I feel like we (collectively) tend to negate the importance of luck and skill and focus chiefly on the hard work aspect… since in theory, anyone can work hard and you can always work a little harder. And gee, employers sure love to take advantage of that!

Signed,
A former groom with stars in her eyes who would have read this in my youth and decided I wasn’t working hard enough

*edited because I can’t do hourly math.

[dmveventer]

Right? The better question is who hasn’t been screamed at by the parking guy.

I volunteer a lot and while I absolutely agree we need to appreciate the people who donate their time to keep this sport running, there ARE rude volunteers out there. Luckily they’re the minority but I’ve worked with them as a fellow volunteer and encountered them as a rider and they can really kill the mood. You can be firm and impose order and make yourself heard in a crowd without being nasty. Volunteers are awesome but they don’t get a pass on basic courtesy any more than riders do.

[FrittSkritt]

I never said he verbally abused me, you’re putting words into my mouth. I have been on the receiving end of verbal abuse and rudeness from other BNRs.

Just read the Lauren Nicholson thread and you’ll get a glimpse of what sort of sh** that volunteers and officials deal with.

[ClassyJumper]

@axl

I wonder what this lady has been able to put away? When she’s still working 6 days/week and usually 12 hours?

This. When I read the article all I could think is… what does this look like in 10 years. Significant other, children, career, retirement, etc. When your in the trenches I think it’s so easy to let life pass you by until you wake up one day a realize you’ve spent your life supporting an empire that’s not yours.

But everyone is different I guess. I personally have never understood “career” grooms. Working students that want to become professionals, 100%. And as exploitative as those positions can be… I think working round the clock for a couple years in your 20s is less exploitive than requiring (or allowing) someone to give up decades of their personal life.

Articles about Max Corcoran always had a similar tone. Maybe it’s just a very specific personality that finds this life fulfilling? I just don’t get it.

[Knubbsy]

@ClassyJumper

This. When I read the article all I could think is… what does this look like in 10 years. Significant other, children, career, retirement, etc. When your in the trenches I think it’s so easy to let life pass you by until you wake up one day a realize you’ve spent your life supporting an empire that’s not yours.

But everyone is different I guess. I personally have never understood “career” grooms. Working students that want to become professionals, 100%. And as exploitative as those positions can be… I think working round the clock for a couple years in your 20s is less exploitive than requiring (or allowing) someone to give up decades of their personal life.

This is something my barn fam is dealing with. One of our “graduates” is now working for an UL rider and is realizing you can’t have it all. So many grooms don’t ride, or at least don’t compete regularly or don’t have their own personal horse. So many don’t have a big side hustle to build a financial cushion. So many don’t have retirement. And so on. If you want all those things, you need to be a trainer (with backing) or an ammie (in a decently paying career or an SO with a well paying career).

[nutmeg]

As a groom, I found that with housing provided and no time to blow your stash on shopping, partying or beauty products, you could stash away a decent amount. The risk was that sooner or later you’d fall in love with Black Beauty and offer to retire him and forget to get a trust fund to go with him. And then a friend for him. And then they both need Prascend. But I’m not bitter.

[CatchMeIfUCan]

I get Steph. But I’m a groom and never wanted any of the things that came with a “typical” life. Stories and experiences mean way more to me. Not everyone wants to be the name that everyone knows too, and Steph is like that. Most grooms like being behind the scenes. But she has mad respect in the “groom community” (and the larger horse world), and we have a tight knit crew. They mean more to me than any significant other ever has.

I make pretty good money too. I’m sure Steph makes more. It’s just slightly less than the national average annual salary and includes housing and bills. Good riders appreciate good grooms. The daily freelancing rate for someone of her caliber is $250+/day too. There are loads of opportunities in the horse world with a skill set like hers.

ETA: I’m a little “salty” about the “life passing you up” comment. Who else can say they have team apparel, represented their country, traveled the world, flown with horses, know the quirks of Olympians, and made lifelong friends, all in a days work? Life surely hasn’t passed me up - I throw monthly huge dinner parties for my friends, had a 40+ person thanksgiving, attend different area events multiple nights a week, walk 20,000 steps a day, and can party til the jog in the AM with my friends, amongst many other things. Just because you can’t imagine working hard and having fun, many, many of us can and do.

[nutmeg]

Doubling back to say, you nailed it. So well said.
ETA to add: Even better, Catch!

[MunchingonHay]

@ClassyJumper

Maybe it’s just a very specific personality that finds this life fulfilling? I just don’t get it.

I was one of those career grooms along with half a dozen others in a close knit/family environment. (all of our farms were close to each other in the winter) in the 2000’s for various four in hand CDE drivers. Most of us worked for “our” driver for several years to over a decade going and being the support/pit crew at world championships, and I also worked with an Olympic eventer who’s groom had been with her for years.

All of us put the horse first, the job first during out 20’s and into our 30’s. Some went on to be coaches, host clinics, others continue to be head trainers/barn managers for FEI level drivers. Personally, I don’t like attention, I don’t want to be the driver/rider; but I want my horses to win, be their best, look their best, have the best fitness, and their coats to shine so brightly that the judges need sunglasses to look at them.

We get to ride/drive. There are always young horses coming up and the owners sometimes are only in the barns on weekends or a few times during the week. I got to train with some of the top drivers in the world. “My horses” competed at 2 world championships. I was part of that team and no one can take that away from me and it was a wonderful experience. I was even selected as a groom for a team because of my experience by USEF.

I wish that more grooms got the kuddos that Steph gets. Pro grooms are the backbone of any team.

@CatchMeIfUCan

Who else can say they have team apparel, represented their country, traveled the world, flown with horses, know the quirks of Olympians, and made lifelong friends, all in a days work? Life surely hasn’t passed me up -

ME ME MEE!! I can! We have experience only an handfull of people will ever experience. We are cut from a different cloth.

[Highflyer1]

Looks like she rode Thomas in the Novice at NJ this weekend!

[MHM]

Wow, that’s great!!

[Texarkana]

@Highflyer1

Looks like she rode Thomas in the Novice at NJ this weekend!

Man, thanks for pointing that out. I would have hate to have had a horse in novice there this weekend. Not just because of Thomas- there were several retired 5* horses at the lower levels with owners, students, and other riders!

[GraceLikeRain]

@Texarkana

I would have hate to have had a horse in novice there this weekend. Not just because of Thomas- there were several retired 5* horses at the lower levels with owners, students, and other riders!

Hate to or been in awe of getting to be surrounded by such talented horses, guess it depends on your perspective. I’m sure hard if you’ve got intense competitive goals but I love when the seasoned horses get to teach the next generation or greener rider the ropes.

[Texarkana]

Hate is is strong word! I didn’t mean it literally.

But you don’t plan on running into an Olympic horse and several other advanced horses in your novice division!

[evtrmom]

Thrilled for Steph and she was also on her own horse in the same Open Novice division. There were Novice Rider divisions as well.

[before_color]

@FrittSkritt

One nitpick that will get me flamed by the Boyd fangirl group: I wish the editor had used better language around her self-deprecating comment about flying high at a 5* one weekend and “screamed at” by a parking volunteer at a local event the next. Insinuating that she’s being verbally abused by volunteers doesn’t sit well with my editorial brain.

I completely agree. Boyd frequently makes jabs at local horse trials, complaining about the footing or layout of the facility or the judging. I find that he’s biting the hand that feeds. Sure, nationals level competitions for a professional of his caliber are nothing more than box-ticker events (especially compared to a lower level ammy who maybe gets to do one or two of these a year). But he wouldn’t be able to get anywhere in this sport without these “rinky-dink” events” as he has stated more than once in his self-narrated YouTube videos.

[FitToBeTied]

@Highflyer1

Looks like she rode Thomas in the Novice at NJ this weekend!

I’ve stated that I ran my horses in the open divisions when I evented. That was my choice but I was expecting an active upper level horse would be in my division. I don’t have a problem with someone running a horse in the lower levels that has been retired from the upper levels. However, running a horse in the lower levels that is still active at the upper levels with a pro riding him, I think that is a bit unfair. Tsetserleg just ran a 4* a month ago with Boyd.

[Texarkana]

I think it’s awesome when upper level horses can step down and continue to compete in the lower levels.

But I don’t think anyone enters novice expecting or hoping they’ll be competing against upper level horses! Let alone multiple of them scattered throughout the ON and NR divisions. Thomas, Campground, Dutch Times, Dassett Olympus… Paddy the Caddy was in the TR division…

It’s very cool. But also a little bit like, “COME ON” when you’re on your green bean or low level packer.

[Larksmom]

I looked up the scores and she did well in the first two phases, but she rode very slowly xc. She finished way down the list. So she didn’t win. I am glad she got the chance to ride such a fabulous horse to learn on. And I obviously don’t mean ‘learn’, perhaps compete is a better word. she obviously knows how to ride but competing is a whole different animal.

[Larksmom]

but imagine how great you feel if you finish ahead of them!