Page 37 - The Hunt - Summer 2024

Basically, says Corcoran, a groom is a nanny. “You feed and groom the horse,” she says. “When the rider appears, the horse should be ready to go.”
In a large stable, a groom may be partially responsible for four to six horses. “You take care of all the equipment; you have to be ready when the vet comes,” Corcoran says. “After a competition, you check shoes, groom the horse, water, feed, check for soreness, be sure the animal is getting enough sleep. Some grooms will also be asked to exercise a horse.”
Hunter Holm and Grace Harris come from widely divergent backgrounds. Holm is a local, having grown up in Cochranville in a family of horse people. His mother worked with the Neilsons, steeplechase icons in this region and beyond. “I started riding almost as soon as I learned to walk,” says Holm. “I started racing horses when I was in high school and also began work as an exercise rider. But I wanted to do more.”
When it’s time to compete, Holm knows how to read a horse and act accordingly. “When Withoutmoreado won the Maryland Cup last spring, Hunter stood outside the stalls and grazed him for four hours before his ride,” says Neilson, noting that this kept the horse calm before the race.
Neilson may have as many as 15 horses in training for various owners, and that keeps Holm quite busy. Despite the workload, he graduated in 2022 with a degree in biology from York College in New York and may eventually go on to graduate school. He also finds time to ride his own horse in point-to-point races. “You get up earlier in the morning,” he laughs.
Some grooms see the job as a stepping stone to training or ownership—but certainly not all. “I wasn’t a good enough rider, and I didn’t have the financial resources to be a trainer,” says Corcoran. “I love working around horses.”
Holm can’t see himself as a big-time trainer, but he wants to be part of the industry. “It’s really easy making connections,” he says “The horse world is super-close.”
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