Jennifer Wood Takes Pride In Making Sapphire Sparkle

The groom to one of the U.S. team's top horses shares her World Equestrian Games experiences.

When Jennifer Wood decided three years ago that she might like to try working as a groom in the United States, she had no idea that the whim would end up taking her all over the world. But in working for McLain Ward, she's taken care of his Olympic and World Equestrian Games mount, Sapphire, for the past two years.

Wood, 23, is originally from Warwickshire, England. She talks about her experiences at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, where Ward and Sapphire placed seventh individually and helped the U.S. team earn silver.

There, she joined Clark Schipley, who takes care of Authentic for Beezie Madden, Craig Pollard, who cares for Hidden Creek's Quervo Gold for Margie Engle and Katherine Walsh, who groomed Miss Independent for Laura Kraut. Pollard and Schipley are still with their horses, as longtime employees, while Walsh stayed in Europe and now works for Gerco Schr�der.

Molly Sorge: What made you decide to work for McLain Ward?
Jennifer Wood: I worked with horses in England, but I'd never been to America, and I wanted to go and see what it's like. A friend of a friend knew Barney [Ward's father] and set it up, and I just came over. I loved it right away. I came to see if I'd like it, and I've never left. It's totally different to anything I'd ever seen. It's so different from the show circuit in England.

Sorge: What was your horse experience in England?
Wood: Nothing like this. We used to buy horses from Ireland--4-, 5- and 6-year-olds--and bring them along a little bit and then sell them. It was kind of a shock to come here and realize I pretty much didn't know anything. The first year was quite a steep learning curve. I always had ponies growing up, and I grew up on a farm, but it was mostly pleasure riding. As I got older, it was something that I just wanted to carry on doing. And I think I got really lucky that I landed on my feet in the barn that I ended up in. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into.

Sorge: How long did you work for Ward before starting to take care of Sapphire?
Wood: After the first three months, I started taking care of her. It was very intimidating. It was a big responsibility.

Sorge: What's Sapphire like?
Wood: She's actually quite intimidating herself. She knows she's important in the barn. She thinks she owns the barn. She's quite pushy. She's quite big and strong and strong-willed, but now we get along and I absolutely love her. Once you bond with her, she's very loving.

Sorge: What's Sapphire's pet peeve?
Wood: She hates being ridden at dinnertime, or going to the ring at dinnertime. She thinks that's very unnecessary and rude. It really puts her out. As long as she has her dinner on time, she's fine. She's definitely a food hound.