About the Author

Cat Hill grew up in upstate New York on a working farm. Her first clear memory is of the day her parents got her a pony for her fifth birthday. She grew up on that pony, who was followed by a series of Arabian show horses. In college, she started riding show hunters through the Intercollegiate Horse Show Team at the University of Geneseo. After receiving her degree, she followed her love of horses to Ireland. Upon returning to the States, Cat spent time as a working student for a top Grand Prix Dressage Rider, a winter working the Winter Equestrian Festival for a Grand Prix Showjumping rider, and moved on to manage a AA Hunter barn. More recently she began freelancing as a groom in every discipline. Throughout the years she has worked at almost every type of competition, from the local fair to the Pan American Games. Emma Ford originated from North Devon England and was brought up in the hunt field with her dad as Master of the Foxhounds. Emma was raised surrounded by horses. She grew up in the Pony Club system, receiving her "B" designation and culminating with jumping at the Horse of the Year Show in 1991. After completing her BS at the University of Wales she moved to the United States to follow her passion with horses. She has groomed at almost every four-star event in the world, and has been a member of the U.S. Eventing Team at multiple Olympic, World, and Pan American Games. Throughout the years, in addition to eventing, Emma has had the opportunity to turn horses out at many upper level show-jumping competitions including the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington Florida as well as work for a promising young dressage rider at many upper level dressage shows. Jessica Dailey is the owner of Jess Lynn Photography, located in the picturesque Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York. Her work includes commercial, event, landscape, and portrait photography.

Reviews

It's all there in one spiral-bound book, making it a great resource for experienced horsemen and novices alike, and it should be considered required reading for those looking into working student or groom positions. ... Whether you're looking for instructions on how to do hunter braids, wrap a leg properly, or adjust a figure-eight noseband, you can be sure Ford and Hill have done it thousands of times, and they're eager to share their knowledge.

What a wonderful book! What the authors have done here is absolutely tops. It doesn't matter your discipline--eventing, dressage, hunters, jumpers, or even Western--you'll find invaluable information here. And there's something to learn whatever your level--novice, professional, or anywhere in between. World-Class Grooming for Horses is so needed--it is the only book out there like it. Anyone can benefit from it, and I highly recommend it.
*Jeff Cook, hunter/jumper trainer*

I so enjoyed reading such a thoroughly detailed book on the grooming and care of the valuable show horse. This book truly explains how one demonstrates impeccable horsemanship!
*Lisa Wilcox, former US Dressage Team member (2002-2004) and 2003 European Championships Individual Silver medalist*

In World-Class Grooming for Horses, we learn techniques for wrapping legs, bandaging tails, adding quarter marks, and polishing the metal on our bridles. But we also meet two conscientious and supremely motivated horse people who put the needs of the horse first in their own work, and do their best to show us how to do the same.
*Silva Martin, US Dressage Team member*

This guide to daily care and competition, with more than 1,200 photos, is enlivened by the authors' anecdotes, pro tips, and 'barn gossip' sidebars.