Often considered to be the sport’s ultimate challenge, the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping will once again be at the forefront of every rider’s ambitions for the year ahead. As with the Majors in sports such as tennis and golf, the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Majors are considered to be the most esteemed and celebrated competitions in the world, which require the highest level of skill from horse and rider. Such is the prestige of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping that it attracts the world’s best horse and rider combinations from across the globe, resulting in unmatched levels of competition.

The first Major of the year, The Dutch Masters, takes place over four days from 7–10 March. First staged in 1967, the Show will be the last Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Major to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the initiative after celebrations began at the CHIO Aachen 2023. Following his victory at the CHI Geneva in December, the young German Richard Vogel will make his debut in the main arena of the breathtaking Brabanthallen as the live contender of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping with the hopes of continuing his quest to become only the second rider in history to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

Often compared to The Championships, Wimbledon, in tennis, the CHIO Aachen provides a fitting stage for the finest levels of competition in the sport. Also known as the World Equestrian Festival, the show hosts five international equestrian disciplines, with the pinnacle of the 10-days of action coming on Sunday 7 July with the Rolex Grand Prix. On the hallowed ground of the Aachen-Soers arena, with 40,000 passionate equestrian fans in the stands, 40 of the world’s most talented horse and rider combinations will compete over three rounds with the hopes of etching their names onto the iconic winner's board.

The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Major calendar then makes the journey across the Atlantic Ocean to what is often considered to be the leading venue in North America – Spruce Meadows. The CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament (4–8 September) hosts one of the biggest Grand Prix in the world, the CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex where course designer Leopoldo Palacios is known to provide the ultimate test of bravery, precision, and scope. Last year’s competition was won in spectacular fashion by Rolex Testimonee Martin Fuchs with his talented partner, Leone Jei.

The CHI Geneva will conclude the 2024 Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping calendar year. From 11–15 December, the show will bring together an outstanding line-up of elite athletes to the beautiful city of Geneva. The show, held in the impressive Palexpo, is widely regarded to be the leading indoor Show Jumping venue. With a packed schedule of sport, the Rolex Grand Prix will provide a fitting conclusion to what is set to be yet another sensational year of Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping action. 

Could you introduce yourself and tell us about your job?

My name is Josefine and I have worked for Jessica Springsteen for the last eight years. In the beginning, I was based at her home yard and I rode a little bit, but for the past six years, I have travelled around the world with her and horses as her show groom. 

How did you begin your career in the industry?

Initially, I started riding when I was around five or six-years-old, and I fell in love with horses. When I was slightly older, I had a nice young horse that I competed with in Sweden. The owner of the stables where I kept my horse, used to compete regularly as well in the National Young Horse Championships, and I would go with her and groom for her. I soon realized that I really enjoyed grooming, and she was always very encouraging. She used to say that I was very good at it, and I remembered all of the important small details. 

I then went to visit a friend of mine, who at the time was working with horses in Switzerland. After only about two days, I knew it was what I wanted to do, so I asked if she knew anyone who needed help at their stables. That is when I got a job with Romain Duguet – I still had my horse but I managed to lease her out, and I packed my bags for Switzerland as a permanent move. I stayed in that job for about a year, before I went back to Sweden. I realized that what I really wanted to do was to become a show groom, and in Europe, so I felt a bit restricted without a horsebox license. But before I had even done my first HGV driving lesson, I got a job with Jessica, and that was over eight-years-ago now. 

If you could go back in time to the beginning of your career, what advice would you give yourself?

I would tell myself to listen to those who have more experience. What I love about this profession is that you are always learning new things. This is for two reasons – because the sport is evolving, as well as the fact that every single person has their own systems and techniques. I  say to ask more questions – that is how you learn. 

You often make the long journey across the Atlantic Ocean for competitions, how do you ensure that the horses are still fit for competition after the trip? Do you have any top advice for ensuring their welfare?

The key is to really know and understand your horse, this way you can notice the small signs that something might be wrong. The earlier you can see an issue, the more able you are to help them with whatever they need. It can be easier to spot this with your Championship horses as you spend so much time with them and you get to know their habits so well, so you can see the smallest changes in their behaviour and do something about it before it becomes an issue. 

Do you have any superstitions or a certain routine that you have to do at an important competition?

I think everyone has their own unique superstitions when it comes to the more important classes. No matter what I always tell my rider to have fun, and I give the horse a little pat. Of course, during the bigger classes, I do this quietly so I do not interrupt my rider’s concentration and focus – but I still do it. 

Could you tell us about the string of horses that you look after and some of their characteristics?

Our most special horse is Don Juan Van De Donkhoeve, Jessica’s Olympic Games horse. I have an incredible bond with him. You spend so much time alone with your Championship horses that you get to know them in a different way. As a groom, I think you always tell yourself you have a special bond with your horse, but I really think we do. For example, when I walk into the stable he will whinny for me but he doesn’t do that with a random person. He is very important to me – I am very emotional when it comes to him. He is a stallion, but he is the nicest stallion I have ever handled. 

I always video every class – I guess that is another superstition that I have – even if there is a live stream or if you can buy the videos. If someone else is recording, I don’t know what to do with my hands, I need to hold a phone. Whenever I film Don [Juan Van De Donkhoeve] I always seem to be giving my commentary of the round, telling him ‘You can do it!’ 

Hungry Heart is another of our top horses who is competing at the 5* level. He is 12-years-old, and has the biggest character in the stables. He is like a dog, you can play with him. I always joke that I think I could teach him to sit if I really tried. He is a very funny horse. We have a couple of other younger horses who are very exciting, I think the future is looking good. 

How do you ensure that they are able to peak at the most important moments during the year?

We try to work backward from a specific competition or goal to ensure that we have planned the best possible schedule for that individual horse. If we know that a horse jumps better during their second week of competition, then we will make sure that it competes two weeks in a row. 

As a groom, I try to keep their routines as much the same as when they are at home, as I think that the horse takes comfort from that. Of course, at the bigger competitions, you will use things such as massage blankets more but I try to keep it as simple as possible and let them be horses. 

Jessica had an incredible result in the Rolex Grand Prix at the CHI Geneva. How special was that for you as a team?

The CHI Geneva is such a special show. It is my favourite indoor show, and I would say that it is Jessica’s as well, probably most people in the industry would say this. To do so well in such a famous and prestigious Grand Prix was a dream and something that we had been really working towards. We did a couple of shows before going to the CHI Geneva, and he [Don Juan Van De Donkhoeve] was in really good form. I think we put quite a lot of pressure on ourselves because of this, but to finish our 2023 and European season with that result was incredible. Last time we were at the CHI Geneva, we had one small mistake in the Rolex Grand Prix, and so this year felt like a redemption. 

The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping is celebrating its 10-year anniversary, how big an impact do you think it has had on the sport?

It has had such an incredible impact on the sport. It is the one thing that every rider aims for. Of course to win a Major and to become the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping live contender is amazing, but I think it is a huge privilege for riders to even be competing at these shows – they are the most prestigious in the world. To compete or even just be at a venue such as the CHIO Aachen or The Dutch Masters is incredibly special. 

How important do you think sporting Majors, such as the CHIO Aachen, or The Championships, Wimbledon are in sport?

I think it really increases the levels of visibility of the sports. It is always great to watch the highest level of sport, and this is what the sporting Majors provide. They provide a chance to win something beyond the normal competitions, such as the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. I think that even a non-equestrian fan would find this exciting to watch. 

Last year you launched your own company Yeehaw to connect grooms and riders. What was the inspiration behind this? 

There were a couple of things that inspired me to start the business. One reason was that I did, and still do, get a lot of people asking about good staff and good jobs. There are so many good grooms and employers out there but it is hard to match them together. 

I wanted to create a platform where everyone would be able to see the opportunities available. It is not a hard industry to get into because there are so many jobs, but what is hard is finding the right place. If you do not know the right people, then there was not really an official place where you could look for a job.

I wanted to provide a place where new grooms or riders could find each other. Another goal is to try and raise the industry standards for grooms – to ensure that their working conditions are improved. I think that having a good grooming job makes you want to do it forever. But if in your first job you are not treated well then it can very quickly kill your interest in continuing in the business, even if you are very good at it. I just want to make sure that people get the best jobs because to me this is the best career you can have. 

If you could pass one thing on to an aspiring groom, what would it be?

I would give them the same advice that I would tell my younger self – to learn from and listen to the more experienced grooms. I would also say do not be afraid. A lot of people are comfortable about where they are working, but they are not as happy as they could be. Of course, it is scary to try something new and to make a big change in your life, but it is so important to find the right place for you. You also have to love horses – as a groom, you have to work such long hours and there is a lot of travelling – but if you love horses it is the best job in the world.

Brothers Joseph and Mark Stockdale are both up and coming stars of their respective sports – Joseph in show jumping and Mark in golf.

They have incredible sporting heritage with their late father, Tim Stockdale, representing Great Britain at the 2008 Olympics in show jumping.

Please could you both introduce yourselves and quickly tell us a little bit about your career so far

[Joseph Stockdale]: I'm Joseph Stockdale. I'm 24-years-old from Northampton and I am an international show jumper. In 2022, I was part of the British team that won a bronze medal at the FEI World Championships in Herning, and I hope to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games this summer. 

[Mark Stockdale]: My name is Mark Stockdale. I'm 19-years-old, also from Northamptonshire. I'm currently on the men's golf team at the University of Central Arkansas, as well as in the England Men's golf team. I aspire to be a professional golfer, and I am currently ranked 320th in the world.  

What do you think you have learned from your respective sports – what are the similarities and differences? 

[Joseph Stockdale]: I think the similarities are that it can be very frustrating. Mark has ridden and I have also enjoyed playing golf. Especially at the top level of sport, it is extremely difficult. With the horses you have so many ups and downs – it is a real roller coaster. From my amateur perspective in golf, it is a mentally frustrating game and you are battling against yourself. In show jumping, we are almost lucky that we have other factors to contend with, for example, the horse. Golf is a very individual game and there is only really yourself to blame. So, I think mental strength is one of the most important things that you can learn from both of the two sports.

[Mark Stockdale]: I would agree with that. I would say staying patient and trusting in the work you put in. These things take time and you have to have plenty of resilience to get there. The sports are very different, but very similar at the same time. You have to be very patient. You are not going to be the best in the world overnight, you have to keep going day by day. 

[Joseph Stockdale]: I think the core value of any sort of top-level sport is that it is not necessarily about what you do or the outcome, but the mental side of it and the perspective you have from a performance. I think you can compare this even though they are two completely different sports.  

Do you think that the relationship between a caddy and a golfer could be comparable to a groom and a rider?

[Mark Stockdale]:  I think it's definitely got some very similar factors. The trust is going to be there. For Joe, he has to trust Charlotte [his show groom] to make sure the horses are as well prepared as possible and on top form to compete. I have got to have that trust with my caddy that we are both going out there with a certain mindset and goal. When we are talking about certain aspects of the round we have to be on the same wavelength, we cannot be arguing with each other. But at the end of the day when Joe enters the ring or I am hitting the shot, the groom or the caddy are out of the equation, they have done their part and it is down to the individual to go and perform in the moment.

[Joseph Stockdale]: I think there is a large similarity between the two. Like Mark said it is all about trust. It takes such a weight off your mind when you know that you have someone behind you that you can trust to get you to where you need to be. It is so important to have someone to be able to bounce ideas off – so with Mark with his caddy, he can ask: ‘What do you think about this shot?’, and even if the caddy just says that is a great idea, it gives you that extra bit of confidence. For me, when I am in the warm-up with Charlotte, and ask: ‘How did he jump that last vertical’, and she says it was perfect. Even if it is just a mental thing for us, it gives you that next bit of confidence to trust your process and what you are already doing. It helps with your mental strength and gives you an extra layer of confidence and backing before you go in the ring or you take that shot on the course.  

Can you tell us about your team, and how important they are in your success? 

[Joseph Stockdale]: I have a great team behind me. My team spans a huge amount of people, it is not just the people working on the yard every single day, but it is the vets, farriers, physiotherapists, and many more. When you think of how wide my team spreads, there are a lot of people who help make it all happen. I have recently been reading a lot of sports psychology books, and reading about cyclists when they talk about making everything 1% better. Your team can escalate you so much – if you improve yourself by 1% in every area it makes a huge difference overall. That is certainly what we are aiming for, making everyone push to be that 1% better. I must say that the team and the people around me are incredible – they put 110% in their work every day and I cannot thank them enough. I would not be where I am today without them.

[Mark Stockdale]: I would say the same thing. I would not be in the position I am today without them, whether is it family members or anyone else. For me, being in golf is a sport which as a family we did not have any prior knowledge about, and so everything we do, we do it together and it is a constant learning phase. There have been plenty of hardships that you need to be able to talk about and learn from, so that has been a big part. I also have incredible support from the university, for example, today I am meeting with my trainers so that I am in peak physical condition to go and play. England Golf is also helping me play in the best tournaments and compete at the highest level possible. Even looking at the manufacturers of my golf clubs, there is a long list of people who without them, I would not be position that I am. 

Can you explain how important Majors, such as CHIO Aachen in show jumping, and The Masters in golf are to not only your respective sports but to their external image 

[Joseph Stockdale]: Within the sports, those are the events to go to. For show jumpers, when we speak about going to a Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Major such as the CHIO Aachen or The Dutch Masters, we speak about them as the best in world – they are massive and spectacular events.

I think that the greatest example is that if I am speaking with any of my non-equestrian friends I can list the names of different shows, they do not understand, but when I say that I am going to a Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Major, they immediately have an understanding and level of respect. That is the legacy that Rolex has around those shows. 

For us riders, they are the biggest of the biggest shows, they have the best prize money and they are the ones that everyone wants to win. They are where you get the top-level sport. 

[Mark Stockdale]: It is the same in golf, people hear The Masters and they understand the prestige and history around it. They would know people that have won the tournament even if they are not a golfer themselves and they would know about the ‘Green Jacket’. I think the Majors bring together people who maybe aren’t usually interested in the sport – they can see the prestige, and I think that is incredibly important to the sport. 

The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping provides the opportunity for young riders to compete. How important is providing the next generation with the opportunity to compete amongst the best in the world 

[Joseph Stockdale]: I think it is what helps you step up to the next level. Just jumping at the normal 5* shows, the fields of riders just aren’t as strong as what you get at the Rolex Grand Slam Majors, the fences aren’t quite as big, and the courses aren’t as technical. So as a young rider, when you go to Major for the first time and it is quite a shock to the system. 

I think you do most of your learning when you are slightly out of your comfort zone. The first time I went to the CHI Geneva, I loved it – it was an incredible experience. You are there with the best in the world, there is not one top rider who is not there, they all have their best horses and are all there to win it. The jump-offs that you get in the classes are sensational – you just do not get that at the other shows. You might see one person do an incredible round in a month of shows, but at the Rolex Grand Prix at the CHI Geneva in 2022 we saw five riders one after another going as fast as they could, and every rider you watched you thought that they could not be beaten, and then they were. It was the best of the best sport, not only for the spectators but as a learning experience for me. I learned so much from that experience. To have that opportunity as a young rider has been so valuable, and so it is a credit to the Majors to provide that chance for young riders. I am not sure where I would be if I did not have those opportunities – they really elevated my game so much.  

Having grown up in an equestrian family, what led you to your passion for golf, and do you think you take any lessons from your upbringing around horses into your golfing career?

[Mark Stockdale]: I just started playing golf as a casual thing. My mum and dad played, and Joe had lessons alongside them , so they would go and play my dad was back from shows. I wanted to learn so that I could spend time with them – I had a few lessons and immediately the competitive side kicked in. I had to practice to try to be better than them and beat them. I picked it up quite quickly and started to play in some tournaments and just fell in love with the process of practicing and improving. It is one of those sports that is so frustrating – you think you have it and then you go out the next day and you have lost it. The endless pursuit of getting better is what I really love. 

From my family, I learned you cannot take a day off. You have to ride every day, you cannot just leave a horse in the stable you have to constantly work. When my dad and Joe would ride, I would go off and practice and focus on my craft. That is the main thing I learned, but you have to have a lot of resilience. You are going to have hard times, but if you stay focused on the same goal and keep working every day you will get there. 

You come from an incredible sporting heritage, with your father competing at the Olympics. What lessons did you learn from him?

[Mark Stockdale]: I have learned so much from him. I think about the stuff he taught me on a daily basis. Even as simple as how he interacted and treated people – whether it was kids asking for autographs or the way he had a conversation with people. When he was at shows he walked around and everyone knew him, and he knew everyone’s names. What I learned is that you have to build relationships with people to earn their respect. He was so dedicated and so hardworking, and to me, that is just the base standard of how you have to be. You have to be 100% dedicated to what you want to do, do not take no for an answer for things, and really fight for it. 

[Joseph Stockdale]: I agree with Mark. He was so resilient and stubborn. If it was not going right or he was not winning, he wouldn’t ever back off, he would put more into it. He was always working his hardest and trying to find a way to get back to winning. He was so determined, if it was not working he was going to make it work, and he was going to find a way to get it over the line to get the result that he wanted. Even if we half have the idea that we might want to quit we always have his voice in the back of our minds saying: ‘You have to keep going and keep trying to find a way’. He is a great motivation to the two of us. 

If you could win one of the sporting Majors, which one would it be and why?

[Joseph Stockdale]: In my own sport I would love to win the Rolex Grand Prix at the CHIO Aachen. It is such a special Grand Prix, with multiple rounds, and everyone talks about how big and difficult it is. The CHIO Aachen has such an incredible grass arena with so much amazing heritage to it – it would be a dream to win there. In golf, I would have to say The Masters. To win the ‘Green Jacket’ and play the course at Augusta would be phenomenal. 

[Mark Stockdale]: I would also have to say The Masters. In golf, it is the closest thing to perfection, velvet green fairways cut to perfection. In a non-perfect sport, it is the closest thing, and the image around it is unbelievable. When you see the players putting on the ‘Green Jacket’ at the end of it is what the image of golf for me growing up was.