A day as a groom with Josefine Carlsson
6 February 2026
She began dreaming of a life as a groom when she was just 12. Today, Josefine Carlsson is a key member of the team supporting national rider Amanda Landeblad. Josefine shares what everyday life as a groom is really like and explains why having a hoof pick in your pocket is an absolute must.
Header photo: @l.dphotographys
A typical day as a groom
Morning:
A typical day at home starts at 7 a.m. when all the horses are fed and then turned out into the paddocks. Once the horses are out, we begin the usual stable chores until 9 a.m. This includes mucking out, spreading bedding, filling water buckets, packing hay bags, putting afternoon feed in the boxes, and sweeping. At the same time, Amanda rides two horses, so I also help her tack up and prepare the horses before and after riding. At 9 a.m. we have breakfast together and plan if there is anything special that needs to be done during the day or week.
Late morning:
Before lunch, I continue helping Amanda prepare the horses. This means bringing them in from the paddocks, brushing, saddling, and turning them back out after the ride. We like to keep our horses outside as much as possible, so they are out all day except when being ridden. Some days there is jumping, and then I help on the arena by raising fences and, most importantly, filming! Sometimes I also ride a horse myself. Around 11 a.m., all the horses get extra hay in the paddocks, and by noon we are usually ready for our own lunch. By then, most of the horses that are being ridden are done for the morning.
Afternoon and evening:
In the afternoons, before the horses come in again, there is usually a bit of extra time. I use it to clean and polish everything we’ve used during the day, pack for competitions, or unpack and clean after a show. If it’s a week without competitions, there’s usually a horse that needs clipping. Or, as in most stables, there are rugs to wash, feed tubs and box walls to scrub, and hay bales to bring in, so time flies by. Around 3 p.m. we bring the horses in. Their hooves are cleaned, they are groomed and checked, and prepared for the evening. We also muck out all the paddocks daily and make sure there is water outside for the next day. Once all of this is done, it’s usually around 4 p.m., and we go home for the day. After that, the team takes turns doing the “night check” around 9 p.m., when all horses get their evening hay, water buckets are refilled, and everyone is checked to make sure they are comfortable for the night.
Josefine’s top three everyday tips for working with horses
Be present
“Put your phone away, take out your AirPods, and don’t talk on the phone. Just be there, right now. Give your full attention to the horses. They give us so much energy if we are simply present and ready to receive it. You learn an incredible amount just by paying attention and spending time with your horse.”Always carry a hoof pick
“If there is one thing I always have, it is a hoof pick. When you take the horse out of the box, after grooming following a ride, or when bringing them in from the paddock, it is essential.”Keep a journal
“It is very rewarding to write things down, both to put your own thoughts into words and, most importantly, to be able to look back. How did today’s training feel? What did I work on? How did it go? If I have changed the feed, write it down. After a few weeks, you can look back and see if it improved, got worse, or if something else needs adjusting. Record farrier days, vaccinations, vet visits, everything that happens. It is incredibly rewarding to track progress over time, especially for things that are easy to miss in the everyday routine.”
What is your favorite competition so far?
Working as a groom also means getting to experience some of the sport’s biggest moments. Josefine’s favorite competition so far is Aachen 2024 in Germany. “We were there for the Nations Cup with the Swedish team. We went clear in the first round, and it was absolutely incredible when the entire stadium of 40,000 people applauded as we crossed the finish line. Goosebumps!”
Three Favorite Pieces from Uhip
Everyday Hybrid Hoodie
“This is perfect for every day! You can wear it as a mid-layer under a winter jacket when it’s cold, or just on its own the rest of the year because it’s so stylish and comfortable. I have it in a couple of colors and I definitely want it in all of them!”Hailey Jacket
“We live in Sweden and spend countless hours outdoors. Who wants to be soaking wet? A really good rain jacket is worth its weight in gold! I use it just as much at competitions, with horse treats in the pockets, as I do at home when I take my dog for a walk.”Uhip Grooming Bag
“The perfect bag with all the small compartments that you can customize depending on what you need to carry. I use it all the time when traveling and at competitions because it’s so easy to pack and take with me.”