Heritage Farm put their stamp on the first Grooms’ Class at WEF

The first Grooms’ Class of the Winter Equestrian Festival [WEF] 2025 – with $6,000 in prize money on offer – saw a record number of entries and a majority of ribbons for Heritage Farm grooms.

It’s about the pride not the money for winning Hunter Groom Luis Mandajano. Photo: Wellington International/Cassidy Klein

Forty-two grooms and their well turned out horses, in full tack, lined up for the judges – complete with backpacks and all the equipment and extra items they would choose to bring with a horse ready to show. Emily Williams judged the Hunters and selected Heritage’s Farm’s Luis Mandujano with Lexi Maounis’ Forsini as the winner. “I was surprised,” Luis said. “But I am super happy.”

Emily raced over from showing in the 1m40 in Denemethy, to make it to Ring 10 in time for the Grooms’ Class. “I was pretty honored that they asked me to judge this,” she said. “I came running over because I really wanted to do it and it was tough you know because between the top six it really could have gone almost any way. So then we had to really get down to little details.”

Ladislao Lara was feeling pretty confident going into the Grooms’ Class and he was rigth to, winning the Jumper division. Photo: Wellington International/Cassidy Klein

Grooms’ classes at WEF have grown steadily in popularity with the aim of giving recognition to those whose work behind the scenes is essential to the success inside the ring. Hunter rider and trainer, Emily, who won WEF week four’s $25,000 USHJA 2* International Hunter Derby, understands the importance of a good team of grooms. She enticed Remiglio Padilla out of retirement to join her Hunter barn this winter – and he works with a team of three others, none of whom could compete this time because of the conflict of interest. “I wanted my guys to be able to come and do this but I didn’t really think it was fair if I was judging,” she said.

Luis was one of eight Heritage Farm’s grooms to finish in the top eight – five in the Hunter group and three in the Jumpers. Heritage could claim a Trifecta with their Hunter Grooms as Carlos Mares and Darjeeling came second and Roland Hernandez with Moonshine took third place – both horses owned by Hallowell Lane Farm LLC and showing with Heritage Farm.

Luis’ counterpart winner in the Jumper category – selected by Jimmy Torano and – was also his stablemate Ladislao Lara with Grace Lowe’s Kilbrackan Blue Jay.

The devil is in the details for the grooms’ class. Photo: Wellington International/Cassidy Klein

Ladislao said he was fairly confident going into the competition even though he only started working with horses three years ago, when he joined Heritage Farm. “I learned very quickly,” he said. “And I learned everything here at Heritage.” Like many of the grooms Ladislao had spent most of the day preparing the horse for the contest – paying attention to every detail while giving baths, cleaning tack, polishing lead shanks and in Ladislao’s case braiding the Jumper himself. He chose to show Kilbrackan Blue Jay for a reason. “This is the horse that I spend most time with and I trust him,” he said.

Details proved to be the difference for the judges, and the fact that one groom was marked down due to what Emily described as “the tiniest shaving in the top of the tail” speaks to the high standard of the competition. Another contender for the title lost out due to the tightness of the girth. “That [horse and groom] is probably used to winning,” she said. “But the girth was super tight. I understand the concept of having a tight girth if your rider is getting on but for me as a rider I want my horse to be comfortable until I’m ready to get on.”

The halter gave Luis the edge. – pictured here with judge Emily Williams. Photo: Sarah Eakin

Other critiques included horses’ feet that had not been freshly painted and grooms who had their shirts untucked. Emily provided feedback to the riders in her top eight and would have liked the chance to give more information after the class to those who entered – reminding them that they are judged on the overall presentation of themselves as well as the horse. “I would have loved to let them know that a tank top is not really acceptable,” she said.”You want to look professional.”

Some grooms impressed with their use of creative thinking including sunscreen, a KIND bar and water for their riders in their backpacks. Luis stood out as the only groom to bring a halter with him. “You never know if you might need to tie the horse up,” he said. He has been a groom since he arrived from Mexico six years ago. Unlike Ladislao, he was surprised to win. He received a check for $990 but that was not his main reward. “I am so happy,” said Luis. “It is not about the money. I am just really proud and happy for the horse.”

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