Géraldine Badan – from backstage to the center of the show

This interview is part of HorseGrooms’ ongoing groom interview series, featured throughout the Wellington season in partnership with Wellington International and Paper Horse.

Géraldine Badan was prepared for Saturday Night Lights to be exciting and nerve-wracking – but as a groom she did not expect to be in the center of the spotlight. Her rider and horse – Richard Vogel and Gangster Mondesir – had just won the CSI5* $500,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix at Wellington International.

“I was really surprised,” Géraldine  said. “Because all my friends were hugging and everything so I came in and they were saying come on, Gigi, you also have to go! I was like, me? No?”

Géraldine  grew up riding and competing in showjumping in Belgium. At 18, she had experience working with horses, in breeding and other facets of equestrianism, and had decided that what she really wanted to do was to be a groom. Last year, at age 23, she found out about a job with Richard – a German rider ranked 6th in the world – and she duly applied.

“I thought it would be great because it was to start in America. And I love to come over here,” she said. “And then I know that Richie is really competitive. And I am too. On paper, it’s a dream job.”

In November she arrived in California to take up the post and have her first introduction to Gangster, a new horse in Richard’s string and one with a notable personality. “He’s a bit grumpy,” she said “But then he is a Selle Francais so we say he has a French attitude. He complains, but at the end of the day, he will do it.” 

Gangster pays close attention to his surroundings. “With shadows or if the ground changes, he can be spooky,” she explained. “But sometimes that carefulness is an advantage.” It proved the right attitude for Saturday night’s course, which was delicate with clear rounds slow in coming. Richard and Ganster jumped towards the end of the field and Géraldine  felt helpless watching.

“I cannot really stand still,” she said. “I’m making a video, I’m almost jumping with him. I’m like, ‘Come on, go, go.’ As soon as we get to the ring, we have no control anymore. It’s stressful.” Despite a clear round, the night was far from over. “It’s only halfway done,” she said. “We had to wait for the jump off.”

Life at the barn is far less stressful and Géraldine , who shares eight horses with one other groom, tries to make sure the residents also feel at peace. Richard sometimes travels to other shows abroad and it is up to her to ride as well as look after the horses in her care.  “It depends on the horse,” she said as to what activities are planned. “If they come back from a show, we do a bit lighter. We really try to have them out as much as we can – field, arena, grass, trails. We try to keep them happy.”

The workload is intense with show days starting super early, and the regular routine seeing a 6.30/7am start as Richard’s horses compete in a mix of national and top-level international competition. “It’s a bit dizzy,” she said. “But you wake up in the morning and you’re like, ‘Come on, we have this to do.’ We’re all motivated, so it’s really fun.”

Hard work at home was rewarded at the show on Saturday Night and the theatrics of the occasion featuring the presentation of the check for the $500 Double H Grooms Award to Géraldine in front of the capacity crowd at the International Ring provided a welcome change in perspective. “It was nice to be in front of the scene,” she said. “Because we are always backstage.”

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