Edvin Soto and the Gentle Giant ‘Hero’

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

Edvin Soto was just 15 when he asked if he could work part-time – after school – at McLain Ward’s Castle Hill Farm in Brewster, NY. His family was connected to the Grand Prix rider and Edvin had grown up watching and learning about horsemanship. He knew he wanted to be more than an observer.

“I’ve been around there for a while, and that’s how I decided that I wanted to work for him,” Edvin said. “One day I was speaking to him and asked if I could work with the horses and he said yes.” After leaving school Edvin took his grooming to the next level. “That’s when I started full-time and when I knew I was ready to take a big step.”

Now he is 27 and has two of the most important horses in the barn under his care – Snapchat Van de Broekkant Z and Saturday Night Lights’ winner in Winter Equestrian Festival week 7, High Star Hero. His ascendancy through one of the leading show jumping operations in the world, came with help from Ward’s Manager Lee McKeever and his wife, Erica. “I’m very, very thankful to Lee and Erica, for everything that they have taught me,” he said.

Edvin knew of High Star Hero before he joined McLain’s stable some 17 months ago. Australian Grand Prix rider Thaisa Erwin, campaigned the horse in its formative years for owner Michael Smith – a longstanding supporter of McLain – and Edvin had watched from afar. “Of course I saw videos of him when he was jumping with Thaisa,” he said. “He looked amazing. When he came to our farm I was like, oh, it’s Hero! It’s him.”

Hero is imposing in stature but kind in nature. Edvin was drawn to the 13-year old Belgian Sport Horse gelding when he first arrived at the barn. He asked if he could take care of the horse, and was duly appointed as his groom. “It just felt like a connection between him and me,” he said. “We’re very good friends now. He has the coolest personality – I would call him a gentle giant. He doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. It’s nice to deal with him and he likes to have people around.”

One of those people is his owner. “He really loves Mike Smith,” said Edvin. “He always comes to the farm and talks to Hero, gives him treats and Hero loves him.”

Michael is invariably ringside when his horses compete and was one of a team of supporters for High Star Hero and McLain. Edvin was helped behind the scenes by Lee and Craig Pollard and fellow groom, Ohla Kruglova for the CSI5* $500,000 Modon Grand Prix. McLain and Hero put the first clear round on the board, answering Edvin’s prayers. “I was talking to the horse. I really wanted everything to go well and thank God it did.”

The jump off brought its own degree of anxiety. “I was very excited that he got in the jump off, yes,” said Edvin. “But at the same time I was nervous because we were first in the jump off and some of the other riders came very close to going in front of us. I was just closing my eyes and praying that we had the win.”

Victory in the bag, Edvin found out that he was expected in the arena to collect the $500 Double H Grooms Award. He had already been given acknowledgement for his contribution to the win by McLain. “He congratulated me for all the good work I have done with Hero. He shook my hand and said thank you to me for the great job I’ve been doing.”

When asked what he would do with his prize money, Edvin’s answer reflected the team behind the triumph. “I was planning on taking my co-workers to dinner…because we all do this together, it’s not just me, we’re like a whole team,” he said.

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