Overall, a groom works closely with the yard manager or owner to help organise the daily running of the yard and care of the horses. They will be expected to work both alone and as part of a team, using good leadership skills to set a high standard to those less experienced. When working independently, or whilst in charge of other staff members, they must demonstrate strong organisational abilities and be able to take accountability if anything goes wrong.

Furthermore, a groom will priorities stringent health and safety, plus safeguarding on the yard. Responsibly will be taken for maintaining a clean and tidy work environment, whilst implementing a strict routine to enable the yard to run efficiently and prevent obligatory jobs from being forgotten. They must also recognise, and take reasonable or appropriate care of other worker's abilities and limitations.

A positive attitude and good interpersonal skills are key attributes for a groom. All communications with staff, clients or children should be polite and professional at all times; any instructions or information given should be clear, concise, age related and appropriate to skill level. Additionally, they should be able to easily converse with veterinarians, farriers, or therapists.

It is the responsibility of the groom to continually monitor the health and condition of all equines under their care. They must be able to identify any problems immediately, either physical or mental, and take direct action to prevent any undue suffering or further complications arising. Depending on the issue, this may be in the form of home treatment or getting veterinary attention.

In addition to above, frequent checks should also be made to the equine's overall wellbeing. This may include: ensuring their bodyweight remains correct, they are wearing suitable rugs for the weather conditions, their tack and rugs are clean and not causing rubs, or they are wearing the correct protective equipment (such as boots) whilst being ridden or in the field. Their general happiness should also be monitored, if any equine is becoming stressed or despondent in their routine, then they should make immediate adaptions to their lifestyle. Furthermore, all other yard animals must be appropriately cared for.

Examples of duties carried out by a groom:

Whilst the main tasks carried out by a groom are similar, the type of work may vary due to the numerous career pathways to choose from. These may include, but are not limited to, working on a competition, showing, or racing yard, a riding school, trekking centre, or veterinary centre. Many groom are also expected to ride or lunge the equines in their care.

General duties:

• Preparing feeds, adding medicines or supplements to equine's food.
• Feeding, haying and providing water for equines.
• Mucking/skipping out, bedding down, sweeping the yard.
• Keeping allocated areas tidy such as the feed room, tack room and storage areas.
• Keeping the yard tidy and safe in line with health and safety regulations.
• Tack cleaning.
• Turning out or bringing in from the field/caring for equines living out in the field.
• Putting on and removing rugs as appropriate.
• Tacking up and untacking equines.
• Grooming/applying bandaging.
• Caring for equines after being exercised or lunged.
• Handling equines for the veterinarian, farrier or therapist.

Maintaining a safe field environment for all equines:

• Removing droppings.
• Daily checks of the water, fencing, and land for poisonous plants.
• Ensure there is enough grazing and the correct amount of land for all the equines.
• Allocate equines to specific fields. Where possible, keeping friends together to prevent unnecessary fighting.

Managing the stable yard and environment:

• Coordinate the daily routine, allocating all tasks fairly and equally.
• Keep health records of all equines, including: vaccinations, de-worming and shoeing.
• Plan a suitable de-worming programme.
• Organise regular farriery visits.
• Keep all vaccinations up-to-date.
• Ensure health and safety, plus safeguarding is upheld at all times.
• Maintain a safe, clean and tidy work environment.
• Monitoring and training staff with less experience.
• Monitoring feed/hay quantity and either order or passing the information on to the manager or owner when low in stock.
• Organisation of rugs, including: washing, repairing, storing, name tagging them to the appropriate horse.
• Care for any stored equipment.
• Monitoring visitors and clients around the horses, and ensuring they do not enter prohibited areas of the yard.
• Place equines with behavioural issues (such as biting over the door) away from public access. Place a "do not touch" sign on the door.

Monitoring the continual health and well-being of equines:

• Treat all equines as individuals.
• Place equines in a stable which is appropriate for them to be happy and comfortable in.
• Provide suitable turn out for all equines.
• Monitor the weight of all horses and ponies to prevent health issues. Alter their diet accordingly.
• Provide a diet which is correct to the equines: weight, workload and age.
• Provide supplements or medications where necessary.
• Call the vet when necessary.
• Follow veterinary advice on caring for sick or injured equines.
• Treat wounds, including bandaging and changing dressings.
• Care for and rehabilitate injured or sick equines.
• Monitor the workload of equines and feed accordingly. This may be in combination with the rider.

Preparing the equine:

• Fit the correct tack for the rider.
• Prepare the equine for a competition or show. This may include: bathing, plaiting up, trimming.
• Preparing the equine for travelling.
• Load and unload equines from a trailer or horsebox.
• Prepared the box for travelling. This may include: loading the correct tack, first aid kit, rugs, food, hay, water etc.
• Grooms will sometimes lunge, exercise or school the horses.

Other duties (depending on the type of groom):

• Competition grooms: Attending competitions, tasks may include: tacking up and untacking, ensure the equine is correctly turned out. Maintain the horse's health through correct warm up and cool down, checking for injury after travelling or the competition.
• Working in the public sector (riding school, trekking centre etc): ensuring all activities remain on time, tacking up and untacking for lessons, welcoming clients, lead riders on the horses.
• Veterinary groom: follow instructions from vets and vet nurses to care for sick or injured animals.