Nominations for the Fédération Equestre Internationale’s (FEI) Best Groom Award are now open.

Alice Gaillard, the 2011 winner of the award, believes there are many grooms who deserve to be nominated for their work behind the scenes and have the chance to enjoy what she remembers as "a dream experience" at the FEI Awards ceremony, which will this year take place in Istanbul, Turkey.

The now 76-year-old Gaillard has groomed at the French Equestrian Federation-accredited centre L’Etrier de Bourgogne in Dijon for five decades, an activity that, for many years, she juggled with her job as a mechanic at a mustard factory. Her reputed gift with horses led her to work for eventing rider Marie-Christine Duroy at the Olympic Games in 1988, 1992, and 1996, as well as for eventer Jean Teulère at the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2002.

"I didn’t know that people could win awards for doing what they love," said Gaillard, who was incredulous when she was informed she had won. "Owners and riders should show they realize that their grooms willingly make sacrifices out of their love for horses and nominate them for the FEI Best Groom Award