Louise Nowak – Yard Manager and Groom
Some people have a clear plan from the beginning. Others simply follow what they love and build something from there. Louise was nominated for her hard work as both a yard manager and an expert groom and clipper, recognised for the time, skill and quiet dedication she brings to everything she does. She never had a fixed idea of what she wanted to be, but she always knew she loved horses, and that was enough to guide her. After leaving school, she chose to step straight into that world, working at a riding school and building her knowledge through experience rather than a traditional path. Over time, that choice has shaped a life centred around horses, managing a private event yard, running her own clipping and show prepping business, and continuing to ride whenever she can.
At the heart of it all is a horse called Ed. Given the opportunity to ride him after his career as an eventer, he became far more than just another horse. Over the past six years, he has become her partner, her confidence, and the one she trusts without question. After a difficult fall cross country, it was Ed who helped her find her way back. Not always easy, not always straightforward, but entirely hers. A horse with personality, with opinions, and with a presence that has shaped some of her most important memories.
She speaks about the kind of horses she is drawn to, the ones with a spark, a sense of character that can come through when it matters. Horses that might not suit everyone, but with the right connection offer something much deeper. Because when that trust is there, it changes everything. It creates a partnership where, even in uncertain moments, you know they are with you.
Spending time with Louise, what becomes clear is that her journey has been built on consistency rather than certainty, on showing up, learning as she goes, and allowing each experience, good or difficult, to shape her. She speaks simply about her advice, be patient. Because working with horses is not always easy, and it is not always enjoyable in every moment. But within that, there is always something to learn, from the horses and from the people you meet along the way, even when you do not realise it at the time.
And perhaps that is what sits at the centre of it all. Not having everything figured out, but knowing enough to keep going.
