24 SIDELINES DECEMBER 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
e
Martine Mendoza
Shines As An
International Groom
By Holly Hugo-Vidal
While his brothers and sisters were embarking on careers to
become doctors, lawyers and architects, Martine Mendoza’s
passion for horses made his decision to become a professional
groom an easy one! He had been in college for a year but
because his father passed away when Martine was very young,
college funds were scarce. His love of horses, however, made his
decision a happy one.
Martine began working with racehorses when he was 11-years-
old, spending many summers working at the track in Tijuana,
Mexico. As a result, he gained a tremendous amount of valuable
knowledge. “Mostly I learned about maintenance,” he declared,
with a smile on his face.
Martine was a real horseman at a young age, having dealt
with all kinds of soundness issues involving racehorses. Several
years later, Martine was offered a position in the States (his
reputation had spread via word of mouth) and he made a big
decision to leave Mexico and embark on a new career working
with show jumpers. He was 18-years-old and spoke very little
English, but he knew a lot about horses, so off he went.
His employer was Jerry Kilgallen, and Martine worked for him
for 10 years, including traveling with different grand prix horses
owned by the farm. Some of the riders included Schuyler Riley,
Debbie Stephens, Eddie Macken, Hap Hansen, Kyle King and
Tony Font. Martine worked diligently at home, quickly learning
what would be necessary to groom at national horse shows.
Soon, he found himself in Germany, Sweden, Belgium and
Malaysia. “It was the most exciting experience I had ever
had!” Martine exclaimed. “I had never seen anything like
these shows! It was terribly exciting for me!” Martine would
go on to alternate working one year in California and the next
in Europe.
Later, Martine went to work for Mandy Porter at Wild Turkey
Farm in Rancho Santa Fe, California. He took care of Mandy’s
grand prix jumpers for six-and-a-half years, again travelling to
shows in this country as well as internationally, flying with the
horses in his care. “It was tiring, but I was always so excited, I
never really thought about it. At the shows in Europe I was very
impressed how organized everything was! The show provided
lists for everything! All very organized. The same for Canada, very
organized!”
Martine now works at The Fairbanks Riding Club for Joanne
and Chance Arakelian in Rancho Santa Fe, California. At the
conclusion of this interview, I thanked Martine and told him that
Sidelines
was read throughout the United States. He said, “I feel
as excited as I did when I went to
my first show in Europe!”
Do you have a favorite horse?
La Vita, a gray stallion, and
Summer, a mare, both from Wild
Turkey Farm.
What is your best memory?
My best memory is from my
first big show that was in Aachen,
Germany because I had never
seen anything like that before!
Lights and stores and everything
so organized. It was an amazing
experience for me!
What has been your proudest
moment?
When the horse I was taking
care of, La Vita, ridden by Mandy
Porter, won the Budweiser Grand
Prix in 1999. That was in San
Juan Capistrano, California. I was
so proud to be taking care of that
mare!
Martine checking to make sure a horse is sound.
Photos by Holly Hugo-Vidal
Martine’s passion for horses led to his life as an international groom.
