FIFTEEN MINUTES WITH RICHARD DAVISON

Relaxing with Snap and Crackle.

Richard Davison lives
with his wife Gillian and
their two boys, Tom
(19) and Joe (16) in the
heart of the country,
namely Uttoxeter,
Staffordshire. Both
boys are avid
showjumpers and, like
Richard, are sponsored
by easibed. Tom
has just started at
Manchester University
while Joe is doing A
levels, and like most
horse fanatics, would
like to combine their
careers with horses
– Tom has ideas of
property while Joe is
interested in becoming
a chiropractor and
eventually treating
horses.
Sue Porter persuaded
Richard to answer
some ‘up close &
personal questions’.

A Family Man
74 | England’s Equestrian December/January 2008

S
ue Porter: Do any other family
members ride?
Richard Davison: My late
father rode as did my mother
as a child. Gillian rides and her parents
rode and hunted, raced and team-chased.
Gillian is brilliant. She rides all the young
horses while they are going through the
loop the loop phase! She teaches, trains
them all the grand prix stuff then I just
hop on!!
SP: Academic Qualifications and
alternative career idea?
RD: Best not discuss qualifications – too
busy riding (don’t let the boys know).
I would have liked to go to university
though as I’m interested in the legal and
business side of things.
SP: Why Dressage?
RD: I used to event and happened to be
quite good at the dressage phase but
that was only because way back in those
days no-one else could do it very well.
So people offered me a fiver to school
their horses and I just got a reputation
for being good at the dressage phase. I
got a real shock though when I actually
came into the proper dressage world – it
dawned on me that actually I didn’t know
anything about real dressage and had to
learn the job all over again. Ignorance is
bliss !
SP: What will you do when you retire?
RD: I will never retire. I love training
horses and teaching.
SP: Have you identified any other riders
who you think will be champions in the
future?
RD: There are so many world class riders
in this country it’s frightening. I teach the
World Class Start and Potential Show
Jumping squad and the natural talent
amongst them is mind blowing. All they
need is world class horses, but that’s the
difficult bit; they are in short supply.
SP: Does/ your family have any pets?
RD: Yes, I have two sheepdogs Snap and
Crackle (who I use on my Jacob sheep)
we also have an old German short haired
pointer called Freckles and of course we
have a black and white cat to go with the
black and white collies called Pop !
SP: Who is your main sponsor?
RD: Hiscox Insurance have sponsored
me for more than 10 years also easibed,
who produce dust free bedding have
been amazing. easibed has made such a
difference to the comfort and relaxation
of my horses when they are both at home
and in competition stables. The grooms
appreciate it too ! Dodson and Horrell
have fed my horses for almost twenty
years; they supply the fuel !
December/January 2008
SP: Do you have any other sponsors?
RD: Wow saddles and Elevator bridles,
it’s important that every item of saddler
fits perfectly and is totally comfortable
for the horse. Competing at top level is
expensive and so is the equipment. I
helped Thorowgood design a really good
dressage saddle for under £500, which
has gone down really well, especially for
newcomers to dressage. In the winter we
spend hours clipping our horses which
helps keep them healthy and clean and
Eddie Palin’s range of clippers is great
– he is a genius at making them so easy
to handle and quiet that now the horses
are very relaxed about being clipped.
SP: In what way do your sponsors help
you?
RD: It would be impossible to have
competed at top level for so many
years without their support, knowledge
and interest. They are themselves all
perfectionists and really want to make
practical products that really work and are
cost effective.
SP: What is your biggest achievement in
life so far?
RD: I get asked that quite often and I
never know how to answer it. I don’t think
in terms of competition success.
SP: How many horses do you have on
your yard?
RD: At this particular moment about 20
SP: How long have you been riding?
RD: All my life – that’s a long time
unfortunately!
SP: Do you have a favourite horse – past
or present?
RD: No I don’t have favourites, they’ve
all taught me something and helped me
along the way, even the challenging ones.
SP: Is there a title that you would like to
win?
RD: I would like to win an Olympic medal
DRESSAGE
Richard with Gillian, Tom and Joe.
before I stop competing. I am realistic
that there is little chance of it being an
individual medal so it will more than likely
have to be a team medal, which is fine
with me – I’m not fussy what sort and any
colour will do. But the rest of the team
need to have good horses and preferably
carry me along with them !
SP: Do you have a favourite show?
RD: There are lots of great ones like
Aachen and the big indoor shows, but
Hickstead takes some beating – everyone
is so friendly and helpful there and with
all the other parts of the show, apart
from the dressage, there is something for
everyone.
SP: Do you have a Favourite Country for
Holidays?
RD: Somewhere good snow for skiing
and good sun for summer, don’t care
which country
SP: What music do you prefer to listen
to?
RD: Something with a bit of beat – Bon
Jovi is fine.
SP: Do you play a musical instrument?
RD: The piano - badly
SP: Do you like to read?
RD: Yes, but very slowly and only when
travelling or on hols
SP: If so what type of books do you
prefer
RD: Thriller and horses – Dick Francis,
Tammi Hoag is very good and she rides
dressage.
SP: Have you any hobbies
RD: My family !
SP: Are you a wine/beer or champagne
drinker?
RD: Red wine, preferably French or a
good Italian.
England’s Equestrian | 75
FIFTEEN MINUTES WITH RICHARD DAVISON
Left to right: Form filling for all the family; Gillian schools Hisox
SP: If you could invite 5 people, from any
walks of life (dead or alive) to a dinner
party, who would you invite and why?
RD:
• Nelson Mandela – such an amazing guy
• Queen Victoria – she wouldn’t be much
fun but she saw a whole lot of life, but I
would put her at the other end of the table
from Nelson though.
• Winston Churchill – a brilliant man,
would seat him close to me because I
love cigars but my children made me give
up.
Now we need someone who is still alive
as it’s all getting a bit musty.......
• Naomi Campbell – I think she will be
high maintenance, but hey, she won’t be
dull and the evening might need livening
up.
• And, last but not least, my Gillie as I
need her to do the cooking.
SP: Favourite TV programme and Film?
RD: Don’t have a favourite TV
programme, I am never at home
consistently to follow anything but I enjoy
detective stuff – something with a bit of
excitement, blood and guts type thing. As
for films, well you can’t beat a bit of Bond,
although it is getting a bit too crazy.
SP: If you could spend an hour in
conversation with anyone (dead or alive)
who would it be and what questions
would you ask?
RD: My late father. I’d like to check that
he is getting reports on all the horsey
stuff we are doing, especially his grand
children.
SP: Do you need a special diet to keep
you fit and well for competing or can you
eat just about anything?
RD: Eat anything but have to watch the
pounds now, sadly
SP: What methods of relaxation do you
use before a competition – if any?
RD: Used to use a routine to help psyche
myself up, now it kicks in automatically
without anyone realising what I am up to !
SP: How do you wind down after a
competition?
76 | England’s Equestrian
Komanchi while Richard looks on; Tom and Joe; Schooling Hiscox
Aliano.
RD: Driving home or sitting for hours in SP: Is there anything else you would like
an airport. to add to this interview?
RD: No thank you, I feel like I’ve been
SP: Do you get any social time and if so interrogated and am now
what do you prefer to do? mentally exhausted. I
RD: Gillie and I enjoy meeting up with need to go and ride to
friends for supper. Most of our friends clear my head! Thank you
locally are non-horsey. Actually I have a for such great questions though.
rule that I don’t do any horsey talk when
I am out – does get some other guests
or even my hosts a bit baffled, but it’s
just my thing. I’m more interested in what
An International riders’ day is never done!
other people do or think.
SP: What type of horsebox
do you drive?
RD: I have a brand new
and fabulous Ketterer.
It is one of those with a
pop out side so has living
quarters the size of a
hotel reception. It carries
6 horses in total luxury
and the Scania cab is like
silk to drive. It is made in
Germany and the attention
to detail is superb. I can’t
believe I own it !
SP: Where do you source
your horses?
RD: From Germany and Holland
from contacts I have had for more
than twenty years.
SP: At what age do you prefer ?
RD: 2 or 3 yrs old.
SP: If there was one horse you could
own…past or present…which one would
it be?
RD: The ones I have right now.
SP: Are you happy with the way that
equestrianism is portrayed in the UK and
if you could make any changes what
would they be.
RD: It’s going in a great direction now.
SP: Do you read England’s Equestrian
Magazine? Any improvements
necessary?
RD: It’s really great, keep it the way it is.
December/January 2008