Sarah Jenkins talks to the four-time Olympian on the importance of goals, his hopes and fears for the Olympics, and what next for dressage and welfare
There are riders who haven’t had too bad a time of it during lockdown, and Richard Davison is one of them – although also one sensitive enough that he doesn’t want to go on about it, given the uncertainty that Covid-19 and Brexit bring for the global economy. There may be dark clouds coming, but Richard does not want to be pessimistic, speaking from his Staffordshire home. He has just got off a horse he is thrilled with for having completed a lovely line of changes.
“We’ll leave it there,” he says, and you can hear the pride and joy in his voice. The horse goes for his cool down, on goes the coffee machine and we’re away.
“I’ve finally got to a place in my life where I have the right balance,” he says, referring to a reduction in the number of pupils he teaches to about 15 – for whom he enjoys giving complete management and mentoring, rather than just lessons – and having a yard of 12 “quality, not quantity” dressage horses and showjumpers. “What we have, all of us as a family enjoy training,” he explains.
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bWFyZSDigJMgaGXigJlzIG5ldmVyIGdvaW5nIHRvIGdldCBvcHRpbXVtIG1hcmtzIGF0IHRob3NlLiBXZSB3aWxsIGdvIHRob3VnaCB0byBnZXQgaGltIHVzZWQgdG8gdGhlIGxpZ2h0cyBhbmQgdGhlIGNhbWVyYSBhbmQgVklQIGhvc3BpdGFsaXR5IGFuZCBwbGF0ZXMgYmVpbmcgZHJvcHBlZC4gWW91IGNhbuKAmXQgYmxhbWUgaG9yc2VzIGZvciBoYXZpbmcgdGhhdCBmbGlnaHQgaW5zdGluY3Q7IGl04oCZcyB3aGF0IG1ha2VzIHRoZW0gZ29vZCBhcyB3ZWxsLuKAnTwvcD4KPHA+VGhhdCBzYWlkLCBSaWNoYXJkIGlzIG5vdCBrZWVuIG9uIOKAkyBub3IgY2FuIGhlIHNlZSDigJMgYW4gPGEgaHJlZj0iL3Rva3lvLTIwMjEtb2x5bXBpYy1nYW1lcyI+T2x5bXBpY3M8L2E+IGhhcHBlbmluZyBmb3IgdGhlIGZvcmVzZWVhYmxlIGZ1dHVyZS48L3A+CjxwPuKAnEFzIHRoZSBtb3N0IGdsb2JhbCBhbmQgcmVzcG9uc2libGUgc3BvcnRpbmcgZXZlbnQsIEkgY2Fu4oCZdCBzZWUgaXQgaGFwcGVuaW5nIHVudGlsIHRoZXJlIGlzIGEgc2FmZSBhbmQgcHJvdmVuIHZhY2NpbmUgYXZhaWxhYmxlIHRvIGV2ZXJ5IHBhcnRpY2lwYW50LCBvZmZpY2lhbCBhbmQgbWVtYmVyIG9mIHN1cHBvcnQgc3RhZmYs4oCdIGhlIGFkbWl0cy4g4oCcSXTigJlzIG5vIGdvb2QgaGF2aW5nIGEgc2FmZSB2YWNjaW5lIHRoYXQgaXMgYXZhaWxhYmxlIHRvIGVpZ2h0IG5hdGlvbnMuIFRoZSBwb2ludCBvZiB0aGUgT2x5bXBpY3MgaXMgdGhhdCBpdOKAmXMgYSBmYWlyIGFuZCBlcXVhbCBwbGF5aW5nIGZpZWxkLiBUaGUgcGVvcGxlIEkga25vdyB3aG8gYXJlIGludm9sdmVkIGluIGNsaW5pY2FsIHRyaWFscyBzYXkgdGhlcmUgd29u4oCZdCBiZSBhIHNhZmUgYW5kIGF2YWlsYWJsZSB2YWNjaW5lIGluIHRpbWUgZm9yIHRoZSBPbHltcGljcy4gT2J2aW91c2x5IEkgd2FudCB0aGVtIHRvIGhhcHBlbiwgYnV0IHNhZmVseSBhbmQgdXBob2xkaW5nIHRoZSBwcmluY2lwbGVzIG9mIGZhaXJuZXNzIGFuZCByZXNwb25zaWJsZSBjb25kdWN0LiBUaGF04oCZcyB0aGUgT2x5bXBpYyBpZGVhbC48L3A+CjxwPuKAnEkgdGhpbmsgdGhlIEZFSSB3b3VsZCBiZSB1bndpc2Ugbm90IHRvIGhhdmUgYSBjb250aW5nZW5jeSBjaGFtcGlvbnNoaXBzIGluIGEgRXVyb3BlYW5zIGluIGRyZXNzYWdlIG5leHQgeWVhciwgYnV0IG9uZSB0aGluZyBJ4oCZdmUgbGVhcm5lZCB3ZWFyaW5nIG15IGRpZmZlcmVudCBoYXRzIGlzIHRoYXQgd2UgZG9u4oCZdCBrbm93IHdoYXTigJlzIGhhcHBlbmluZyB0aGUgb3RoZXIgc2lkZSBvZiB0aGUgZmVuY2UsIGFuZCB0aGUgZmluYW5jaWFsIGFuZCBvdGhlciBjaGFsbGVuZ2VzIG9yZ2FuaXNpbmcgY29tbWl0dGVlcyBmYWNlLuKAnTwvcD4KPHA+UmljaGFyZCwgbGlrZSBtYW55LCB3b3VsZCBiZSBkZWxpZ2h0ZWQgZm9yIGV2ZXJ5dGhpbmcgdG8gY29tZSB0b2dldGhlciBpbiBzb21lIGRyZWFtIHdvcmxkIGFuZCB0aGVyZSB0byBiZSB0d28gY2hhbXBpb25zaGlwcyBuZXh0IHllYXIuIOKAnEl0IHdvdWxkIGJlIGdyZWF0IGZvciBtb3JlIHJpZGVycyB0byBoYXZlIHRoZSBjaGFuY2UgdG8gY29udGVzdCBhIGNoYW1waW9uc2hpcCzigJ0gaGUgc2F5cy4g4oCcSXTigJlzIG5vdCBlYXN5IHRvIGJyZWFrIGluIHRvIGFuZCBpdCBlbmNvdXJhZ2VzIG93bmVycyBhbmQgc3BvbnNvcnMgYXMgd2VsbC7igJ08L3A+CjxoMz5BbiBleGNpdGluZyBwcm9wb3NpdGlvbjwvaDM+CjxwPk9uIGxlYXZpbmcgc2Nob29sLCBSaWNoYXJkIHdvcmtlZCBmb3IgaGlzIGZhdGhlciBpbiBtYXJrZXRpbmcgYW5kIGFkdmVydGlzaW5nLiBIZSBoYXRlZCBpdCwgaGUganVzdCB3YW50ZWQgdG8gcmlkZSBob3JzZXMsIGJ1dCB3YXRjaGluZyB0aGUgcmlkZXIgZGVsaXZlciBmb3IgY29tbWVyY2lhbCBwYXJ0bmVycyBub3cgeW91IGNhbiBzZWUgaGUgdG9vayBpdCBhbGwgaW4uIEhlIGlzIG9uIHRoZSBzYW1lIHBhZ2UgYXMgdGhlIGxpa2VzIG9mIE9seW1waWEgb3JnYW5pc2VyIFNpbW9uIEJyb29rcy1XYXJkLCBhbmQgRnJhbmsgS2VtcGVybWFuIHdobyBvcmdhbmlzZXMgQWFjaGVuLCBpbiB3YW50aW5nIHRvIG1ha2UgZHJlc3NhZ2UgYW4gZXhjaXRpbmcgcHJvcG9zaXRpb24gZm9yIGxhcmdlIGxpdmUgYXVkaWVuY2VzLjwvcD4KPHA+4oCcVmlydHVhbCBhdWRpZW5jZXMgYXJlIGdyZWF0LCBidXQgd2XigJl2ZSBlc3RhYmxpc2hlZCB0aGF0IG1vc3QgZXZlbnRzIG5lZWQgYSBsaXZlIGF1ZGllbmNlIHRvIGJlIHZpYWJsZS4gQXMgYSByaWRlciBhbmQgdHJhaW5lciBpbW1lcnNlZCBpbiB0aGUgc3BvcnQsIEkgdW5kZXJzdGFuZCB3ZSBoYXZlIHRvIGVuc3VyZSBhbnl0aGluZyB3ZSBkbyBpcyBob3JzZS1mcmllbmRseSwgbm90IGEgc2hvd2Nhc2UgYXQgdGhlIGhvcnNl4oCZcyBleHBlbnNlLCBidXQgd2UgbmVlZCB0byB0cnkgbmV3IHRoaW5ncyzigJ0gUmljaGFyZCBzYXlzLjwvcD4KPHA+VGhlIGNoYXJhY3RlcmlzdGljIGRpc2NpcGxpbmUgYW5kIHJvdXRpbmUgdGhhdCBtYWtlcyByaWRlcnMgc3VjY2Vzc2Z1bCBpbiBkcmVzc2FnZSBpcyBhdCBvZGRzIHdpdGggdHJpYWxsaW5nIGlubm92YXRpb24uPC9wPgo8cD7igJxJbiBzaG93anVtcGluZyBwZW9wbGUgYXJlIGZhciBtb3JlIHJlbGF4ZWQgYWJvdXQgZXhwZXJpbWVudGFsIGNsYXNzZXMsIG9yIG9uZXMgdGhhdCBhcmUgYSBiaXQgb2YgZnVuLCBsaWtlIHRoZSBtaW5pLW1ham9yLOKAnSBoZSBwb2ludHMgb3V0LiDigJxOb2JvZHkgaXMgcHJldGVuZGluZyB0aGF0IGlzIHRoZSBzZXJpb3VzIGVuZCBvZiB0aGUgc3BvcnQsIGJ1dCBpdCBpcyBpbXBvcnRhbnQgdG8gcHJvcCB1cCB0aGUgc2VyaW91cyBlbmQuIEl04oCZcyBubyBnb29kIGZvY3VzaW5nIHNvbGVseSBvbiB0aGUgbmFycm93LCBlbGl0aXN0IGJpdC4gRHJlc3NhZ2UgbmVlZHMgdG8gdGFrZSB0aGUgc2hhY2tsZXMgb2ZmLiBJdOKAmXMgbm90IGdvaW5nIHRvIHJ1aW4gdGhlIHRyYWluaW5nIG9yIHRoZWlyIGhvcnNlIHRvIHRyeSBuZXcgdGhpbmdzLuKAnTwvcD4KPHA+UmljaGFyZCBzcGVhcmhlYWRlZCBhIDxhIGhyZWY9Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmhvcnNlYW5kaG91bmQuY28udWsubWFzdGVyLnB1YmxpYy5rZXlzdG9uZS1wcm9kLWVrcy1ldXcxLmZ1dHVyZXBsYy5lbmdpbmVlcmluZy5tYXN0ZXIucHVibGljLmtleXN0b25lLXByb2QtZWtzLWV1dzEuZnV0dXJlcGxjLmVuZ2luZWVyaW5nL25ld3MvZmVsdC1saWtlLXN0cmljdGx5LXJpZGVycy1yZWFjdC1uZXctb2x5bXBpYS1ncmFuZC1wcml4LTY3MzU5MSI+c2hvcnRlciB2ZXJzaW9uIG9mIHRoZSBncmFuZCBwcml4IHRlc3Q8L2E+IGZvciB0aGUgRkVJIFdvcmxkIEN1cCBzZXJpZXMsIHdoaWNoIGhhcyB0YWtlbiBhIG1hc3NpdmUgYW1vdW50IG9mIHdvcmsuPC9wPgo8cD7igJxOb3cgaXTigJlzIGRvbmUsIGV2ZXJ5b25l4oCZcyBhZ3JlZWQgb24gYSB0ZXN0IGFuZCBtb3ZlZCBvbiwgYnV0IHRoYXQgdG9vayBhIGJpdCBvZiBkb2luZy4gVGhlIG5leHQgdGltZSB3ZSBnbyBkb3duIHRoaXMgcGF0aCBJ4oCZbGwgcmVtaW5kIHJpZGVycyBvZiB0aGF0LiBJIGtub3cgd2h5IG1hbnkgYXJlIHJlbHVjdGFudCDigJMgaWYgeW91IGhhdmUgYSBmb3JtdWxhIHRoYXQgd29ya3MgZm9yIHlvdSwgd2h5IHdvdWxkIHlvdSB3YW50IHRvIGNoYW5nZSBpdD\/igJ0gaGUgc2F5cy48L3A+CjxoMz5Ib3JzZSB3ZWxmYXJlPC9oMz4KPHA+UmljaGFyZOKAmXMgaW50ZXJlc3QgaW4gd2VsZmFyZSBleHRlbmRzIGJleW9uZCBoaXMgY29uc2lkZXJhdGlvbiBmb3IgdGhlIGhvcnNlIHdoZW4gdHJpYWxsaW5nIG5ldyBldmVudCBmb3JtYXRzLCBhbmQgaGUgaXMgYSB0cnVzdGVlIG9mIDxhIGhyZWY9Ii90YWcvd29ybGQtaG9yc2Utd2VsZmFyZSI+V29ybGQgSG9yc2UgV2VsZmFyZTwvYT4uPC9wPgo8cD7igJxXZWxmYXJlIG11c3QgYWx3YXlzIGJlIHVuZGVyIHRoZSBzcG90bGlnaHQsIGFsd2F5cyBxdWVzdGlvbmVkIGFuZCByZXZpZXdlZCzigJ0gaGUgc2F5cy4g4oCcQXMgd2l0aCBldmVyeXRoaW5nIGluIGxpZmUsIHRoZXJlIGlzIGEgcGVyY2VudGFnZSBvZiBwZW9wbGUgaW4gdGhlIGhvcnNlIHdvcmxkIHdob3NlIHdlbGZhcmUgc3RhbmRhcmRzIGFyZSBub3QgYWNjZXB0YWJsZS4gSXQgaXNu4oCZdCBhbHdheXMgaW50ZW50aW9uYWwgY3J1ZWx0eSDigJMgaXQgY291bGQgYmUgaWdub3JhbmNlLCBvciBtaXN1bmRlcnN0YW5kaW5nIHdoYXQgYSBob3JzZSBuZWVkcyBtZW50YWxseSBhbmQgcGh5c2ljYWxseSwgb3IgYSByZXN1bHQgb2YgdGhlIGNhcmVy4oCZcyBvd24gbWVudGFsIGhlYWx0aCBpc3N1ZS48L3A+CjxwPuKAnFRoZXJlIG1pZ2h0IGFsd2F5cyBiZSBhIHZlcnkgc21hbGwgcGVyY2VudGFnZSBvZiBwZW9wbGUgd2hvIHdlIGRvIG5vdCB3YW50IGluIGVxdWVzdHJpYW4gc3BvcnQsIHdobyBuZWVkIHRvIGJlIGJhbmlzaGVkIGJlY2F1c2UgdGhleSBhcmUgbm90IGdvb2QgZm9yIGhvcnNlcyBvciBzcG9ydC4gT3RoZXJzIG1pZ2h0IG1vbWVudGFyaWx5IGdldCB0aGVpciBwcmlvcml0aWVzIHdyb25nLCBwdXR0aW5nIHRoZWlyIG5lZWRzIGFoZWFkIG9mIHRoZSBob3JzZS4gSeKAmW0gT0sgd2l0aCB0b3AgcmlkZXJzIHdobyBzYXksIOKAmEkgZ290IHRoYXQgd3JvbmcgYW5kIEkgcmVncmV0IGl0LuKAmSBJIGNhbuKAmXQgYmUgZG9pbmcgd2l0aCBodW1hbiBiZWluZ3Mgd2hvIHRoaW5rIHRoZXkgbmV2ZXIgbWFrZSBtaXN0YWtlcy4gSWYgaXQgd2FzIGEgbW9tZW50YXJ5IGFuZCBnZW51aW5lIG1pc2p1ZGdlbWVudCwgdGhhdOKAmXMgb25lIHRoaW5nLiBCdXQgdGhlIG9uZXMgd2hvIGhhdmUgYmxhdGFudGx5IGdvdCBpdCB3cm9uZywgd2UgZG9u4oCZdCB3YW50IHRoZW0gaW4gdGhlIHNwb3J0LuKAnTwvcD4KPHA+UmljaGFyZCBkb2VzIHdvcnJ5IGFib3V0IGEgbGFjayBvZiBrbm93bGVkZ2UgaW4gdGhvc2UgY2FyaW5nIGZvciBob3JzZXMuPC9wPgo8cD7igJxJIG9uY2Ugd2F0Y2hlZCBhIGdyb29tIGR1cmluZyB0aGUgaG91ciBzaGUgaGFkIHRoZSBvcHBvcnR1bml0eSB0byB3YWxrIGFuZCBoYW5kLWdyYXplIGEgaG9yc2Ugb3V0c2lkZSBhdCBhIHNob3cgaW5zdGVhZCBjaG9vc2UgdG8gZGVjb3JhdGUgdGhlIGhvcnNl4oCZcyBzdGFibGUgd2l0aCB0ZWRkeSBiZWFycy4gU2hlIGhhZCBtaXNzZWQgdGhhdCB0aGUgaG9yc2UgY291bGRu4oCZdCBjYXJlIGxlc3Mgd2hhdCB0aGUgdGVkZHkgYmVhciBpcywgaXQgd291bGQgcmF0aGVyIGdvIG91dCBhbmQgZ2V0IHNvbWUgZ3Jhc3MuIEl0IHdhcyBhIG1pc2p1ZGdlbWVudCzigJ0gUmljaGFyZCByZWNhbGxzLjwvcD4KPHA+SGUgZmVlbHMgdGhpcyByZXByZXNlbnRzIGEgd2lkZXIgaXNzdWUuIERvIGFsbCB0aGUgbG92ZWx5IGJyYXNzIGJhbGxzIG9uIHRoZSBzdGFibGVzIG5lZWQgdG8gYmUgcG9saXNoZWQgZGFpbHkgd2hlbiB0aGV5IGRvbuKAmXQgaGVscCB0aGUgaG9yc2XigJlzIG1lbnRhbCBvciBwaHlzaWNhbCBoZWFsdGg\/PC9wPgo8ZGl2IGNsYXNzPSJpbmplY3Rpb24iPjwvZGl2Pgo8cD7igJxUaGV5IG5lZWQgdG8gZ28gb3V0IGFuZCBnZXQgcGxhc3RlcmVkIGluIG11ZCBhbG9uZyB3aXRoIHRoZWlyIGZyaWVuZHMs4oCdIHNheXMgUmljaGFyZC4g4oCcSW4gdGhlIFVLIHdl4oCZdmUgYWx3YXlzIGhhZCBhIHRyYWRpdGlvbiBvZiB0dXJuaW5nIGhvcnNlcyBvdXQgaW4gdGhlIGZpZWxkLCBidXQgd2hlbiBJIHN0YXJ0ZWQgaW50ZXJuYXRpb25hbGx5IHBlb3BsZSB0aG91Z2h0IHdlIHdlcmUgY3Jhenkgcmlza2luZyB0dXJuaW5nIGhvcnNlcyBvdXQuIFRoZXnigJlkIGdvdCB0aGUgcmF0aW9uYWxlIHdyb25nLCBhbmQgcGVvcGxlIHN0aWxsIGRvIGdldCBpdCB3cm9uZy4gSSB2aXNpdGVkIGFuIGFtYXppbmcgZmFjaWxpdHkgb3ZlcnNlYXMgd2hlcmUgdGhlIGhvcnNlcyB3ZXJlIGFsbCB0dXJuZWQgb3V0IGluIHN0YWJsZS1zaXplZCBwYWRkb2NrcyBpbiBhIHJvdyBvbiBzYW5kLCB3aXRoIGdyYXppbmcgbXV6emxlcyBvbiB0byBzdG9wIHRoZW0gbnV6emxpbmcgZWFjaCBvdGhlciDigJMgSSB0aG91Z2h0IE9LLCB0aGlzIGlzIGEgc3RlcCBpbiB0aGUgcmlnaHQgZGlyZWN0aW9uLCBidXQgbGV0IHRoZW0gcm9sbCBpbiBzb21lIG11ZCHigJ08L3A+CjxwPkFtZW4gdG8gdGhhdC48L3A+CjxwPjxlbT5SZWYgSG9yc2UgJmFtcDsgSG91bmQ7IDMgU2VwdGVtYmVyIDIwMjA8L2VtPjwvcD4KPHA+Cg=="}
Library image.
Credit: Alamy Stock Photo
Iggy Pop being prepared to be ridden at Richard and Gill's stables in the village of Combridge near Uttoxeter in the county of Staffordshire in the UK on 3rd July 2017
Credit: Peter Nixon
With husband-and-wife dressage duo Richard and Gill Davison both riding at the top level and their sons competing in showjumping,
L-R Ballaseyr Royale, her four-year-old by Lingh, two-year-old by Diamond Hit and the yearling by Don Schufrophoto Jo Prestwich
Credit: Jo Prestwich
“We’ll miss her big kind eyes and huge ears, always pricked forward”
Credit: Trevor Meeks
The four-time Olympian reveals his pre-flight checks, why he uses science in schooling and why he believes it’s important to
Dressage Olympian Richard Davison highlights his pressure and release techniques, which he uses daily in his training
H&H editor-in-chief
Sarah has more than 20 years experience as an equestrian journalist and editor. She has reported from major championships including the Europeans and the World Equestrian Games. She has co-written books on equestrianism including The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horses & Ponies. Sarah has ridden since childhood, owned horses and ponies for over 25 years, and worked for and trained with Olympic gold medallist event rider Leslie Law prior to going to university.
