Isolated Memories - Interview with Jo Davis
Jo Davis puts away the horses and virtually sits down with us for a chat.
Jo Davis is a popular member of the Lambourn training ranks. She is soon moving to a new yard outside of the Valley of the Racehorse, so we made her day even busier with the 10 questions in this exclusive lockdown interview!
First Car?
Ok first car was a Talbot Horizon...🙈
First ever job?
Was a Saturday girl in a chemist, Mum got me it for the day I turned 14. I used that money to buy my school dinners as things were a little tough at home, however I soon started riding horses for someone, showjumping as a young rider, still aged 14, so spent every weekend and 3 evenings a week riding for them.
First big purchase...
A horsebox for the business, I only own things outright and never have them on the knock, i’m very proud of that.
Photo : Francesca Altoft
First memory of my sport
Was my Dad was a bookmaker, then a big gambler, so we watched racing all day on a Saturday and he would have the bookie on the phone all day. He would whistle down the phone to get his attention and put massive bets on. Hence the need for a Saturday job that paid for my school dinners…😂
First day on the job in my sport
I was nearly 15 and mum put me forwards to ride out for the permit trainer Alan Blackmore, who was based in Cuffley. I had never sat on a racehorse and was still showjumping, and we met Alan at the beach down at Shoeburyness beach in Essex, he put me up on the horse and said just follow me, we canter for a mile or more then work over a mile on the way back...No instructions of how to sit, how to balance or how to bridge my reins, the horse hung like a gate and I was so exhausted, I thought I was going to fall off. When I got off my legs gave way!
Favourite memory of your sport?
When Passato won the Lord Mildmay Chase at Newton Abbot, it was his 4th win on the bounce over fences and he was only 15.1, he won 9 races for me in total, he is in retirement with my mum in Shrops, I owe him a lot.
Did you contemplate doing anything different?
I used to want to be a show-jumper and I did have a very good chance to do that, but once I had sat on a racehorse, that was it, there was no going back. I sometimes wish I had tried harder at school though!
If you could work in another sport?
It would probably be back producing young horses for showjumping or eventing, I still have the urge and love bringing on a young horse, I would even have a crack at competing again.
Sporting hero?
Sir Mark Todd. The man is beautiful to watch on a horse, there are very few riders who can transition across the various disciplines in horses and he is one who is just a consummate horseman. To win medals at the Olympics both show jumping and eventing takes some doing.
Isolation tip?
Keep a routine, it helps to keep your mind focused. Also try to live in the moment, worrying about things we cannot control is very stressful and exhausting, enjoy the small things if you can, the moments that we have been too busy to enjoy, like reading a book or just having some quiet time.
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