Julia Davis: An Inspiration

Where There’s A Will There’s A Way

Earlier this year while watching the NAL pony jumpers at the Devon Horse Show, Julia Davis stood out from the bunch when she attempted to re-seat herself after a refusal left her dangling around her pony’s neck. This rider is someone to admire; someone to look up to; someone that will make you believe that where there is a will there is a way. Her hard work, determination and courage are the essence of her amazing story. This rider is an inspiration. This rider is Julia Davis.

Born in Newton, NJ and raised in Apex, NC, Julia Davis originally began riding at the age of 13. When asked how she got into riding she explains, “I always used to go to camp when I was younger and they had a little riding program, which meant I could be lead around at a walk on some old western horse – which I loved. But I wanted to ride by myself… So, one day after my 13th birthday I took my very first lesson.” Naturally, she never looked back and has now been riding for 5 years.

On November 15th, 2008 she purchased her first pony from a classifieds listing for only $200. Thin, raggedy, with a hazy outlook on life, the 14.1hh chestnut mare was named Rita. “I bought her as an unbroke 2-year-old and trained her myself,” she tells us and describes the mare in detail, “She’s your typical chestnut mare, and a pony to boot! She can be downright awful at times, but makes up for it by trying her heart out for me every time we ride. She can rear, kick, buck, lie down, smile, paw, bow and nicker all on command.” It’s no surprise that she’s known locally as the trick pony and she’s come a long way since 2008. But Rita’s transformation didn’t come easy and it certainly didn’t happen over night! It was the result of a nutrition program, disciplined training schedule and Julia’s love and dedication to Rita and the sport. If you look at the picture of her then vs now, it will make you smile and, if you’re super sappy like us, perhaps even shed a joyful tear.

The pair spent the next several years training, building themselves up both physically and mentally and attending local shows to gain experience and confidence. In order to have enough money to attend shows, Julia braided manes & tails, mucked stalls and assisted other riders at horse shows as a groom. In a matter of 3 years she and Rita went from jumping 18” courses to 3’9” courses at some of the most prestigious horse shows in the nation. “Words can’t describe how much this little pony has changed my life!”

It’s amazing what sheer determination can help you achieve. How many of you own a pony/horse, but lack the financial resources to pay for lessons and showing expenses? How many of you sit around and complain day in and day out of how badly you wish you could afford a trainer and showing? How many of you believe you will never achieve your riding dreams because you cannot afford it? How many of you are correct in thinking this? NONE.

If you truly want to achieve your riding dreams you have to be willing to work, and work hard for them. Make the best out of what you have and come up with a plan to put into action that will get you where you want to be.

“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication… All things are possible for those who believe.” – Gail Devers

Now “aged-out” of the Pony Jumpers and no longer eligible to compete as a junior rider, due to age, Julia still aspires to reach her riding goals, “I want to get to the Prix St. George level in dressage with Rita, and as a rider I want to compete internationally at locations such as Spruce Meadows.”

On November 30th Julia wrote: “Today marks the end of many people’s junior riding career, including myself and some of my closest friends. I had the once in a lifetime opportunity to compete at some of the biggest shows in the nation on a pony I bought, broke, and trained, while training myself at the same time. Not only do I get to finish my junior career out with an enormous sense of accomplishment, I get to take with me so many memories that I would love to live over and over again. I gained so much knowledge about showing and horses in general because so many people were willing to help me along the way. I learned that winning is NOT everything, even if you think it is. I learned to suck it up and keep moving forward because so many people are looking to me as an example since I come from a background in which there are no opportunities to even have a pony, let alone compete one, but I still made it happen. I learned how to laugh at my failures and gain experience from each error. I learned that you can’t do everything yourself, and you won’t lose anything by asking for help. I learned about the business side of owning horses, as well as the silly, goofing off part. And I also gained friendships that will stay with me forever. So this is a thank you to every single person who helped me along the way, as well as every horse and pony I’ve worked with that has shaped me into the rider I am today. And finally, thank you to my super pony. I couldn’t have and wouldn’t have done it without you.”

In a sport where heavy financial backing is a bare necessity and self-taught riders are as rare as unicorns (they don’t exist), stories like this fuel our passion for the sport and make us appreciate everything we do even more. Self-taught, self-made, self-accomplished, Julia Davis is truly one in a million.

Currently living in South Carolina as a working student at an eventing facility, Julia plans on getting more involved with the discipline – and, yes, Rita is with her!

Q & A

Q: What’s the name of the first pony/horse you ever rode?
A: “The first pony I rode was a state fair pony named Patches.”

Q: Approximately how many falls have you had?
A: “Far too many to count!”

Q: Who is your current trainer?
A: “I am my own trainer.”

Q: What is your funniest riding experience?
A: “Without a doubt the Devon Horse Show NAL pony jumper class! We were the first to go in and all was going ok until the fourth fence, which was a smaller vertical. I expected Rita to pop-chip it, but she hates doing that, so she just stopped – hard. I went over her head, but held on and tried to climb back on from dangling off her neck. She went along with it for a bit, but decided she’d had enough and shook me off.”

Q: What was your worst fall?
A: “In September of 2012 when I made my pony jumper debut and ran Rita to a vertical in the NAL class. She went for a long spot, realized it wasn’t going to work, put her feet down and crashed through the jump. I went head first into the ground and was knocked unconscious while Rita flipped over beside me. I received a severe concussion, memory loss (I don’t even remember the fall, but have it on video), fractured my shoulder and fractured a few ribs. Rita was 100% okay!”

Q: What is your biggest fear?
A: “My biggest fear is Rita getting hurt doing something I ask her to do.”

Q: Who is your role model?
A: “My riding role model is one of my best friends, Angela Pollex. Whenever something happens when riding, she looks at what she is doing as opposed to blaming the horse, and I think more people should do that.”

Q: Tell us about your support system
A: “My friends are definitely my support system; they’ve taught me how to laugh at my mistakes instead of brooding over them. I wouldn’t be the rider I am today or have the attitude I ride with if it weren’t for them.”

Q: What is your favorite horse movie?
A: “Black Beauty”

Q: What is your greatest advice for riders with a passion for equestrian sports?
A: “You will get stepped on, pushed around, chewed up, and spit out. It’s inevitable, but you just have to keep pushing forward with a smile on your face because if you really love this sport, everything is worth it in the end.”

By: Claudia Lorena