52 SIDELINES FEBRUARY 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Julia and Rita
competing at the Devon
National Horse Show.
Photo by Jill Belshaw
Rita when she first arrived.
Photo courtesy of Julia Davis
Shocked to learn her daughter had purchased and kept a horse
in secret for months was too much to take in. “My mom didn’t yell,
normally she does,” Julia recounted. “She looked at me and asked
me if I had bought a horse.” When Julia confirmed this, her mom
locked herself in her room for a few hours.
“It scared me, I didn’t know what she was going to do,” she
said. When her mother was ready to discuss the situation she told
Julia her punishment was 100 percent financial responsibility for
everything this horse was ever going to need.
Julia knew she could do it. After all, she had managed to
purchase the horse, transport her and care for her for three
months all on her own. She was determined to make the situation
work long term.
Earning enough money to support Rita was not Julia’s largest
hurdle to overcome – it was her lack of knowledge. Local trainer,
Linda Bennett, offered Julia lessons on scholarship to teach her
the important fundamentals of horsemanship. “My mom couldn’t
always drive me because of her back so the lessons were on and
off, but a big help,” Julia said.
In the beginning, Julia rode western and intended on running
barrels. But when she moved Rita from her neighbor’s house, the
barn she chose had jumps and she decided to give it a try. She
competed at a few local shows in the green large pony hunters
division, but the jumpers really caught her attention. Early in 2011,
the duo transitioned to jumpers and found their niche. Rita could
jump the moon and the two steadily improved.
For years, competitors told Julia she would never get anywhere
because Rita wasn’t a fancy pony, wasn’t in full-time training
and didn’t wear shoes. Julia’s enthusiasm never wavered.
In 2013 Julia turned 18, which marked her final year of eligibility
for the Junior Pony Jumpers division. Intent on making the year a
memorable one, she graduated high school a semester early to
devote all of her time and energy to competing.
And a memorable year it was. Julia traveled with the USHJA
Zone 3 Team to top level competitions including the Devon
National Horse Show, the National Pony Jumpers Championship
Pony Finals and the North American League Finals held at the
