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70 w i n t e r 2 014 U n tac k e d own them, and it's so important to some people to just be able to touch valegro. "But at some point i have to say, 'no, he needs a bit of space.' i have to be 'that guy,' and i feel bad, but i have to do it for the horses' sake," davies continues. "ey are horses, and they need to be allowed to be horses and have that chill-out time." While every groom worries about every horse in their care, most would acknowledge that davies has to have a pretty level head to be in charge of two of Britain's most famous. "A lot of people say to me, 'how on earth do you put that horse on the lorry and drive with- out worrying?' of course i worry. i worry about all the horses i take care of. But i can't worry unduly, otherwise i wouldn't be able to do my job," he says. "i wouldn't be able to put him on the truck or a plane. "luckily i haven't been intimidated, because i've been around for quite a long time. i've been traveling with horses since i was 17," he adds. "i've enjoyed the ride, and i've appreciated it at the same time. i've been excited by everything. it's possible because i'm pretty experienced, and because Carl keeps everything very down to earth. We go and do some amazing things, but then the horses still have to be horses—they come home and turn out and have as natural as possible a life." ProfiLE As Valegro's fame has grown, so has that of Alan Davies—shown here being interviewed for CNN— and he's thrilled grooms are getting a share of the recognition. "ThE RoyAL WEddINg WAS RAThER INCREdIBLE! I SAT IN A NAvE uNdER A TREE, BEhINd BoRIS JohNSoN ANd IN FRoNT oF dAvId BECkhAM. IT WAS PRETTy uNREAL." —Alan Davies

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