Cathy Gannon: 'John was like a father to me – he always stuck by me'

John Oxx has been like a father to me and I will be forever grateful for everything he's taught me.

I went to RACE (Racing Academy and Centre of Education) after leaving school at 14 and was associated with John ever since.

He's been extremely helpful to me, not just in terms of my riding and with horses, but also in terms of my people skills and the best means of conducting myself out of the saddle. Suffice to say, I would have been a bit wild and cheeky when I started with him.