White's time to shine

A popular trainer tastes grand prix success and there are multiple wins for Jezz Palmer and Joe Bright

- HELEN TRIGGS

RICHARD WHITE has been a popular trainer for many years, helping riders to both national and international competition success. For the past year he has been enjoying triumphs of his own with his own and his wife – Finnish Olympian Kyra Kyrklund’s – rising Lusitano star, Heroi Do Seixo, by the Portuguese Olympic horse Rubi AR.

The pair improved on their fourth place in the Saturday’s grand prix to win on Sunday.

“He’s willing to learn and thinks everything is fun. He’s not had a lot of competition experience and can get excited and over-enthusiastic,“ said Richard. “Yesterday he wanted to look at everything, but today was much easier and he was more relaxed.

“I hadn’t competed at this level before last year so we are both learning together. Luckily I have the best trainer in the world – my wife, Kyra. I’d never really appreciated how differently a horse can perform compared with at home. At the moment I only get about 50–60% of what I can get at home.”

Olympian Emile Faurie won Saturday’s grand prix with Diana Rose’s Bellevue (Bordeaux x Brentano II), who had top-five placings at Windsor CDI4* in May.

“She’s one of the most talented horses I’ve ever ridden,” enthused Emile. “She has so many good qualities – she has a very rhythmic piaffe and passage, an exceptional walk and a magical temperament. She was previously a broodmare and had two foals so she just needs to develop more strength to match her talent for the difficult stuff.”