On Sunday Richard Howley made it a two-for-two in the World Cup competition of Helsinki. “I always want to win, and competing against the best riders you have to give all. My horse is very careful so I can ask him everything, I can move fast and collect him at the last minute. Obviously I never thought I would win both legs even if it is always the goal to win. I really want to try to go the the World Cup Final so this is my chance and we are very motivated”
Talking about his winning horse Howley said, “he’s very careful and he’s got the end quality of jump and he’s super scopy. The most important thing is that I keep him trusting me and keep him confident in the build-up to these classes. And then when you ask the question he gives you everything. The horse is just a phenomenal character and he’s a real fighter!”
Howley said today that he owes his current success to the confidence his horse has established through consistency. “It’s from riding him well consistently, letting the horse gain belief in himself and belief in me that I’m not going to put him in a bad situation. Apart from that he’s also growing and developing, with every show he goes to he’s just getting better and better. He competed very well at the Global Tour this summer and now he’s come indoors and two out of two (qualifiers) he has won. I can’t expect more from him but I’m very grateful for what he does for me”, he said.
source: FEI