NEWS

Thirty-four years old and with a surname that carries weight in the international show jumping world, Joe Whitaker arrived in Milan as Great Britain’s only but eagerly awaited representative. Last Sunday he won the Nations Cup in the Italian leg of the European Equestrian Federation series in Gorla Minore. .

“Horses are our family business -explained the British rider whose father Steven is also a rider. -The spearheads are, of course, my uncles John and Michael, true legends in the world of show jumping even today at the ages of 66 and 62, but most of us cousins are involved full-time with horses, although each at our respective parents' stables in Yorkshire and within thirty kilometres of one another.

How many horses if one asked for a number? Joe smiled and said “If one only counts those competing at an international level then I would say about twenty, with my generation already represented at top level shows by my sister Helen and my cousin Jack. Their names are already on the long list for September’s 2022 World Championships in Denmark alongside those of my uncles. Having the surname Whitaker creates a lot of pressure for everyone but, at the same time it also reassures us. We know we are lucky because of all the experience and technical expertise that surrounds us.”

This is Joe Whitaker’s first visit to Milan. ”This is an excellent show and I am very pleased I added it to my plans. It is a very different kind of event. Competing in the centre of such a beautiful city doesn’t happen often. The grass arena has excellent footing and the sports organisation is very efficient for both riders and horses. I brought four horses here to Milan, two very young ones and two that have already proved their talent: Icaterina and Hulahupe the horse with which I won the Nations Cup in Gorla. Things went very well indeed today.”

Photo. E-E Agency