Yuri bought his first horse at age 13 and soon realised he wanted to become a professional rider. He decided to move to Europe and worked minor jobs until he found employment as a groom at Ludo Philippaerts’ yard in Belgium.

He returned to Brazil to become a horse trader in 2001, and in 2004 he began importing horses from Europe. In 2014, he set up a stable in Belgium, near Opglabbeek, where he trains horses.