There has been a lot of praise for Guilherme Jorge’s course building at the Olympic Games, and World of Showjumping caught up with four famous faces to get some opinions on the tracks that have been presented so far.
 
Heiner Engemann (GER): “Today (Tuesday) was a tough course for everybody I think. It was maybe not as big as expected, but the technical part was really tough in the end and the time also that was really short. So, I think the course builder wanted to select the teams for the final – the best teams – and I think he did just that. The difficulties laid in the line to the water jump and what came after that, also the triple combination which was a bit funny with the poles. But, I think in the end it was about the technical part today.”
 
Katie Monahan Prudent (USA): ”I thought the course today (Tuesday) was very good. However, I think the water element had too many faults. There was something that was not quite right there, because you hate to see horse after horse after horse jump it well and still have a fault. So, I did not like that part of it. But, I thought the course was great and the horses are jumping unbelievably and we have some really strong teams. I think on Wednesday he will make the course a lot harder to separate the men from the boys. I must say that for this whole week I have not been surprised, but really happy to watch the Brazilians jump so well. It was a shock when Rodrigo was not named to the team, but I know my old coach George Morris so well that I know he has his reasons and all of four of them have been spectacular. I was also really happy that the French had a little better luck after the colic, Simon’s horse hurt and Penelope’s horse tripping – the whole week for the French has been sort of a nightmare. And if Bosty did not have the time fault on Tuesday, they would have been right in there with three clears – unfortunately that one point puts them a bit back but I was happy to see them all go well. For the final I of course hope America will win!”
 
Markus Beerbaum (GER): “It was a very exciting competition; it is amazing how close it is now in our sport. I mean, there are four teams that can jump this course with clear rounds and nine faults does not make the next rounds – it has gotten tough in showjumping. There have not really been any surprises I would say, the strong teams are looking strong – although maybe there has been a small disappointment for the British team that they don’t make the cut for the final. They actually looked very good on day one, and I like the English boys, so for them I feel a bit. As to Tuesday’s course, I for sure did not want to be the course designer! Looking back, it was perhaps a little too light – especially compared with the first day. Today (Tuesday) was perhaps a bit too friendly. The water and the time were two factors helped though, otherwise it would have been a little too light.”

Greg Broderick (IRL): “I think it was a nice course, and as testing as the first day. The water caused a lot of problems. My horse actually jumped really really good, and I was very disappointed to just miss out on qualification for tomorrow because the horse feels in the form of his life. I think it was the first day caught us out; he jumped a fantastic round the first day but ended up knocking two parts in the last double and it left us on thirteen faults just outside qualification so that was very disappointing. “

Text © World of Showjumping // Picture © Jenny Abrahamsson