Edited press release from FEI written by Louise Parkes

Friday 3 November, brings two weeks of spectacular equestrian sport to a close at the Pan American Games 2023 in Quillota, Chile where, following Thursday’s second horse inspection, 28 horse-and-rider-combinations will battle it out for individual gold in the much-anticipated two-round final showdown.

At the head of affairs going into the final day are two American legends. McLain Ward is a five-time Olympian whose record at the PanAms includes team gold at Guadalajara (MEX) in 2011 and the individual title along with team bronze in Toronto (CAN) in 2015. He holds a fractional lead over compatriot Laura Kraut who stood beside him on the top step of the team podium on Wednesday. 

With results converted to points, Ward carries a score of 3.34 into Friday’s competition with his 14-year-old gelding Contagious (Contagio x For Keeps) while triple Olympian Kraut and her 10-year-old gelding Dorado 212 (Tailormade Diarado's Boy x Chacco-Blue) are on 3.39 so there is only a hair’s breadth between them.

Brazil’s Stephan de Freitas Barcha and Chevaux Primavera Imperio Egipcio (Calvaro F.C. x Paroli) are third on 4.06 ahead of bronze-medal-winning team-mate Pedro Veniss and Nimrod de Muze Z (Nabab de Reve x Tinka's Boy) in fourth on 4.26 while Canada’s Tiffany Foster and Figor (VDL Groep Zagreb x Indoctro) are in fifth on 4.40.

Mexican team-mates Nicolas Pizarro and Pia Contra (Conthargos x Chacco-Blue) and Eugenio Garza Perez aboard Contago (Cornet Obolensky x Cassini II) hold the next two placings while USA’s Kent Farrington and Landon (Comilfo Plus Z x Quadrillo) sit in eighth, Canada’s Amy Millar and Truman (Mylord Carthago x Colibri) lie ninth and Venezuela’s Luis Fernando Larrazabal and Condar (Conthargos x Catapult 7) are in tenth. Larrazabal’s score is 5.41, so there is no room for error amongst the top ten.

Brazil’s de Freitas Barcha is feeling pretty confident. “The first target was the team competition and the bronze medal was not the best feeling because we were fighting for the gold but I am in a good position for the individual. It’s sport and we have two more rounds so there’s a lot more to come. I need to stay focused, the mare is jumping unbelievably so let’s see whats to come!"

“I have Primavera since she was six years old (she is now 12) and we grew together. I twice won the Brazilian national title with her and I came to Europe at the beginning of this year straight to a 4* show and won the Grand Prix, I was in Rome (in May 2023) also third in the Grand Prix, then I did some Nations Cups to prepare for coming here to this championship. We are in nice shape to fight!”, he says.

The first round of Friday’s competition begins at 11.00 local time and the top 20 go through to a second round over a different course, starting at 14.00.