WoSJ met the top three of the second qualifier at the FEI World Equestrian Games 2018 Bank of America Jumping Championships in Tryon, as well as the man who came in as overnight leader, to hear what they had to say about Thursday’s round.

Lorenzo De Luca (ITA), current individual leader: 

“She (Irenice Horta) is in great, great, great form. Yesterday, I had a lot of pressure on because it was our first speed class. I did not ride her for that long, but she is amazing. She has a great mind, and is scopey and careful. Today I had a fantastic feeling! When you know that your horse can jump clear it makes you feel better and ride better.”

“Zoe Conter rode her before, unluckily she had an accident in Rome and fell off so they decided to give me the horse at the beginning of June and this is our fifth show together. We jumped our first big class in Aachen and she finished with clear and one down in the Nations Cup there. Then she was third in the Grand Prix in Dublin, with the same course designer as here so I had a feeling I could do it. After that she did two small shows, and we kept her with a happy mind – I just did a few 1.30 classes to keep her fresh before coming here.”

“Like I said, it’s only half way. I will fight to the end, and I’m not giving up. She is jumping amazing and it would be ridiculous if I did not try.”

McLain Ward (USA), sitting second on the overall standings both individually and with the team:

“Actually, she felt even better today than yesterday warming up which I kind of figured out – as the week goes on the mare only gets stronger. The beginning felt brilliant, I felt when I turned to the Liverpool at the far end she was definitely trying very hard. I wanted to do the add to the very difficult last double, the big jumper she is I knew it was going to be difficult but I thought it was the right choice. She jumped the triple bar so big, so even though we got the right stride to it I really started to run out of room, so I had to be a little bit rough with her there. Her athleticism was pretty incredible there, and we didn’t give up and she didn’t give up and jumped out easily. I am thrilled with her, it was not exactly the smooth ride down the last line I would like but sometimes you have to get it done.”

“I never go in the ring thinking I have it all figured out. I am thrilled with her, I am thrilled with the team, doing their job. Adrienne stepped up brilliant today. For a kid coming a long like her, that was huge. Devin has had a bit of bad luck and I think he will deliver a clear tomorrow.”

Peder Fredricson (SWE), sitting third individually: 

“We warmed up quite short, and then in the ring he backed off a bit more than what he usually does so today I had to use a bit leg. But, I was happy I managed to stick to my plan and then we found our rhythm again and he focused well.”

“It was not that extremely big, but it was very technical. Already in the air on one fence, you had to think about the next. There were a lot of questions. On the last line, from the triple bar it was just in between five or six strides to the double. I think those that did five in the beginning pushed a bit too much for the five, and then people started doing six and then that got too tight. My plan was just to ride normal five, and I saw Fredrik doing that and it worked fine.”

“He (Alan Wade) builds really good, there were faults everywhere. There were a lot of mistakes on the water, and also a distance there that you had to stay cool on. You had to keep calm to ride the distance towards the end.”

Steve Guerdat, now 8th individually after coming in as overnight leader but still in pole position with the Swiss team:

“It was a bit frustrating to be honest. I thought I had a good round. She felt super through the whole round to the last fence. It was a difficult line for me with the four really short strides, so I tried to do the oxer before with a bit rhythm so I did not have to give any leg and could collect her a bit easier to the vertical. As amazing as she is she does not like it when I have to interfere with her mouth in the take-off on the last stride, but I had to do it because I could not get enough space otherwise. Then she stayed a bit stiff behind, and it came down.”

“When I walked the course, I thought it was nice – I think it was too long though. I think thirteen fences would have been enough for the second day, especially after fourteen yesterday with three doubles and the horses have to jump tomorrow again. But otherwise it was a great course (…) It rode tougher than it walked, I think it was a very nice course.”

Text and photos © World of Showjumping

No reproduction without permission