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The Swedes continued their sensational form in Friday’s Olympic team qualifier in Tokyo, with all their three horse-and-rider combinations jumping clear rounds – putting them on top of the result list of the competition. Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward (Edward 28 x Feo), Malin Baryard-Johnsson and Indiana (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Animo’s Hallo) as well as Peder Fredricson and All In (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Andiamo Z) were all triple clear in the individual competitions – with Fredricson taking the silver medal – and might have been in a bit of a disadvantage today with the horses having a fast jump-off in their feet from Wednesday night. However, all of them looked to be in super shape over today’s very tricky track set by Spain’s Santiago Varela – and yet again delivered three extremely strong clear rounds ahead of Saturday’s final where all teams start on a zero score. “Tomorrow is a completely new day, and we will all be dealt new cards. Then, it does not matter what we have done, just that we qualified,” Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann said, looking ahead to the final where his team will be favourites for the gold medal. 

There was a lot of anticipation ahead of the team qualifier, which with its new format of three riders and no drop-score has created plenty of debate between the FEI and the riders. The new format was introduced in order to increase the number of flags at the Olympic Games, as well as a more transparent and universal competition system – and the FEI’s message has the whole way been that it was “change or be changed” from the IOC’s side. The FEI opted for change, and this decision has since been subject to many heated debates – especially as the riders felt they had not been properly consulted or heard. “Nowhere do I want to read that this was a compromise between the FEI and us riders!" Steve Guerdat thundered back at the 2019 IJRC General Assembly – where the format was attacked by a number of high-profile names. Among them was Kevin Staut who said that “every single rider was against this big change” – mostly due to their concerns for the welfare of the horses with more nations and no drop-score. 

After today’s team qualifier, it can be assumed that the last word has not been said about this format – the competition proved that the riders have made many valid points prior to these Games. 

Ireland was amongst the nations that suffered a big blow under the new format. Coming in from the side-line as reserves, and making their first appearance at the Baji Koen stadium, were Shane Sweetnam and Alejandro (Acorado's Ass x Continue) – who replaced Cian O’Connor and Kilkenny (Cardento x Guidam) after the individual competitions. After pulling a shoe coming into the triple combination, the gelding began to look uncomfortable around the track, getting too careful – but as first to go for his three-man team where all counted towards the result, Sweetnam tried to complete the course. Sadly, it ended with a fall at the Port of Tokyo Tunnel-oxer for both horse and rider – which caused elimination for the pair. Under the circumstances, with no drop-score, and the very unlikely chance of making it to the final, Ireland withdrew their two last riders from the qualifier to save the remaining horses for another day. Ireland was not the only team making this decision. Israel also withdrew their last rider, after Teddy Vlock and Amsterdam 27 (Catoki x Acord II) – their second pair in the ring – had a scary fall midway in the course. Luckily, Vlock was wearing an airbag and escaped without any visible injuries – despite a very hard meeting with the ground. His horse Amsterdam also walked out of the ring without problems. Disappointingly for the hosts, Japan did not complete the competition either, as Koki Sato’s Chilensky (Chintan x Cornet Obolensky) – their second horse out – sustained an injury in the warm-up and was withdrawn, alongside anchor rider Eiken Sato.

The ten best of the nineteen teams in the qualifier moved forward to Saturday’s team final, and the range on the penalty scores for those who made it was huge: From Sweden on zero, to Argentina on 27 faults.

Sweden has been in a league of their own at these Olympic Games, and would already have deserved a gold medal for their performances – not having made one single mistake over the four rounds of competition they have had, which includes Wednesday’s individual jump-off. Today, Henrik von Eckermann set the standard with an exceptional clear round on the stunning King Edward, followed by Malin Baryard-Johnsson on the feisty Indiana and Peder Fredricson who yet again made it look like a walk in the park on All In. 

“I never know how she will be, that’s the hard thing about her,” Baryard-Johnsson said about Indiana. “Normally, she gets a bit more chaotic after a fast round like on Wednesday, but today she was perfect – relaxed and really good.”

Although he looked as cool as ice, Fredricson said he felt the nerves. “I am nervous before every round, even now,” he said. “You might think it is just a qualifier, so it maybe feels like it is not that special. But before you go in, you have a completely different feeling. We are only three riders and if something happens, which it can even for me and All In, there will be enormous consequences with this new format. Which makes it extremely exciting too.”

“Tomorrow is a brand new day,” Fredricson continued. “We just have to hope that our form continues. Then we have to see where we end up.”

There was good reason to feel nervous today, as the 1.65m course set by Varela was a hard nut to crack. Only five of the riders managed to produce clear rounds. It was not only the impressive fences – such as the Shinkansen High Speed Train upright, the Samurais and katanas jumps, or the Shibuya Cross wall – that caused trouble, the technicality did too, and many struggled to get their distances right as the horses were asked to lengthen and shorten throughout the course. The massive triple combination at 5abc, with a triple bar of a 190cm spread coming in, followed by an upright and an oxer with a 160cm spread even caused Olympic Champions Ben Maher and Explosion W (Chacco-Blue x Baloubet du Rouet) a fault, and the penultimate Hanafuda Playing Cards combination of uprights with red, shiny planks that came on a very short distance of six strides or five long also caused headache for many of the riders. 

The time allowed played its part too, nine horse-and-rider combinations were clear on the fences but recorded time penalties. Belgium and Germany both had their teams finishing on a score of four faults, after all their riders ended with one, or two, time penalties. 

It was perhaps no surprise that those considered to be the best – read the traditionally strong jumping nations – were separated from the rest today; Sweden qualified on a zero-penalty score, Belgium and Germany on four – which were time faults only – Switzerland on ten, USA on 13, France on 15, Great Britain on 20, Brazil on 25, Netherlands on 26 and Argentina on 27. Next to Ireland, it was Egypt, China, Morocco, New Zealand, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Israel and Japan that did not make the cut. 

In addition to the three Swedish clears, Marlon Modolo Zanotelli and Edgar M (Arezzo VDL x Marlon) jumped an incredible clear round for Brazil as did the only 24-year-old Bryan Balsiger and Twentytwo des Biches (Mylord Carthago*HN SF x Kalor du Bocage) for Switzerland. 

There was plenty of drama too, in addition to Ireland's, Israel's and Japan's misfortune. Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa had a cliff-hanger of a round aboard Carlito’s Way (Casall x Lordanos) who he miraculously made clear the speed train upright at fence three, before the gelding slammed on the brakes at the Shibuya Cross wall – and it was only the 2004 Olympic Champion’s endless feeling and experience that brought the two across the finish line. The Shibuya Cross wall also caused trouble for Argentina’s Martin Dopazo and Quintino 9 (Quinton x Cracker Jack 5), who jumped at the very left of the fence to have it down which with their other faults put them at 14 penalties – still good enough to push his team into the final with a total score of 27 ahead of Egypt who followed only two penalties behind on 29. The Shibuya Cross wall also put an end to Mexico’s Olympic dreams: After a great round by their pathfinders Enrique Gonzales and Chacna (Chacco-Blue x Narew XX), who finished on only a time penalty, Eugenio Garza Perez was eliminated here as Armani SL Z (Asca Z x Cumano) twice refused to jump. 

It’s been a long journey to Tokyo, and for some that journey came to an end today. But, for the ten best teams it continues tomorrow at 19.00 – where they all start on a zero-penalty score and where anything can happen. 

Click here for full results. 

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