Unreal, amazing, tremendous... The team medallists at Friday’s final of the Bank of America Team Jumping Championship at the FEI World Equestrian Games 2018 put their experiences into words after some fantastic sport in Tryon on Friday evening.

~ Team USA’s Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland ~

“When you are sitting here with what you have been dreaming for, for so long, you have to think back to where it all started. And for us, this journey really began when we started the selection procedure last June. And at that time, I felt – we all felt – that we had a tremendous group of riders, veteran and young riders. We did really prepare them through the lead-up to this, and test them with fire, whether it was young horses or young riders or veteran horses and so forth so that we had a good chance. So, we really believed we had that depth.”

~ Team USA’s Adrienne Sternlicht ~

"I love my horse so so so so much, and to be able to do it with her… McLain has been the most unbelievable mentor for me, and such an important part of my life. For me it’s been a battle of overcoming my own mind and I’m so grateful that Robert trusted me and trusted McLain enough to put me on this team and to be with Laura and Devin and McLain, three riders I’ve honestly looked up to my entire life for various reasons. I can only grow from this, and I’m so grateful for this opportunity!”

~ Team USA’s Laura Kraut ~

“To be here in our own country and to win against such great competitors, that was hard fought all the way to the last rider. It was amazing sport, I don’t think we ever will see something like this again, so thanks to everyone here for this opportunity – at my age!”

“The list is endless of the people that make this happen for us. They do everything to make our lives as easy as possible, and they are incredible!”

~ Team USA’s Devin Ryan ~

“It was sort of my dream through the year. Nobody knew who I was, I have just been working my way up the ranks building my business and developing some young horses and it’s finally paid off a bit. I have learned a lot along the road. I learned a lot today, a lot this week.”

~ Team USA’s McLain Ward ~

“It’s been a long three or four days, it’s been a long summer and year. My hats off to Sweden today in particular. I did not expect that charge at the end, they were so strong.”

“I knew the situation going in. I knew with a clear we would win and that I could not have a time fault. When I had the Liverpool down, I knew I had to keep it on the four. There were two chances to trying to win this thing, and I am very grateful that I have such a great team also delivering such great scores and got a second opportunity to help our team out.”

“This is her (Clinta) first championships. She is obviously an incredibly careful horse. I found going into the jump-off I was going to be at my best if I kind of just went in and did the best round I could because sometimes, if you try to do just enough and half-way, you end up making a mistake. So, that was my approach. I know how much quality she has and in that moment you got to do your best. I am very grateful to Robert for the confidence he had into this team, I am very proud of the people here.”

 ~ Team Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann ~

“I am super happy with my team! We said last night when we had a talk about this that there is a chance. We had to give clear rounds to get there, but I have to say we performed and we were mentally prepared to go into a jump-off. We knew that our competitors would be really fast, they are all fast jockeys so we would have to do better than ever before. I actually do think we did it better than ever before but today it was not fast enough.”

 ~ Team Sweden’s Malin Baryard-Johnsson ~

“It’s actually sixteen years ago that we had a team medal at the World Championships in the jumping. So, it feels great to be back. When you have a jump-off for the gold, it feels a bit hard not to win it but the US was a lot stronger than us today in the jump-off. I think it’s fantastic, we have a great team, a great team spirit and we did this together today and we should be very proud.”

 ~ Team Germany’s Simone Blum  ~

“I am also really happy. For me it was a dream to win a team medal, it is a dream that came true now – unbelievable – and also a dream to start on Sunday. That I am in first position is unreal for me, but we have two more difficult rounds so I think we have to stay focused. My horse is jumping amazing here, and I am really happy to sit here. I hope we will have some luck on Sunday, it’s been such an experience for me – just super.”

“It’s pressure. Actually, I was not wishing to be in first position ahead of Sunday – perhaps I was too good over these three rounds – so now I have to fight. But it does not matter how it goes on Sunday, it was the best experience of my life!”

 ~ Team Germany’s Marcus Ehning  ~

“As a team we are really happy. First of all, we qualified for the Olympic Games and then to finish with a medal. We won the bronze today, we did not lose gold or silver. Simone gave us the best start today, she had a superb round, then Laura was a bit unlucky but she really kept it up. Then Maurice’s round with one down and a time fault, it took a bit the pressure off from myself but at the end I had to go clear before Steve to have the medal. My horse is in an amazing form the last weeks, and I trusted in him and I think I had not such a bad round.”

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