World of Showjumping gets Rolf-Göran Bengtsson’s expert view on the first round of the Longines FEI World Cup Final in Gothenburg. Here the Swedish ace talks about the course, the competitors and what to expect for the coming rounds of the final. 

“The course for the first round of the Longines FEI World Cup Final here in Gothenburg was very-well build by Santiago Varela. There were a lot of options where the riders for example could chose to do a stride less, or go for a tighter turn – to save time. Some took risk and had to pay the penalty in form of three seconds added, but that is how the class is supposed to be. 

The less experienced horse-and-rider combinations came out of Thursday’s opening round well, like Japan’s Shino Hirota and Life Is Beautiful, that did a very good round even with the three poles down at the very end of the course. In general, the riders from the other leagues than the Western European and the North American had a bit harder time here on the opening day but that is perhaps because they don’t have the same chance as we do to prepare and get ready with high-level shows ahead of the final. Still, many of them ride very well and they are getting closer to the level we see in Western Europe and North America which is great news for the sport. 

Many horses jumped really, really good yesterday – the level was high. This forced the riders to push for the time to have a chance to be within reach of the top. That also caused quite a few unlucky faults, like for favourites like Beezie and Breitling or Henrik and Mary Lou. Many hoped for a clear round for Henrik yesterday, so he would be a bit more up in front on the standings – but with one unlucky pole down it ended different. The margins are just so small.

I think Santiago will toughen it for today’s second round. He thought he build big yesterday, but still the horses jumped it easy. The level is so high here, that I think we will see an even bigger course here today. 

There are so many good horse-and-rider combinations here that it’s difficult to pick out any favourites. Steve is of course in a good position, and I also thought that Pieter and Francois’ horses jumped very good yesterday – both have the power and the scope in their horses to hang in there. Olivier’s H&M Legend of Love jumped fantastic. Maybe she doesn’t have the last scope, but with her fighting spirit you really have to count them in. Martin Fuchs is another one we have to mention – he and Clooney did it really well yesterday and they have been so consistent lately. 

Sunday will be the real game-changer. By then some horses are quite tired and can’t keep up anymore, and a lot can happen then. For sure on a day like this, it will also be an advantage to have a horse that has been in a championship before. As a rider, you then know the strengths and weaknesses of your horse, what it can do and not, how to warm up and which choices to make in the ring. 

I think all the riders really like to have the final here in Gothenburg, it feels a bit like it belongs here. The atmosphere is great, and the audience is very enthusiastic – more in most other places. They are also a very fair audience I think, truly one of the best in the world.”

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