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Beezie Madden: “We are really only half-way through”

Saturday, 14 April 2018
Longines FEI World Cup Final Paris 2018

Photo (c) Jenny Abrahamsson.
Happy moods at the press conference. Photo (c) Jenny Abrahamsson.

Beezie Madden, Harrie Smolders and Henrik von Eckermann – the top three in the second round of competition at the Longines FEI World Cup Final in Paris – met the press on Friday night to sum up their thoughts about their performances and what is to come on Sunday.

“My horse feels amazing, and he has made my job easy,” said Beezie Madden about Breitling LS. “And if it looks easy it is probably to his credit, because he does exactly what I want, he is careful and he is clever. I could not ask for more.”

“He has always been a good horse by nature, with a super temperament – even though he is a stallion. I think a lot of people don’t even know he is a stallion,” smiled Madden when speaking about her winning partner.  

About her strategy for the jump-off, Madden said: “I thought there were places I could take a shot, like I thought for sure I could do seven strides up the first line and for sure do eight on the last and I think Harrie did nine there. I thought if I was smooth and fast I could still be fast enough with him, and try to get a bit bigger lead.”

“It is always nice to have a rail in hand, but we are really only half-way through,” commented Madden on her overall lead ahead of Sunday. “We have done two rounds and a jump-off, and we might do that again on Sunday. So a lot can change, and I just hope my horse stays on good form and I stay on good form and keep jumping clear rounds.”

Harrie Smolders got the question about whether or not he regretted having not chosen Emerald for the first round as well, after his fantastic performance on Friday night. “That is always easy to ask afterwards,” said Smolders. “Zinius had a very good indoor season, and is naturally faster in the speed classes so that is why we made the decision and it did not work out like we hoped. But I must say Emerald jumped fantastic today. He was very feisty, but he had a lot of fighting spirit. On the other hand, I don’t like to lose but if I have to lose and it is to Beezie then credits to her because it was in great style and it was a great class.”

“I think we saw great sport again today with a fantastic jump-off,” Smolders continued. With nine in the jump-off, it was a good number. The first round was also a serious class with a short time allowed, and I think it was exciting to watch the whole way through.”

“I am really happy with my horse,” said third placed Henrik von Eckermann. “I did not ride so great in the jump-off. I was a bit careful to the double of verticals because I saw they had that down, so I thought I would be a bit careful but I was over-careful. Also to the second-last so I could get eight to the last, but the horse was jumping both rounds absolutely fantastic.”

 


Text and picture © World of Showjumping

 



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