The second day of competition at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final 2023 in Omaha, USA, saw the tables turn as the level of difficulty was switched up a notch. Moving on from Wednesday's speed round to Thursday's class – judged as a Table A with a jump-off – the riders were faced with a whole new type of challenge. And the overnight standings certainly got a shake-up: Many of those who had hick-ups during Wednesday's speed round improved, while the top three all had faults. The championship has now reached its halfway point, and the Portuguese Level 4 course designer Bernardo Costa Cabral – together with his team – has contributed to great sport with his sensible work.
With this photo special, we look back at Thursday's course walk. First out, Costa Cabral surrounded by Devin Ryan, Martin Fuchs, Henrik von Eckermann and Marcus Ehning.
All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
The sole Canadian representative at the 2023-finals: Erynn Ballard.
Great Britain's former world number one and 2012 Olympic team champion Scott Brash came into Thursday's round in runner-up position, but dropped down on the standings after collecting twelve faults the second time out.
New Zealand's Philipp Steiner.
Team USA's Ailish Cunniffe.
Denmark's Andreas Schou and his brother Christian, who together run Absolute Horses in Denmark. Andreas now shares the lead with Pius Schwizer moving on to Saturday's final rounds.
Nicholas Dello Joio checking out the wall at fence number seven.
Uzbekistan's Nurjon Tuyakbaev is having a great campaign in Omaha. He ended up jumping an impressive round on Thursday with his 10-year-old Lancelotta, only having one fence down.
Ireland's Daniel Coyle with his trainer Jeroen Dubbeldam.
Mclain Ward making plans.
Harrie Smolders was sitting seventh after Wednesday's speed competition and managed to keep his position despite an unlucky pole down at the oxer at fence number ten on Thursday.
After placing fifth on day one, Sweden's Wilma Hellström must have moved into Thursday's second round of competition feeling confident. Unfortunately, the Swedish rider collected twelve faults this time around.
The French duo of Kevin Staut and Julien Epaillard.
Germany's David Will is the Chef d'Equipe for the Saudi Arabian team, here checking the course with Abdulrahman Alrajhi.
What friends are for: Despite his commitments to the Saudi team, David Will also made sure to support Richard Vogel.
Jur Vrieling was the only European rider that opted to bring two horses to Omaha. After riding Fiumicino van de Kalevallei on Wednesday, Vrieling had selected Long John Silver 3 N.O.P. for Thursday's round.
It is a family affair for Norway's Victoria Gulliksen, here seen with her father Geir and her partner Jordy van Massenhove.
Some serious support had arrived to Omaha as the competition moved on to its second day.
Great Britain's Harry Charles was keen to improve his position from Wednesday, here going over the course with his father, the 2012 Olympic team champion Peter Charles.
Then