On Wednesday, September 19, the Brazilian Showjumping Team kicks off its participation in the FEI World Equestrian Games at the Tryon International Center, in Mill Spring, North Carolina, USA. Held every four years, the World Equestrian Games (WEG) is considered the “World Cup of the Horse”, reaching its eighth edition.

Yuri Mansur (BRA) & Ibelle Ask

Last Monday, the members of the team presented their horses during the veterinary inspection and took part in the warm-up yesterday. With great results in main international challenges, Brazil arrives at Tryon with the chance of making it to the podium. The team is formed Olympic and Pan-American rider Pedro Vennis (BRA) aboard Quabri de I’Isle, member of the fifth-placed team in the 2014 Games, now in his third participation in the Games. Yuri Mansur (BRA) was a reserve in 2014, now riding Ibelle Ask in this year’s competition.

Luiz Francisco de Azevedo (BRA) & Comic

Luiz Francisco de Azevedo (BRA) will be guiding Comic while Pedro Junqueira Muylaert (BRA) will Prince Royal Z MFS, both debuting in the competition. Felipe Amaral (BRA) was also summoned for the Games but decided to spare his horse, Premiere Carthoes BZ horse, which was not in perfect condition. Pedro Paulo Lacerda is the Chef d’Equipe.

Pedro Muylaert (BRA) & Royal Prince Z MFS

Agenda

The first day of competition features a speed test in which faults are converted in time, on Thursday and Friday, 20 and 21, has the 1st and 2nd pass of the final by teams and Sunday, 23 , the great individual decision.

With several important classifications, it was only in 1998, in the third edition of the World Equestrian Games in Rome, that Brazil secured a podium finish: Rodrigo Pessoa riding Gandini Lianos, gold medal. This time, Rodrigo is in the Games as the Chef d’Equipe of Ireland, but may return to defend Brazil in Tokyo 2020. By teams, Team Brazil was 4th in the World Equestrian Games 2010 in Lexington (USA) and 1994 in The Hague (Holland) , and came in 5th place at the 1998 Rome and Olympics in 2014. The top six teams at the 2018 World Equestrian Games automatically secure a spot for the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

In the week after the Games, Pedro Veniss (BRA) and Pedro Muylaert (BRA) will participate in the Competition, between 26 and 30/9, at CSI 2* W Indoor – SHP (Sociedade Hípica Paulista), as well as the press conference on 27/9.

History of the Brazilian participation in the jump in seven editions World Equestrian Games

1990 – Stockholm – Sweden

Ranked in 8th place, the team was formed by Nelson Pessoa (BRA) & Vivaldi, Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) & Special Envoy, André Johannpeter (BRA) & Heartbraker Joter and Vitor Alves Teixeira (BRA) & Zurkis. The best individual result was the 12th place by Vitor Teixeira.

1994 – The Hague – Netherlands

In the track, Nelson “Neco” Pessoa (BRA) & Chouman and son Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) & Special Envoy almost did not share the podium for the team that was in 4th place and also counted on André Johannpeter (BRA) Calei Joter and Luciana Diniz (BRA) & Graf Grande. The best individual result was the 12th place by Neco.

1998 – Rome – Italy

The victorious career of Rodrigo Pessoa goes through the WEG of 1998 when the rider won in the individual the gold medal riding Gandini Lianos. It was the second time that Rodrigo competed beside his father, with Neco (BRA) riding Baloubet du Rouet, a horse that would succeed under Rodrigo’s command in the following years. The team that finished in 5th place also counted on André Johannpeter (BRA) & Calei Joter and Álvaro (Doda) Afonso de Miranda Neto (BRA) & Arisco Aspen.

2002 – Jerez de La Frontera – Spain

Brazil did not have a good campaign and finished in 9th place with the team formed by Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) & Baloubet du Rouet, Bernardo Alves (BRA) & Oberon, Álvaro (Doda) Afonso de Miranda Neto (BRA) & Audi San Diego and Celso Ariani (BRA) & Fifth. Rodrigo was left out of the final by one point and finished in the 26th place in the Individual competition.

2006 – Aachen – Germany

Brazil suffered a downturn from its main group two days before the start of the competition. Baloubet du Rouet had an inflammation in the meniscus and Rodrigo had no choice but to give up competing. The team formed by Bernardo Alves with Canturo, Cássio Rivetti riding Olona and Doda Miranda with Nike finished in 10th place. The best individual result was Bernardo Alves (BRA) & Canturo, 13th.

2010 – Lexington – United States

Brazil almost did not get on the podium with the team formed by Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) & HH Rebozo, Doda Miranda presenting with AD Ashleigh Drossel Dan, Pedro Veniss (BRA) & Amaryliss and Bernardo Alves (BRA) & Vancouver d’Auvrey. After a turnaround, the Brazilians finished in 4th place, winning the first Brazilian wave of all sports for the 2012 Olympics in London. Also in the individual Brazil was in 4th place with Rodrigo (BRA) & HH Rebozo. Doda obtained a good final classification, in 9th place.

2014 – Normandy – France

The Brazilian team was formed by Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) & Status, Marlon Zanotelli (BRA) & AD Clowni, Doda Miranda riding AD Rahmannhof’s Bogeno and Pedro Veniss (BRA) & Quabri d L’Isle. In the 5th place, only one foul separated the gold medal from the fourth placed and 0.23 points took from the hands of Brazil the unprecedented team medal in World Games. The Netherlands won gold with 12.83 points, France second with 14.08 and States United in third with 16.72 penalty-points. Favorites, Germany finished fourth with 16.82, followed by Brazil with a score of16.95 while Sweden had 20.01 in sixth, all securing the classification for the Rio 2014 Olympic Games. Individually the best results were by Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA), 21st and Marlon Zanotelli (BRA) 23rd.

Source: CBH Press release by Carola May and Rute Araújo for CBH – Confederação Brasileira de Hipismo (Brazilian Equestrian Confederation)

Photos: © LC Ruas Fotografias by Luis Carlos Ruas