Guy Duponchel: A difficult selection

One of the selected riders, Franck Perret, is currently the world number one on the FEI rankings. Did this classification reassure you in your selections?

I can’t really say what influences my choices. I’ve known Franck for years and I know what he’s good at. The ranking list reflects what’s going on in international reining over the entire year, with different horses. What I’m interested in is the horse Franck will be riding for the Games. It was difficult to choose from among the twelve initial selections. But it was the hard work put in by those twelve pairs that made the final selection.

What are the French team’s strengths?

We’ve worked really hard over the last seven years and have managed to put together a team that’s a bit calmer with a stronger mental game. We went through a week-long preparation and the ambiance was fantastic. I’m also trying to not put too much pressure on them – in other words, being realistic about what we can do. Our main goal is to put in a good overall showing and not do like the last Games, where we had a subpar performance. Most of all, we want to represent the current level of reining in France and do what the horses are capable of. If certain countries are better than we are, that’s just the way it is in the sport! All of the countries want to be first, but there’s always a first and last place.

Do you have a specific classifications objective?

At the team level, my goal is to finish at 6th or 7th place. Besides the team rankings, I hope to see two riders in the individual finals, and today I think we might even be able to get three there! I’d really like to see that. I hope I haven’t jinxed it, but I think it’s possible if everything goes well, particularly the mental game. In any case, they’re happy to be here and to have brought French reining up to this level.