Thierry Touzaint is hoping for a difficult cross-country course
This morning, the French Equestrian Federation introduced their federal staff to the press. Thierry Touzaint gives his opinion on the French Eventing team’s chances.
What are the French team’s strengths and weaknesses at the moment?
We’re really hoping for a difficult cross-country course, as it’s in this phase that our horses and riders perform best. In the last few months we’ve worked a lot on dressage, which is where our weaknesses lie and where other nations are much better than us. So we’re going to do our best, but we’re really counting on having a difficult cross-country course. I hope that the harder options for the obstacles will be very tricky.
Specifically, what position are you aiming for?
Like all trainers, I’m aiming for a medal. It’s true that we’re not one of the favourites, but I quite like that because when you’re a favourite you often don’t do as well. I think that we can at least finish in the top three in the team event.
Can France hope for a medal in the individual?
The cross-country course really needs to be very difficult, because we do not have enough horses to get by on points. Maxime Livio’s horse is undoubtedly the one which will get the best score, if he is on form. Then, it will really depend on the dressage. You need a good performance in the dressage if you are to finish in the top three. If we don’t have a rider in the top ten after the dressage, I think we’ll have no chance of getting on the podium in the individual event.
Do you already have a team of four in mind?
I have an idea, but I’m waiting to see the cross-country course first.