Malin Baryard Johnsson, Henrik von Eckermann, Peder Fredricson, Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, and Wilma Hellström are among the riders Ankarcrona primarily builds a championship team around.
In La Coruna, July 16-20, the national team will try to defend the gold from the European Championship in Milan 2023.
"But we would rather defend it at the World Championship next year. We will come as reigning champions (2022) in both team and individual events," says Ankarcrona to the equestrian federation's website.
Building a strong World Championship team
He continues:
"This year's goal is to build a strong team for the World Championship in Aachen 2026. When we make the selection for the European Championship, we will definitely have the World Championship in mind. At the World Championship, we also have the first chance to qualify for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028. So it's extremely important in many ways."
The European Championship is seen as an opportunity to test new horse-and-rider combinations and broaden the selection ahead of the larger championships.
The national team is in a transitional phase. Baryard Johnsson has announced that there will be no more championships on the 17-year-old mare Indiana. Peder Fredricson's difficulties in the Olympic Games last summer on Catch Me Not must also be seen as an endpoint for the stallion, which has turned 19.
But while Baryard Johnsson currently does not have another horse ready for the European Championship, Fredricson is better equipped.
Amanda Landeblad, Petronella Andersson, and Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli are primarily candidates for other national team assignments during the year – but are in the running for European Championship spots.
"Never rest on our laurels"
Considering that four horse-and-rider combinations ride for the team and the reserve gets to participate individually, at least one in the trio will become a strong contender for the championship.
Jens Fredricson? He had to abort the Olympic effort due to Markan Cosmopolit's injury, but the plan is for the horse to return to competition during the spring.
"We have a group of promising horses that are on their way up. But we can never rest on our laurels and be satisfied, we must always keep working" says Henrik Ankarcrona.
Henrik Skiöld/TT
Facts: Show jumping national teams
TT
Championship team: Malin Baryard Johnsson/Indiana, Henrik von Eckermann/King Edward and Iliana, Peder Fredricson/Catch Me Not, Rolf-Göran Bengtsson/Zuccero, and Wilma Hellström/Cicci.
A-team: Petronella Andersson/Castres and Opaline, Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli/Kalinka, Peder Fredricson/Vroom de la Pomme and Alcapone, Amanda Landeblad/For Killy.
The B-team includes nine additional horse-and-rider combinations.
