ROLEX IJRC TOP 10 FINAL, THE COUNTDOWN CONTINUES! RIDER NO. 7 Marlon Módolo Zanotelli

First time jumping in the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final

1) How did you plan this year’s season and which horses did you ride to qualify for the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final?

I’m very lucky because I have three Grand Prix horses: Like a Diamond van het Schaeck, VDL Edgar M and Grand Slam VDL. These are the horses that helped me the most to qualify for the Top 10.  I’m very grateful to the owners that I have a chance to ride them!   

2) What horse will you be riding in the Top 10 Final? Tell us about him/her? What sort of bond have you established?

I am taking all three to Geneva. Normally my plan is to jump Like a Diamond, a mare by Diamant de Semilly, who was owned by Enda Carrol who sent her to me to ride.  I was very lucky to have the family Gjelsten  buy the mare so I could keep her for the sport. She is a fantastic horse with a lot of character, very careful, very competitive. We got to know each other a couple of years ago when Enda sent her to me. And straight away, she was a horse that I enjoyed riding, I enjoy the way she is, how eager she is to win. She is a mare who gives everything when in the ring, always tries to do her best. For me this is everything in a horse.

3) This year you will be playing a leading role in Geneva in your first Top 10 competition. How do you feel about it?

Yes, this is my first Top 10! Definitively it is something special, it has always been a dream to jump this class. Not having participated last year gives me even more motivation to be there this year. I’m very excited about it, I can’t wait to start the show and to enjoy the moment. We’ve work so hard to be here for everybody, for all the staff at home, for myself, for my family, just to have fun, and try to learn from it!