Malin Baryard-Johnsson: "Time for us to be at the top"

Malin Baryard-Johnsson does not boast about how strong the Swedish team is.

- We are super strong, it looks extremely good, but at the same time we must not forget that more countries are good. But it is clear that it feels extra good when we know in advance how good we are, she tells SVT Sport.

She describes the team that rode together last year at the World Championships in Tryon, which is very safe.

- We know each other without and before. We have fun together but we can also tell from. It is very nice. There is also an incredible amount of knowledge this gang is sitting on, it is also a security, she says.

The fact that Sweden is a gold favorite and has high expectations is not something that seems to disturb Baryard-Johnsson. Perhaps it is the strongest team that the experienced Swedish has been a part of.

- We were very strong at the beginning of the 2000s and then we were a few favorites before but it has been a long time, if ever, that it was talked about gold in this way. It is probably time for us to be in this form now, ”she says.

She describes all four horses as magical individuals. Her own Indiana was found in Italy, by owner Charlotte Söderström. For Dagens Nyheter, Charlotte Söderström recently stated that she wanted to find a mare with a similar pedigree to her other horse, Peder Fredricksons All In. Indiana has the same father as All In, and according to Söderström, the mothers of the horses should also have some connection.

Baryard-Johnsson has found a real hit in the difficult mare.

- She's incomparable. We have had a long and tough journey together but this flower just continues to bloom. It is a magical journey we made, and still do because we are not ready yet, ”she says.

Indiana has a bit of a difficult canter and the riding ability is not always top-notch. But Malin Baryard-Johnsson has made himself known for riding tricky horses.

- Now we have found a way that works. If you adapt to her and make her adapt a little to us, it works, she says.

- Flippan class (Baryard's former top horse Butterfly Flip) it may be difficult to beat, we were still one in the world. There is still a bit left, but at the same time the sport has evolved, it is in a completely different way. Indiana is a horse that has everything, then she has a lot against her and those are the puzzle pieces I have to try to keep together.

What do you set goals for?

- First and foremost the team, it looks incredibly good. It's time for us to stand at the top of the podium. If we have delivered as we should, we will be well ahead of the individual finals as well. I have very high hopes for us, ”says Malin Baryard-Johnsson.