Thursday,
May 3 - the First Day of Dressage
Thirty-nine
competitors did their Dressage on Thursday in front of the Ground Jury consisting
of:
Christoph
Hess (GER)
Barry Roycroft (AUS)
Jane Tolley (GBR)
A
total of seventy-seven horses passed the first Veterinary Inspection on 
Wednesday.
The following riders are entered to ride two horses: Daisy Dick; Mary King, recently
equal ninth at Rolex Kentucky riding Apache Sauce; Lucy Wiegersma; Andrew Nicholson
(NZL) Ruth Rdge; Dominic Ruane; Andreas Dibowski (GER); Clayton Fredericks (AUS),
winner last weekend at Rolex Kentucky; Rodolphe Scherer (FRA); Oliver Townend:
Harry Meade; and Sarah Cohen.
Three
Americans are scheduled to run at Badminton. Kim Severson and Winsome Adante,
multiple winners at Rolex Kentucky, (Kim and Winsome Adante are pictured at
the right above at the First Veterinary Inspection in front of Badminton House.
Photo courtesy of Robert Futh.)) and Gina Miles with McKinlaigh Gina and
Mckinlaigh are pictured at the left below also during the First Veterinary Inspection.
Photo courtesy of Robert Futh.)will both do theier Dressage tests on Friday.
Jan Byyny and Task Force completed their Dressage on Thursday.
According
to Jenny MacArthur in Thursday's London Times, an unusual lack of
rain has caused concern about ground conditions for Saturday's Cross Country.
Several British riders, including Zara Phillips, the reigning World Champion,
are concerned enough to be considering withdrawing before Cross Country. The European
Championships come later this year and top riders are worried for their potential
rides in the Europeans. William Fox-Pitt has already withdrawn his potential ride
for The European Championships, Ballincoola.
Lucinda
Fredericks, wife of Clayton Fredericks, the Rolex Kentucky winner last weekend,
leads the Dressage by a healthy margin of seven faults at the end of Thursday.
Headley Brittania was the winner of the Burghley 
CCI****
last fall. The chestnut mare received two nines and a ten for her final halt and
Salute! (Lucinda and Headley Britannia are pictured at the right. Photo courtesy
of Robert Futh.)
Only
one Brit, Sharon Hunt riding Tankers Town, is in the top six after the first day
of Dressage. Because of the top flight international character of the field, the
top six include two Aussies, a New Zealander, a Frenchman and a German. This may
well change when Zara Phillips and Yoytown do their Dressage on Friday.
Jan
Byyny and Task Force, the only American to do her Dressage on Thursday, stands
in twenty- fourth place, just below the middle of the pack and 20 faults out of
the lead. 
Jan and Task Force are pictured at the left. Photo courtesy of Robert Futh.)
Dressage
Results After the First Day of Dressage:
1.
Lucinda Fredericks (AUS), Headley
Brittania - 34.8
2. Jean-Lou Bigot (FRA), Icare D'Auzay - 41.8
3T.
Andrew Nicholson (NZL), Henry Tankerville - 45.2
3T. Sharon Hunt,
Tankers Town - 45.2
5. Andreas Dibowski (GER), FRH Little Lemon - 45.8
6.
Matt Ryan (AUS), Bonza Katoomba - 46.2
24.
Jan Byyny (USA), Task Force - 54.8
