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France and Germany dominate on day one of Badminton dressage: first-timers are best Brits

Playlist 19 Videos Danielle Dunn's Badminton first-timer blog: I'm disappointed but this isn't going to be a dressage competition 01:31 Shock result on final day of Badminton: record-breaker takes emotional victory 02:40 Danielle Dunn's Badminton first-timer blog: it didn't quite go to plan 01:16 'It was pure fun': nail-biting finish to cross-country at Badminton 01:27 'I can't believe it': Burghley winner leads the way at Badminton 01:01 New rider tops Badminton leader board after seven year absence from the event 01:05 Danielle Dunn's Badminton first-timer blog: the cross-country is one thing, but first I have to survive the dressage 02:14 France and Germany dominate on day one of Badminton dressage: first-timers are best Brits 00:55 Mark Todd aims for fifth Badminton victory: 'I don't have any plans to stop eventing' 01:00 'The biggest Badminton I've ever seen': riders' first reaction to the cross-country course 02:41 Frenchman leads the way at Badminton dressage: popular British combination withdrawn 01:26 Kirsty Short's Badminton first-timer blog: so near, yet so far away 01:25 Badminton first-timers: Lydia Hannon — ‘I owe this horse everything’ 02:30 Kirsty Short's Badminton first-timer blog: Badminton's cross-country course looks right up our street, but will we or won't we? 00:26 Riders' first reactions to the 2016 Badminton cross-country course 03:06 Ian Stark walks the toughest fences at Badminton Horse Trials 2016 03:31 Walk the Badminton 2016 cross-country course 21:51 Harry Meade: ‘Life is about challenges — we don’t know what’s ahead of us' 02:54 Leonora Smee’s blog: these are a few of my favourite things (I wouldn't be without them) 03:21

  • There were some surprising results on day one of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, with first-timers impressing and some more established combinations not quite able to top the leader board.

    French rider Thibaut Vallette put in a beautiful performance on his striking bay Qing Du Briot Ene HN to hold the lead on a score of 38.7.

    “I hoped that my horse would perform this well,” said Thibaut, a trainer at the Cadre Noir, which is the national riding school specialising in classical riding in Saumur. “He’s sensitive and can get tense, but this is our first time at Badminton and it’s a fantastic experience.”

    Thibaut Vallette and Qing Du Briot Ene HN

    Forty-three-year-old Thibaut rode Qing Du Briot Ene HN at the Rio Olympics and was part of the gold medal-winning French team.

    Second place is currently held by the German rider, Bettina Hoy (see video, top). Usually strong in the dressage phase, Bettina didn’t disappoint riding Designer 10, to post a score of 39.2.

    “My horse felt really good — he tries so hard and is so lovely. He is my one and only,” said a happy Bettina. “There was lots of atmosphere in there and ‘Mickey’ was a bit fresh. He looked at the first cross-country fence in the main arena next to the dressage and said ‘yeah, I want to go!’ so his flying-changes weren’t perfect but he managed to contain himself.”

    A slight shock result on day one was for Michael Jung to complete a test that was only good enough for third place at this stage of the competition. Riding his reigning Badminton champion La Biosthetique Sam FBW, the pair posted a score of 40.

    “He was a bit difficult to ride,” said the German rider of his evergreen horse, who is 17-years-old. “He knows this arena and there was a lot of atmosphere. I hoped it would be better, but overall I’m pleased.”

    Continued below..



    Best of the Brits

    The best British riders at this stage are Badminton first-timer Alex Bragg, riding Zagreb and Tom McEwen riding his Badminton first-timer Toledo De Kerser. The pair share sixth place on a score of 44.6.

    “There’s stuff we’ve got to fix and make better, but he’s gone in there and delivered the best he can at the moment. I’m thrilled to get over 70%,” said Alex.

    Tom said: “I’m really pleased with my horse. His walk wasn’t great, but everything else was top class.”

    The second day of dressage kicks off at 9.30am tomorrow.

    Don’t miss this week’s H&H (on sale today, Thursday 4 May), including a 16-page Badminton pull-out with full form guide, dressage test, judge’s analysis, course map and more.

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