Currently in first is Yasmin Ingham of Great Britain and 2011 Selle Français gelding Banzai Du Loir set the bar high with a 26.1, securing her a 5-point lead.
“His test overall had some really nice highlights overall. We’ve been working on getting more expression in the trot… he has so much presence,” Ingham said.
She added, “His first centerline could have been a little straighter, I think. That’s something I’ll go home and work on.”
Kirsty Chabert, also from Great Britain, sits in second on a 30 riding Classic IV, a 2009 Anglo European mare.
“At 15 years old, she’s improving. Hopefully she’s a really nice bottle of red wine and just keeps maturing with age,” Chabert said of Classic IV.
When asked about how she feels about the remainder of the weekend and her competition, she added that no matter how the final results settle, “I’ve got my own goals that I’d like to achieve.”
Only 0.1 point behind is German rider Malin Hansen-Hotopp and 2012 Holsteiner gelding Carlitos Quidditch K. A 30.1 puts her in third.
“I got him from a friend as a 5-year-old and she asked me to ride him for a young horse competition,” Hansen-Hotopp said.
After some hesitation with having other horses to ride and young kids, she agreed to give it a go. “He was really grumpy, bucking all the time… but he did a great job when he was jumping.”
With her husband’s support she bought him and since then their partnership has gone “up and up and up.”
In the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S, Boyd Martin and Commando 3 sit in first on a 28.9. William Coleman holds both second and third with a 29.9 on Diabolo and a 30.1 with Off the Record.
Find all of our coverage on our 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day event landing page.
Thanks to CareCredit for our spring and summer equestrian coverage.
This article about the first day of dressage at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!
