No one could overtake Lucinda Fredericks’ or Karin Donckers’ top scores from yesterday’s dressage (30.4 and 31.7), but Ingrid Klimke slipped into third for Germany today, Aug. 10, on a score of 33.5.

Klimke posted the best score of the German team with Abraxxas, earning 9s on her canter half pass, changes and final halt and harnessing the spookiness he showed from time to time. Her ride moved the German team into second (110.5) behind Australia (102.8) and just ahead of the U.S. team (115.6).

“I’m glad he focused, although he felt a lot of excitement,” said Klimke. “After his extended walk, a bird flew up, and he said, ‘Oh, someone’s out there.’ But he was back to his normal self quickly. He’s very spooky and hears and sees everything, so I’m happy [with my early ride time]. It’s quite electric out there, and because it’s so silent, they hear everything. [Team trainer] Chris Bartle said to ride every stride and sit and follow him.”

U.S. Riders Competitive
Phillip Dutton rode Bruce Duchossois’ Connaught into 14th this morning (40.6) but was slightly disappointed with his ride. Although “Simon” wasn’t giving his complete attention, he did have several lovely moments, including scoring 9s on his extended trot, canter serpentine and extended canter, but the flying changes were his weakness.

“I am a bit disappointed, not in the horse, but I didn’t quite have him powered right,” said Dutton.

“I should have gotten another 5 points. If he was correctly between my hand and leg he wouldn’t be as distracted. He was just a bit in third gear.”

Karen O’Connor showed up to ride her test in a new shadbelly just cut by a tailor in Hong Kong. (The U.S. teams seem to be helping the local economy, as McLain Ward and Michael Barisone also raved about the tailors).

Looking sharp, she said she had no idea what to expect from Joan Goswell’s Mandiba (named by his breeder William Michlem after Nelson Mandela—it’s Mandela’s tribal name) since he’s never competed in a four-star atmosphere, let alone the Olympics. Surprisingly, she said he was almost too relaxed, especially in the trotwork. But her score of 41.9 puts her 16th.

“His extended walk brightened him up, and the canter work was some of the best he’s done,” she said. “There were some amazing tests last night, and to be within 8 or 9 points of those guys; I’m happy enough with that, for sure.”

All five of the U.S. riders are in the top 25 of 69 starters.

Breaking The Top 10
Susanna Bordone had an impressive ride on Ava for the Italian team, scoring 37.8 for eighth place.

“She can be very tense, so I’m glad we rode when there were less people,” said Bordone. “She concentrated and was good. It helped to ride in here two or three days ago. I was very happy with her. Her changes were clean, and she was really on the aids and waiting for me.”

Mary King rode into ninth place (38.10) aboard Call Again Cavalier for the Brits. “He was beautifully quiet, even too quiet,” she said. “He’s been very sensible since we arrived.

She earned some low scores on her first flying change. “I don’t find the changes easy. The first change was jerky, but the next three were great,” she said.

The ground jury for eventing includes Martin Plewa of Germany, Marilyn Payne of the U.S. and Christian Landlot of Switzerland.

Winter Anchors Canadian Team
Mike Winter wasn’t thrilled with his test on Kingpin and blamed himself for not using the ends of the arena and having a mistake in his canter depart. He’s in 28th place for Canada (49.4), and the Canadian team has moved up to ninth.

“It wasn’t what I was hoping for,” he said. “I loosened up at the end; after I’d made a few mistakes I felt like I had nothing to lose. His trot is good, but I feel like I didn’t execute it as well as I could have. I gave up marks and am unhappy with myself.”

But he acknowledged that the horse has come a long way from the barn-sour horse he was sent to correct by a client years ago. “It took 10 days to even get him from the barn to the [arena at home],” he said. “He always knew where the barn was. I never dreamt there would be a day where he could go from the barn to an arena like this without an incident.”

He said team technical advisor David O’Connor has helped him take Kingpin to another level. “He wanted me to push some issues, and we had a difficult 18 months, but I’m a better rider and he’s a better horse for it.”

The horses leave for the cross-country venue at Beas River, where they will spend the night, at 1:00 this afternoon. The U.S riders have already been around the course three times, and they plan to walk twice more this afternoon and again tomorrow morning. The action will start at 8:00 tomorrow morning, with horses running every 3 minutes and finishing at 11:32.