It’s not out of the ordinary to see Kim Severson’s name at the top of the dressage leaderboard, but it was a bit of a surprise to some to see her sitting atop the standings at the Bromont CCI*** in Bromont, Que., today, June 11.

Six weeks ago, Severson and Tipperary Liadhnan completed the Rolex Kentucky CCI****, but they missed out on a qualifiying score for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (Ky.) this fall. So Severson, Scottsville, Va., rerouted to Bromont for a shot at redemption.

“I need to do it for me. I need to go show jumping again,” Severson said, referring to the refusal and five rails she and “Paddy” pulled in Kentucky, dropping them from second place to finish 24th. “I’ve been getting a ton of help from [show jumping expert] Katie Prudent, and I’ve been working really, really hard. So hopefully I’ve learned something. And I just need to do it for myself.”

So far, Severson’s done everything to set herself up for that redeeming experience at Bromont. She and Paddy topped the 30-horse CCI*** field on a score of 43.4. They scored a 70.40 percent from Sue Baxter of Great Britain, the judge at C, a 69.20 percent from Christian Landolt of Switzerland, at E, and a 73.60 percent from French judge Michel Assercay, at M.

Paddy, an Irish Sport Horse owned by the Friends of Kim Severson Syndicate, performed a correct, relaxed test, showcasing his elastic gaits and consistent rhythm.

“I wouldn’t even say there were any highlights, it was just a very solid test overall,” Severson said. “I’ve been very happy with his last two tests. I’ve been able to ride him for a lot more in the ring.”

Close on Severson’s heels in the CCI*** was Gina Fiore of Southern Pines, N.C. Her own Feral Errol proved anything but in the ring, laying down a cool and collected performance for 44.2 penalties. Ellen Sullivan of Newbury, Mass., co-owns the Irish Sport Horse gelding.

Will Coleman and Nevada Bay trotted into third place on a 46.6, and Northern Spy took fourth (48.0) in his return to the CCI*** level with Heidi White after a long rehab from an injury before the 2008 Olympic Games.

Molly Rosin and Havarah’s Charly stand fifth on a 51.6.

Three riders went off course in the three-star division. Coleman and Nevada Bay and Andrea Baxter and Estrella both made errors in the walk diagonal, while Martha McDowell made two mistakes in her canter work with Gaelic Marriage.

In the 25-horse CCI** division’s dressage yesterday, June 10, Kelli Temple took the top spot on Axel Rose, scoring a 45.0. The Canadian rider from Round Hill, Va., won the Bromont CCI* last year with Veelion and could easily keep her lead in this year’s two-star, as Axel Rose finished third in the Poplar Place CCI** (Ga.) in November.

Clark Montgomery took second with Loughan Glen (45.7), and Courtney Cooper rode into third and fifth places with Havasu Canyon (47.8) and Who’s A Star (52.6), respectively. Collen Rutledge and Dillon scored a 48.0 for fourth place.

Boyd Martin and Minotaure du Passoir, who placed second in the 2009 Bromont CCI*, lead the division again this year after yesterday’s dressage. They topped a field of 37 horses with their score of 47.5. Buck Davidson took second with Catalina (49.1), and Nina Ligon and Tokay stand third just .6 points behind.

Cross-country begins tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. with the one-star division, followed by the two- and then the three-star.

CCI*** Top 15

1.    Tipperary Liadhnan/Kim Severson/USA 43.4
2.    Feral Errol/Gina Fiore/USA 44.2
3.    Nevada Bay/Will Coleman/USA 46.6
4.    Northern Spy/Heidi White/USA 48.0
5.    Havarah’s Charly/Molly Rosin/USA 51.6
6.    Balmoral Tim Tram/Mikki Kuchta/USA 53.0
7.    Sweepea Dean/John Williams/USA 54.2
8.    Exploring/Jessica Phoenix/CAN 54.4
9.    Riddle Master/Rebecca Howard/CAN 54.6
10.    Cruise Lion/Buck Davidson/USA 55.4
11.    Mazetto/Ashley Kehoe/USA 56.6
12.    Exponential/Jessica Phoenix/CAN 57.6
=13.    Call On Me/Callie Judy/USA 58.0
=13.    Special Blend/Casey McKissock/USA 58.0
=13.    JB’s Star/Jennifer Simmons/USA 58.0

CCI** Top 15

1.    Axel Rose/Kelli McMullen-Temple/CAN 45.0
2.    Loughan Glen/Clark Montgomery/USA 45.7
3.    Havasu Canyon/Courtney Cooper/USA 47.0
4.    Dillon/Collen Rutledge/USA 48.0
5.    Who’s A Star/Courtney Cooper/USA 52.6
6.    Haifa Bay On The 1st Of November/Boyd Martin/USA 53.1
7.    Andromaque/Will Faudree/USA 54.6
8.    Mighty Mangaroo/Laura VanderVliet/USA 55.2
9.    Fionn McCuhal/Shandiss Wewiora/CAN 55.4
10.    Rolling Stone II/Nate Chambers/USA 56.1
11.    Manolo Blahnik/Sara Kozumplik/USA 56.3
12.    Umi/Kassidy Kirchner/USA 57.0
13.    Amazing Grace/Missy Miller/USA 57.2
14.    Flying Finn/Penny Rowland/CAN 58.3
15.    FDF Riverina/Susanna Holder/USA 59.1

CCI* Top 15

1.    Minotaure du Passoir/Boyd Martin/USA 47.5
2.    Catalina/ Buck Davidson/USA 49.1
3.    Tokay/ Nina Ligon/THA 49.7
4.    Rubies To Diamonds/ Rebecca Rebus/CAN 50.3
5.    Universe/ Clark Montgomery/USA 50.6
6.    Checkout The Charmer/Alexandra Curtiss/USA 52.2
=7.    Sal/ Buck Davidson/USA 52.5
=7.    C’est La Vie/ Laura Vello/USA 52.5
=9.    Delta Ditto/ Sara Kozumplik/USA 52.8
=9.    Combalanche/ Paige Juliette Garson/USA 52.8
11.    Charla/Boyd Martin/USA 53.1
12.    Houdini/Katie Ruppel/USA 54.7
=13.    Davignbrook/Heidi White/USA 55.0
=13.    Volare/Katie Duke/CAN 55.0
15.    Dauntless Heart/Erika Johnson/USA 55.6