BADMINTON: Ingrid Klimke leading

Just 0.5 points is all the difference between the top three at the end of the first day of dressage at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

The German combination of Ingrid Klimke and Sleep Late (40.4), hold a slender advantage over second placed Ruth Edge and Two Thyme (40.6) who has a narrow lead over Terry Boon and Foreign Exchange (40.9).

Despite being a former Olympic team rider and the current reigning individual European bronze medallist, it is the first visit to Badminton for the German team rider. “In the past few German riders have been successful here so we have not been too keen. But since Chris Bartle has been training us he has encouraged us to come over,” said Ingrid.

Sleep Late, a British bred grey by the Thoroughbred sire Kuwait Beach despite a known ‘fly phobia’ in warm weather got on with his job in the dressage arena. “The test felt very precise and I felt that he did a good job,” said Ingrid who is also a professional grand prix dressage rider in Germany.

Ingrid thinks that The Lake will be one of the more difficult fences. “It is definitely a fence to be respected,” she said.

While Ruth Edge is making her fourth appearance at Badminton it is the first four-star event for Two Thyme. “He has every chance of doing well,” said Ruth. “He won’t have seen crowds like this before but I believe he is ready for the challenge. The Lake is quite formidable and will be the first sight of the large crowds which could be distracting. But there is so much to jump out there it doesn’t stop till after the Colt Cabriolet Bank (fence 23).”

The French-bred Foreign Exchange is also contesting his first Badminton although his rider has completed here on three previous exchanges. “I know he’s capable of a four star track and am looking forward to Saturday,” said 32 year old Terry from Leicestershire.