That’s a wrap on the Badminton Horse Trials dressage where 2018 World Champ Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo stole the march on the rest of the field to take the lead on 22.1 penalty points. But there is nothing in it with the top 23 all sub-30 and difficult weather ensuring the 2023 title won’t be decided on the dressage.

Tim Price and Coup de Coeur Dudevin, the very last combination to go in the 64-strong field, is the best of the Kiwis, sitting in ninth spot on 25.9 penalty points, with his second mount Vitali in 11th = on 27.1. Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier are in 13th on 27.4 and Dan Jocelyn aboard Blackthorn Cruise in 24th on 30.3. Muzi Pottinger on Just Kidding are 29th = on 31.3. Dan and Cooley One To Many sit on 34.2, Hollie Swain and Solo on 44.9, and Lauren Innes aboard Global Fision M on 46.4.

Tim was very happy with Coup de Coeur Dudevin. “The test was good,” said the world no.1. “He has stepped up a level and become a better quality dressage horse. There were a couple of mistakes and the mud was deep, but he didn’t care about that.” And while Tim figures without the mistakes it would have been a “really sharp” dressage score, he is still pretty happy to be in the hunt.

He’s in 11th equal aboard Vitali and was philosophical about the 27.1 penalty point mark. “There is definitely more we could have done,” said Tim. “He is very capable in the dressage. We had a fluffy moment in the middle with a skip at the end of a medium canter and then went round the corner and didn’t set up the half pass very well. We came slightly off the boil after that. The rest wasn’t too bad after that, that’s just how it goes in dressage – it’s hard to get a clear round as we call it.”

Caroline Powell was pretty rapt with Greenacres Special Cavalier. “She was lovely to ride and hopefully will get better and better when she gets more mature.” Their efforts drew plenty of praise from many.

Muzi Pottinger was a little disappointed with their 31.3 penalty point score and says the horse certainly lived up to his name. “We know he can do better as he did last year but he was just a little monkey. He is 16 years old and pulls another trick out of the book and puts his tongue over the bit – which he has never done – for the first few movements, which were very costly. From there you are crawling marks back. I was lucky he did settle into it after he put his tongue back down and he did some nice work but the damage was already done. We need to do a clear round test for him to be in the sub 30s. He is called Just Kidding for a reason.”

Dan Jocelyn was pleased with Cooley One To Many. “He gave me everything in the trot work. The changes have always been a little bit rusty and at 15 years old he probably isn’t going to learn them a whole lot better so we will take that and move on to the cross country. The owners were very happy – most of them were in tears. He has quite a good little following that horse and it is nice to be a part of.”

Meanwhile Hollie Swain had her hands full with a very hot Solo. “We just tried to make our way through the test and do the bests of what we had in there. I think we are both pleased to have that behind us and are looking forward to heading out of the start box on Sunday. He is more than capable of doing a good test but when he is a bit hot like that the level of expectation was to get through it as calmly as possible.”

Lauren Innes was very disappointed with Global Fision M’s test. “He’s worked very well all week and is capable of doing a great test but he freaked out in the arena and I just had to take what I could get from him today,” she said. “It definitely won’t be a dressage competition this year and he is an incredible jumper and galloper so we look to tomorrow.”

There’s been plenty of chatter about the Eric Winter-designed cross country and with the ground deteriorating due to plenty of rain, organisers have made some changes to the course, removing some, lowering others, adding extra footing, and changing the approach to one. The time allowed and distance have not changed. The ground is most certainly going to be a factor.

For full dressage results, head to https://www.badminton-horse.co.uk/dressage-results-2023/

The horse details –

Vitali – owned by Joe and Alexander Giannamore and Tim Price
Coup de Coeur Dudevin – owned by Jean-Louis Stauffer
Solo – owned by John and Janette Bodenham and Emily Botsaris
Global Fision M – owned by the Innes Family Syndicate
Greenacres Special Cavalier – owned by Chris Mann
Cooley One To Many – owned by Lucy and Sophie Allison, Franki Clapham and Carole King
Blackthorne Cruise – owned by Panda Christie and Dan Jocelyn
Just Kidding – owned by the Pottinger Family

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By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison
Photos by Libby Law ESNZ