We’re all set to see the first horse and rider in the ring after the lunch break. We had an exciting morning of fancy dancing, and Liz Halliday-Sharp currently leads on a score of 43.0.
There are some very heavy hitters to come today, though, including last year’s winners Michael Jung and fischerRocana FST. They’ll ride at 1:46 p.m. EST, and we’ll also see Lynn Symansky and Donner (2:02 p.m.), Jock Paget and Clifton Signature (2:50 p.m.), Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn (3:14 p.m.) and Boyd Martin and Shamwari 4 (3:14 p.m.), among others. Stay tuned for much more, and keep refreshing this page for the latest.
To catch up on the morning’s action, click here to visit our open thread.
#RK3DE: Website, Schedule, Live Scores, Entry List & Ride Times, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Rolex Guide, EN Tailgate Info, Twitter, Instagram
3:39 p.m. EST: Here are your top 20 after day one:
3:31 p.m. EST:
Shamwari 4 smiles for the camera! #rk3de pic.twitter.com/G4xnrAgK85
— U.S. Eventing (@USEventing) April 28, 2016
3:27 p.m. EST: Ryan scores a 57.9 to close out day one. We’ll welcome Michael Jung, Liz Halliday-Sharp and Phillip Dutton to the media center for the first press conference. Stay tuned for much, much more!
3:25 p.m. EST: That’s a wrap for the first day of competition here at Rolex! We’ll have Ryan’s score shortly and we’ll have your full wrap-up coming soon. In the meantime, live scores are here.
3:25 p.m. EST: Fernhill Classic is definitely making a great effort in his first four-star test and Ryan gives him a big pat. He’ll be happy to get out on cross country on Saturday!
3:24 p.m. EST:
Boyd @WindurraUSA wore his @ThePonyClub pin today during dressage @RolexKentucky #ponyclub pic.twitter.com/6fOcMvZTOU
— samantha clark (@samanthalclark) April 28, 2016
3:24 p.m. EST: Ryan hurry up! 🙂
3:23 p.m. EST:
A photo posted by Ellie MacPhail (@elliemacphail) on
3:21 p.m. EST:
3:20 p.m. EST: Fernhill Classic is also contesting his first CCI4* this year with Ryan. He’s Ryan’s second ride of the day.
3:19 p.m. EST: Boyd goes into fourth place with a 44.6 on Shamwari 4. Lovely! Ryan Wood and Fernhill Classic will close out the day.
3:17 p.m. EST: A little stutter step at his penultimate change, but otherwise very lovely and expressive changes. Can Boyd challenge the leaders with this performance?
3:16 p.m. EST: Liz Halliday-Sharp remarks that this test is quite forward but that the judges seem to be rewarding these types of rides.
3:15 p.m. EST: SO much reach on the hind legs in the left half-pass.
3:14 p.m. EST: Shamwari is a showman. Off to a great start so far with some lovely trot work.
3:13 p.m. EST: Phillip earns a 48.0 with Fernhill Cubalawn. Next up, Shamwari 4 makes his return to the four-star level for the first time since WEG!
3:10 p.m. EST: Not quite going to catch his stablemate, Fernhill Fugitive, most likely, but Cuba tried very hard for Phillip despite being quite keen.
3:07 p.m. EST: Lovely left half pass from Phillip and “Cuba.”
3:05 p.m. EST:
Jock Paget tips his hat to a very enthusiastic crowd #rk3de pic.twitter.com/mIj7BHm0bv
— U.S. Eventing (@USEventing) April 28, 2016
3:05 p.m. EST: Gina Miles reminds us that this is anything but a dressage show!
3:05 p.m. EST:
@Phoenix_Eq_Team and A Little Romance score a 55.5 #rk3de #eventinglive
— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) April 28, 2016
3:03 p.m. EST: Big pats for A Little Romance. Next to go will be Phillip Dutton with his second ride, Fernhill Cubalawn.
3:01 p.m. EST: Jessie is another rider who does a great job, even if the horse isn’t the most flashy on the ground. A Little Romance is a bit tight but trying hard.
2:59 p.m. EST:
Mikki Kuchta and Rubens D’Ysieux are always a lovely pair to watch #rk3de
A photo posted by Eventing Nation (@goeventing) on
2:57 p.m. EST: Jock scores a 47.6 for New Zealand. Next in is Jessie Phoenix and A Little Romance. “And I do mean little!” says Liz Halliday-Sharp.
2:55 p.m. EST: A very strong and accurate test from Jock. Lovely to have him back in the U.S.! Last he was here was in 2012 when he finished sixth with Clifton Promise.
2:54 p.m. EST: Meanwhile, in ChinchLand…
Chinch is on his way to meet some very important champions! Stay tuned! @eventingnation pic.twitter.com/xlKXAswoot
— Horseware (@Horseware) April 28, 2016
2:50 p.m. EST: We’re back underway with Jock Paget and Clifton Signature. A lovely, lovely horse. He’s contesting his second four-star here after a top-15 finish at Pau last year.
2:35 p.m. EST:
Michael Jung (GER) speaks with the media after taking the lead with Fischerrocana FST in his Dressage test with a score of 34.4. Watch more: bit.ly/RK3DE16
Posted by USEF Network on Thursday, April 28, 2016
2:35 p.m. EST:
Ellie McPhail, coached by Karen @OCEquestrian, is wearing a horsehair bracelet made from Teddy’s (Theodore OConnor) tail #goodluckcharm
— samantha clark (@samanthalclark) April 28, 2016
2:32 p.m. EST: A 56.2 for Mikki, and that takes us into our final break of the day. At 2:50 p.m. EST we will pick up with Jock Paget and Clifton Signature and will have five more to see before day’s end.
2:30 p.m. EST Rubens D’Ysieux hopped up from his halt like he was ready to get out of the start box. Soon, buddy! Mikki brings him back to earth with a little pat.
2:29 p.m. EST: This is the first time I’ve gotten to see Rubens D’Ysieux go, and I really like him!
2:28 p.m. EST:
2:27 p.m. EST: This is a return to Rolex for Mikki, who was last here in 2008 where she finished in 25th place with Oz.
2:25 p.m. EST: Ellie MacPhail will be thrilled with RF Eloquence, she scored a 54.4 last year so this is a big improvement. #movinonup #ordown
2:24 p.m. EST: Up next before our last break of the day is Mikki Kuchta and Rubens D’Ysieux.
2:23 p.m. EST: A 49.6 after a lovely effort from RF Eloquence.
2:17 p.m. EST: Back for a second go at Rolex is Ellie MacPhail with RF Eloquence. Joe Meyer and Clip Clop earned a 60.5 from the judges.
2:14 p.m. EST: Lynn Symansky reports that Donner got his tongue over the bit right before their test. So disappointing.
Talking to a v disappointed @LynnSymanskyEq after Donner got his toungue over the bit right before his test #gutted pic.twitter.com/0YWLuOymQB
— samantha clark (@samanthalclark) April 28, 2016
2:16 p.m. EST:
60.5 for @JoeMeyerEvntr and Clip Clop in the horse’s four-star debut #rk3de #eventinglive
— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) April 28, 2016
2:13 p.m. EST: Clip Clop got more confident as he went, save a few mistakes in the canter I think Joe will be happy with this horse’s first four-star test. And the harder of the two to boot!
2:12 p.m. EST: A little eager in the early changes for Clip Clop, but he’s handling things quite well.
2:10 p.m. EST: Clip Clop, owned by Madison and Theresa Foote as well as Joe, is contesting his CCI4* debut this weekend.
2:09 p.m. EST: Next up is Joe Meyer with Clip Clop. Where is your kilt Joe??? #dressageattire
2:08 p.m. EST:
@LynnSymanskyEq and keen Donner score a 55.8 #rk3de #eventinglive
— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) April 28, 2016
2:07 p.m. EST: Meg Kep with the jokes.
2:06 p.m. EST: Donner is happy to get the dressage phase done. These two are ready to put their wings on next!
2:06 p.m. EST:
A photo posted by Eventing Nation (@goeventing) on
2:04 p.m. EST: Donner is keen today! A bit of a bobble in the changes, but Lynn is sitting tight and riding beautifully.
2:03 p.m. EST:
#teamhorseware Michael Jung taking the lead @RolexKentucky with a 34!! @GermanEventing pic.twitter.com/Hiyka9zZ3B
— Horseware (@Horseware) April 28, 2016
2:02 p.m. EST: Now in the ring are Lynn Symansky and “The Flying Deer,” aka Donner. Looking lovely so far. Sadly the audio has gone out of the live feed in the media center.
2:01 p.m. EST:
@WallaceEventing scores a 49.6 with Simply Priceless in their second #rk3de together. That bests their score of 50.8 from 2015!
— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) April 28, 2016
1:58 p.m. EST: If anyone can point me in the direction of a database, I can only see through 2012 but Michael’s score is the lowest since at least 2012.
1:54 p.m. EST: They drew the short stick in following Michael, but Elisa Wallace and Simply Priceless are more than capable of putting in a strong test.
1:53 p.m. EST:
fischerRocana lowers her score from last year by 5 points. Her third lowest 4* score to date #rk3de #eventinglive
— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) April 28, 2016
1:52 p.m. EST:
It’s a 34.3 and a VERY hefty lead for Michael Jung and fischerRocana FST. Wow! #rk3de #eventinglive
— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) April 28, 2016
1:51 p.m. EST:
Wow – look how soft Michael’s reins are. Serious relaxation from a fit event horse.
— Pippa Roome (@PippaRoome) April 28, 2016
1:50 p.m. EST: Can we watch that again? Michael nods to the judges and the crowd goes wild. Meanwhile, Roxie is just like “just another day, guys. Just another day.”
1:48 p.m. EST: The thing about this mare, and about Michael, is she isn’t the most extravagant, flashy mover. But she’s accurate, as are all of his other rides, and he takes advantage of what movement he does have and knocks the pants off everyone else. They’re currently trending around 75%.
1:46 p.m. EST: Can we make #ForeverJung a thing?
1:45 p.m. EST: OMG. It’s time. I can’t. The Queen has entered. #queenbey
1:43 p.m. EST:
1:42 p.m. EST: Capato looks quite proud of himself and Jordan looks pleased. A very nice performance from this pair who is here in Kentucky for the second time.
1:41 p.m. EST: Capato has one of my personal favorite extended canters. Exhibit A:

Jordan Linstedt and RevitaVet Capato. Photo by Sally Spickard.
1:39 p.m. EST:
#teamhorseware & #makingachampion Michael Jung almost ready for @RolexKentucky dressage @luhmuehlen2016 pic.twitter.com/6i41XmcHf1
— Horseware (@Horseware) April 28, 2016
1:39 p.m. EST: #braidsonpoint
1:38 p.m. EST: A 51.8 for Kurt and DeLux Z in their debut. Next in, another West Coast rider, Jordan Linstedt and RevitaVet Capato.
1:37 p.m. EST: Just caught a glimpse of Rocana in the warm-up. Game face on, ya’ll.
1:35 p.m. EST: What a nice test from Kurt in his debut at this level. He has worked very hard to get here, and he’s been rewarded with a very consistent and correct test. Nicely done!
1:34 p.m. EST: Nice changes from DeLux Z, expressive though a teeny bit of straightness lost.
1:30 p.m. EST: And now, Kurt Martin and DeLux Z! This is another Rolex Rookie pair.
1:28 p.m. EST:
Rebecca Farm CCI3* winners Kurt Martin and DeLux Z will be the first to go in front of the judges this afternoon.
1:26 p.m. EST:
Don’t miss EN’s full report on the morning’s dressage action at #RK3DE, where @lizhalliday leads at the lunch break! https://t.co/1lVsyCk4Cj
— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) April 28, 2016
1:23 p.m. EST:
Ride times coming up after the lunch break at 1:30 pm ET! Watch: https://t.co/EfTJU70J5e pic.twitter.com/s89waDCUtc
— USEF Network (@USEFNetwork) April 28, 2016