Bettina Hoy Leads Aachen After Dressage; Team USA in 5th

Bettina Hoy and Seigneur Medicott. Photo by Shannon Brinkman. Bettina Hoy and Seigneur Medicott. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Last year Ingrid Klimke dominated the dressage phase at CHIO Aachen, and this year a different German woman took command of the sandbox. Bettina Hoy soundly leads after the first phase on 31.0 with Seigneur Medicott, a 10-year-old Westphalian gelding, and also holds third place on 36.7 with Designer 10.

Bettina is competing as an individual at Aachen, as neither horse was named to the German Nations Cup team. Designer 10, a 12-year-old Westphalian gelding, is still on Germany’s radar for Rio, so the selectors will be watching closely after such a strong dressage performance.

Jonelle Price and Faerie Dianimo are breaking up Bettina’s stronghold on the Aachen leaderboard, sitting in second place on 35.3. The 11-year-old British Sport Horse mare is spicy by nature and really turned on the sparkle today, putting in a beautiful test for the Kiwi team.

Faerie Dianimo is named along with Classic Moet to the New Zealand Olympic team, which like many of the National Federations will make their final team decisions following Aachen. Final teams for Rio must be submitted by Monday, July 18.

Ingrid Klimke and SAP Escada FRH. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Ingrid Klimke and SAP Escada FRH. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Germany rounds out the rest of the spots in the top five and is holding seven of the top 10 placings after dressage. Michael Jung and and fischerTakinou and Julia Krajewski and Samourai du Thot are tied for fourth on 37.2, which gives us five total sub-40 scores in the competition.

While Germany is holding the leaderboard hostage after the first phase, it’s Australia that is currently leading the Nations Cup standings on 127.8. Chris Burton and Shane Rose piloted their Rio mounts into the top 10, with Nobilis 18 scoring 40.8 for eighth and CP Qualified scoring 41.2 for ninth.

Germany sits second in the Nations Cup on 128.5, less than a point behind Australia. New Zealand sits third on 134.2 thanks to Jonelle’s cracking score. Great Britain holds fourth on 135.9, with Tina Cook and Calvino II sitting in 14th as the highest-placed Brits on 44.1.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

The U.S. team is in fifth place on 143.1 after dressage, with Hannah Sue Burnett and Jacqueline Mars’ Harbour Pilot leading the way in 17th place on 45.6. Matt Brown and Blossom Creek Foundation’s Super Socks BCF scored 48.6 for 23rd place, and Lauren Kieffer and Jacqueline Mars’ Landmark’s Monte Carlo scored 48.9 for 26th place.

Phillip Dutton and David Garrett’s Indian Mill were the last to go for the team and had the opportunity to boost the team into fourth place on the leaderboard, but unfortunately “Monkee” didn’t have his best day in the sandbox. They scored 50.0 for 28th place out of the 42 competitors.

Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF with Joanie Morris. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF with Joanie Morris. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Now Team USA looks ahead to this afternoon’s show jumping, which starts at 5:30 p.m. local time/11:30 a.m. EST and will be streamed lived on ClipMyHorse.TV. You can watch live and for free at this link.

We’re lucky to have beautiful photos from Shannon Brinkman at Aachen. Scroll down to see a full photo gallery of Team USA from dressage. Keep it locked on EN for everything you need to know from #CHIOAachen.

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