Kentucky Dressage Thursday Afternoon Open Thread, Presented by SmartPak

Tsetserleg checks out the atmosphere at his first CCI4*. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

In the last ride before the lunch break, consecutive three-time winners Michael Jung and fisherRocana FST took their rightful place atop the leaderboard at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event on a score of 27.1.

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg are currently the highest placed Americans on a 31.2 in second place. Click here if you missed our morning updates. Keep checking back here for the latest this afternoon!

#LRK3DE Links: Website, Schedule, Ride Times, EN’s Coverage, Live Stream, Live Scores, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

2:34 p.m. 40.3 for Holly and More Inspiration, and that’s a wrap for day one! Here’s your current top 10:

2:32 p.m.

Seen this girl go from training level to four star and couldn’t be more proud to sit alongside of her signing autographs with my #dayone. #teamplatinum #eyesontheprize #platinumperformance

A post shared by Lainey Ashker (@laineyea) on Apr 26, 2018 at 11:17am PDT

2:28 p.m. Holly Jacks-Smither and More Inspiration, our final pair of the day are off to a strong star. This is another Thoroughbred, and he was the most successful in the field earning $55,000 in his first career.

2:27 p.m. 40.5 for Hawley which is four points higher than last year’s score (36.5)

2:22 p.m. We’re enjoying Hawley Bennet-Awad and Jollybo’s test for Canada. Looking great! Hawley flashes a smile after one of their first changes.

2:16 p.m. Ashley is doing a tactful job of working through tension. She’s sitting on a very fit Thoroughbred for sure!

2:13 p.m. “It’s a three-day competition, and I think we forget that when we ride a rough dressage test. The smiles are a lot bigger on Saturday night than they are on Friday night” – Will Coleman

2:11 p.m. Now we welcome Ashley Johnson and Tactical Maneuver to the ring!

Ashley Johnson returns with Tactical Manuever after a year’s hiatus to work out some kinks. With a 3* PB of 38.5, this pair will look to improve on their only 4* score of 42.3. #dressagedayone #LRK3DE

— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) April 26, 2018

2:10 p.m. 

37.6 for Jennifer McFall and High Times to slot into 12th place as we make our way to the end of the first day of dressage #LRK3DE

— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) April 26, 2018

2:02 p.m. Jen McFall gets us back underway. She beams a huge smile down the centerline aboard High Times.

1:48 p.m. 35.6 for Sharon and Louie

1:45 p.m. Sharon and Cooley On Show are trending a bit low (63%) now, but picking back up with the canter work

1:41 p.m. Next up is Sharon White and Cooley On Show. EN has predicted this pair to do quite well today!

Cooley on Show and Sharon White’s dressage average has been dropping through the past year and their 2018 average sits below 30. Their 4* PB is 33.2 but their 3* PB of 28.9 came recently at Carolina. @lffarm #dressagedayone #LRK3DE

— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) April 26, 2018

1:40 p.m. First four-star test in the books for Sara. Well done! Lots of pats, tears and celebrations leaving the arena. They score a 47.2.

1:33 p.m. Now we welcome our only rookies this year, Sara Gumbiner and Polaris!

1:30 p.m. Leah earns a 41.1, a new PB!

Leah Lang-Gluscic letting the pony clubbers pet AP Prime is the cutest thing I’ve seen all day. 😍 #lrk3de

— Collyn Smitherman (@frankenginger) April 26, 2018

1:29 p.m.

Yes, that’s David O’Connor eating his very first @ChickfilA #lrk3de @USEventing @eventingnation pic.twitter.com/AIQSlEXISd

— Margie Shoop (@Mshoop) April 26, 2018

1:28 p.m. Small details can make the difference, according to Sinead. Leah was just a hair early for her halt and rein back at A.

1:26 p.m. It’s Thoroughbred hour—Leah Lang-Gluscic and AP Prime are in the ring. They had a bit of a competition break last year, but are looking great today.

1:23 p.m. Great consistency from Andrea and Indy, but some disappointment with their 42.5.

It takes a village to get to @kentuckythreedayevent, especially when Indy 500 is involved… Go 500! @fleeceworks @mdc_stirrups @auburn_laboratories @revitavetofficial @ridingwarehouse @cwd_official @devoucoux @lwernerdvm @lexie_thacker

A post shared by becbraitling (@boobraitling) on Apr 26, 2018 at 9:34am PDT

1:20 p.m. 

She leads of course but the door is open. If anyone is still within a pole of her on Sunday they will have a chance. #LRK3DE #HistoryMaker pic.twitter.com/xex1fQlwsG

— EquiRatings (@EquiRatings) April 26, 2018

1:17 p.m. Andrea Baxter circles the ring with her super OTTB Indy 500. This is a pair with a storied relationship. Andrea has had this mare since she was a yearling.

West-coast based Andrea Baxter and Indy 500 own the distinction of having the most number of CCI3* completions (6) as a pair in the field. Their 4* PB is 37.9 while their 3* PB is 35.5. #dressagedayone #LRK3DE

— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) April 26, 2018

1:16 p.m. 34.2 for Waylon

1:10 p.m. We have our first Canadians in the ring! Waylon Roberts and Kelecyn Cognac are producing a very accurate, workmanlike test. They are looking to grab every point they can.

Waylon Roberts is another of the five riders in their twenties. He and Kelecyn Cognac have a 3* PB of 31.1 but the horse is one of eight making a first 4* start. #dressagedayone #LRK3DE

— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) April 26, 2018

1:07 p.m. A lovely, fluid test for Ellie and Ricky Bobby gives them a starting score of 34.8.

1:02 p.m. Ellie gets this ride back after her husband, Alex O’Neal, spent some time competing “Ricky Bobby.” As Sinead says, “It’s helpful to have a good riding husband!”

1:00 p.m. Ellie Macphail O’Neal and RF Eloquence have kicked off the second half of today’s dressage with a very elegant start to their test.

12:45 p.m. First rider back in the sandbox will be Ellie MacPhail O’Neal and Sally Crane’s RF Eloquence at 1:00 p.m.!