Photo Gallery: Rolex Dressage Begins

Lynn Symansky and Donner. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

We are accustomed to the second day of dressage at Rolex Kentucky being full of heavy hitters–and this year is no exception. This year, however, the first day’s schedule treated an enthusiastic audience to numerous excellent performances that set the stage for an exciting final day on the flat tomorrow.

Will Faudree and Hans Dampf started us off at 8:00 a.m. with the test ride, followed by a total of 35 horses and riders completing the first phase of the 2016 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive were the first competitors in the ring, setting the bar with a 43.1 that saw them sitting third at the end of the day. Current leaders Michael Jung and fisherRocana FST were poetry in motion and took a commanding lead with a 34.4, a five point improvement over their score from last year. Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night also bettered their 2015 score by five points, which put them second after the first day of dressage.

The clouds rolled in and out, but the rain held off literally until the last rider, Ryan Wood with Fernhill Classic, gave their final salute and exited the arena.

Click here for a look at the leaderboard after day one, here for top quotes from the press conference and catch up on all of EN’s coverage at this link.