WEG: Official Horse Deals Coverage Week 1

Australian Individual, Christopher Burton open the show this morning riding Jean and Jade Findlay, 'Holstein Park Leilani' for a score of 52.30 after the first phase of the WEG Eventing Championships.

Irish Individual, Camilla Speirs rode her Irish Sporthorse, 'Potersize Just A Jif' by Crosskey's Rebel to score 51.80 in the dressage phase of the WEG Eventing Championships.

Swedish Individual, Malin Larson looks delighted with her 'Piccadilly Z' by the Thoroughbred, Narew during the dressage phase of the WEG Eventing Championships. Surprising they finished down the line with a score of 53.70.

Beijing Bronze Medalist and European Individual and Team Champion, Kristina Cook riding for Great Britain again produced the goods for Britain with a good dressage score of 40.30 and eighth place individually. The British Team are in second place with 128 penalties, 14 behind the leading German Team.

Swedish Team member, Niklas Lindback and 'Mr Pooh' a Swedish Warmblood by Majim out of the Thoroughbred mare, Trollop produced a lovely test and was rewarded with a very good score of 39.50 for sixth place. The Swedish Team is in third place with 131 penalties.

As experienced as he is, 'Ringwould Jaguar' is still able to be spooked by some strategically placed flowers. Spook apart, and it would have been quite costly, Australian team Member, Sonja Johnson produced a good dressage test with Jim and Gusie Saunders and Dan and Phoebe Johnson's wonderful Australian Stock Horse, Ringwould Jaguar for a score of 48.80 and 34th place, but there is plenty to move up the line as they did in Hong Kong. The Australian Team is in fourth place with 131.80 penalties. The teams are all very close with the German lead easy to lose on cross country day. However, the Olympic Gold medalists look very strong.

The sensation of the Eventing Dressage phase was undoubtedly Italian Team combination, Stefano Brecciaroli riding Maria Mazocchi's beautiful Belgian Warmblood, 'Apollo van de Wendi Kurt Hoeve' by Polidiktus van de Helle out of a mare by the Thoroughbred, Township. A this photograph attests, one could be forgiven for thinking we were watching Dressage dressage and not Eventing dressage. Tomorrow is certainly another day, but Apollo, that started in his first CCI3* just last April is said to prefer the cross country phase. They led the field right up until the second last horse and head in to the cross country phase in second place. The Italian Team are in fifth place with 135.9 penalties.

There was plenty of excitement in the Italian camp after the super dressage test by Team members, Stefano Brecciaroli and 'Apollo van de Wendi Kurt Hoeve' that must be wondering what all the fuss is about.

Successful USA Team veteran, Karen O'Connor rode William Micklen and Joan Goswell's Irish Sport Horse 'Mandiba' by Master to earn 44.08 penalties in the dressage phase of the WEG Eventing Championship for 18th place. The US Team are in seventh place with 140 penalties.

German Team member, Andreas Dibowski produced a super Team test riding his and Anne Katrin Butt's Beijing Gold Medalist, ''Euroridings Butts Leon' one of three horse by the Thoroughbred Heraldik in the German Team that leads going in to the cross country. They are in seventh place with 40 penalties.

The New Zealand Federation's hard working media guru, Diana Dobson gets down to it at WEG. Diana keeps the world well informed about New Zealand' successful equestrian efforts.

Most Australian eventing enthusiasts know New Zealand team member, Clarke Johnstone as he has been based in Australia for some time. Carke produced a good test with his talented 'Orient Express'. Clarke is in 28th place after the dressage phase, with New Zealand in sixth place with 138.3 penalties.

There is no shortage of excercise arena at the Kentucky horse Park. Here spectators eat their lunch while watching the Italian jumping team school. There is no shortage of excercise arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. Here spectators eat their lunch while watching the Italian jumping team school.

A tribute to Brentina dominates the impressive and permanent United States Dressage Federation Hall of Fame. A tribute to US Dressage Champion, 'Brentina' dominates the impressive and permanent United States Dressage Federation Hall of Fame.

Shopping here is not quite as good as Aachen , however there are still plenty of impressive trade stands.

US Beijing Team member, Becky Holder produced a lovely test with her typey Thoroughbred, 'Courageous Comet; by Comet Shine to take fifth place after the dressage phase of the WEG Eventing Championship.

British Team veteran, Mary King produced a good test riding the impressive Cavalier Royale gelding, Imperial Cavalier, for a score of 46.20 and provisional 26th place.

Recovering from a badly broken arm just over two weeks ago after her horse trod on her foot and knocked her over, Belgian, Karen Donckers produces a lovely test riding Michel and Jaques Pellaux's lovely Swiss Warmblood mare, 'Gazelle de la Brasserie'. They scored 38.80 for provisional fourth place.

'Happy Times' indeed. Sam Griffiths made his debut on the Australian Eventing Team and produced a very good test riding the Heraldik gelding for 40.80 and provisional tenth place.

Former Australian now riding for the USA, Phillip Dutton began well with the impressive NZ Thoroughbred, 'Woodburn' by Herewood The Wake out of a Sit Tristram mare, but a little tension during the canter work saw them finish in 32 place with a score of 48.20.

Just two from the last to go, Germany's Michael Yung produced the winning test of the competition riding Gunter Settter and Sabine Kreuter's super 'La Biosthetique Sam' by Stan the Man out of an Heraldik mare. The lovely, obedient, typey and correct horse scored 33 and heads in to the Cross country phase 2.50 points ahead of second place. It will be a very closely fought Championship.

Last to of the day and for New Zealand, Andrew Nicolson rode the Spanish gelding, 'Nereo' to produce a good team test for 43.50 and provisional 14th place.

Princess Natalie zu Sayn Wittgenstein rode 'Digby' to an entertaining West Side Story score to earn 78.75 and seventh place in the Grand Prix Freestyle.

To music composed by the Police, Christoph Koschel and the beautiful 'Donnperignon' earned 76.10 ans 10th place in the Grand Prix Freestyle.

Brett Parbery rounded out and historic show with his as always entertaining Freestyle. The most successful Australian rider ever at a World Championship, Brett rode Carolyn Lieutenant's 'Victory Salute ' to finish ninth in the world with 76.35% in the spectacular Grand Prix Freestyle.

British rider, Laura Bechtolsheimer ended her Championships with yet another Silver medal. She rode her 'Mistral Hojris' to a musical score created by Cees Slings (of Bonfire's Symphony fame) and 85.35%.

The capacity crowd just went wild for the beautiful and talented Spanish stallion, 'Fuego XII' and Juan Manuel Munoz Diaz and booed when he only received a score of 81.45 for fifth place.

Really the picture of Edward Gal and 'Totilas' Says it all. To his own music, "Tatally Totalis" they rode away with their third Gold Medal, winning the Grand Prix Freestyle with 91.80 %.

Steffen Peters claimed his second Bronze medal and only second Individual Dressage medal for the USA riding the beautiful 'Ravel' with 84.90%.

To the most beautiful music composed by Dutch pianist, Wibi Soerjadi, Imke Schellekens Bartels and Hunter Douglas Sunrise earned 82.10% and fourth place in the Grand Prix Freestyle.