Andrew Nicholson and Nereo retained the commanding lead they took mid-morning to hold pole position at the end of the first day of dressage at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (England).

“From start to finish this was probably the smoothest test he’s done,” said Nicholson of the 15-year-old Spanish-bred gelding, who has three Badminton completions to his name. “I could ride him forward for the maximum marks and he stayed with me. He went into that arena and gave me 100 percent; he doesn’t look at the people, he’s focused on me and he knows what he has to do.”

Andrew Nicholson went into the dressage Day 1 lead at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton CCI**** on Nereo.
Photo by Kit Houghton/Badminton Media

The duo’s mark of 37.8—the only sub-40 score—leaves him with a 3.4-penalty cushion over the current runner-up, Jock Paget.

“I’m very pleased. He was very switched on, but he knows to be calm,” said Nicholson. “He has to work hard for his marks, especially if we go early, but the marks looked to be fair.”

Paget, the winner of the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton trophy, was pleased with his test aboard Clifton Promise, which scored 41.2.

“It’s probably the best test he’s done,” said the New Zealand rider. “He’s a real professional in the arena; he knows to stay with me and to stay straight. The horse knows his job and I thought it was a really good test; every foot fell where I wanted it to. When they go in there and do their best it makes you proud.”

Jock Paget on Clifton Promise in second. Photo by Kit Houghton/Badminton Media

Completing an all-male top three is the young German rider Niklas Bschorer, who rode a brilliantly expressive and forward test aboard Tom Tom Go 3 to score 42.1.

Niklas Bschorer on Tom Tom Go 3, in third on  day 1 of dressage.  Photo by Kit Houghton/Badminton Media

“He did a beautiful test; I was so happy,” said the 20-year-old, who is currently based in Wiltshire at Jacky Green’s Marlborough yard.

Flora Harris (Amazing VIII), Mark Todd (Leonidas II) and Pippa Funnell (Redesigned) complete the top six.

They Said It: More Riders On Their Dressage…

Pippa Funnell on Redesigned (in sixth on 46.0)

“I am relieved and pleased. The horse does suffer from nerves and when the bell went he started sneezing so I had to do a few extra circles before I went in, but he stayed relaxed and I was delighted with him. I didn’t back off in my riding and he got more and more relaxed as the test went on.”

Nicola Wilson on One Two Many (in eighth on 47.0)

“He can do a flashy dressage test and I think he showed a lot of expression. He did a 41 penalties at Pau last year and I thought today’s was a better test—he can throw in a few adaptations.”

Paul Tapner on Kilronan (in 11^th on 47.8)

“We didn’t nail the first halt, which made the judges grumpy. It took a while to encourage them to get back up to the higher marks, but he did some nice work. The score is 10 penalties more than I would have wanted so I’m disappointed about that, but when you piaffe in both the halts the marks are going to suffer a bit.”

Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh (in 13^th on 48.2)

“There were a couple of mistakes that stopped us getting the really high marks. I don’t get the feeling the competition will pan out in quite the same way as last year, but I know that if we can finish on our dressage score we’ll be there or thereabouts.”

Izzy Taylor on Thistledown Poposki (in 23^rd on 52.8)

“Last year he did the test of his life [and he scored 45] and this year’s test wasn’t in that league. He does suffer with nerves and when that happens he doesn’t go forward; he’s a bit of an introvert so going in there is quite traumatic for him.”

Jonelle Price and Classic Moet (in 27^th on 54.9)

“She’s not a naturally big mover, so you have to really earn the marks. She’s very hot – life is one big race for her, whether she’s in walk or going at a gallop, which is not very conducive to doing dressage. It’s a case of managing her as best as you can.”

Paul Sims on Glengarnock (in 29^th on 56.2)

“It didn’t really go how I wanted it to. I wanted to do a better test than last year, but that didn’t happen. He doesn’t like doing the changes and they let us down today.”

Joseph Murphy on Sportsfield Othello (in 34^th on 58.4)

“He’s not an easy horse in this phase. On a good day, if everything goes right, he can go well, but it didn’t quite come together today. He’s a very good jumping horse, so I try not to get too disappointed [with the dressage]. If the wind picks up later today it’ll play into the hands of those with laid-back horses as it gives them a bit of a lift, but the trees down at the judges’ boxes are quite distracting and some horses will react to that.”

You can find full dressage results here.