Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum steps into the lead.

Luck seemed to finally run out for World Cup leader Jessica Kürten in today’s, April 27, Round A. She and Castle Forbes Libertina pulled two rails, both in the mid-course in-and-out combination. The mare knocked the first element of the double, then lost her focus and crashed through the second fence. Kürten recovered quickly and finished the round in style, but the 8 penalties added to their score dropped them down to a tie for fourth.

U.S. riders Rich Fellers, previously in second, and Peter Wylde, previously in third, had some troubles on the course as well. Fellers pulled one rail with Flexible, while Wylde had an unfortunate three with Esplanade 7. The latter horse pulled a pole from each of the three fences in the triple combination, almost entirely losing impulsion by the final element but gamely stretching out to make it over.

Fourth-placed Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum of Germany put in a foot-perfect round with Shutterfly to move into the lead. Thursday’s initial leader, Heinrich Hermann Engemann of Germany did the same with Aboyeur W. They have moved back up into second place.

Round B commences in just under an hour.

Top Ten After Rounds 1, 2 & 3A

Place    Rider/Horse/Nation                World Cup Points

1.   Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum/Shutterfly/GER    4
2.   Heinrich Hermann Engemann/Aboyeur W/GER  5
3.   Rich Fellers/Flexible/USA                           6
4T.  Jessica Kürten/Castle Forbes Libertina/IRE       8
4T.  Ludger Beerbaum/All Inclusive NWR/GER         8
6.   Steve Guerdat/Tresor V/SUI                           10
7.   Beat Mändli/Ideo du Thot/SUI                        12
8.   Michael Whitaker/Suncal Portofino/GBR           13
9T. Peter Wylde/Esplanade 7/USA                  15
9T.  Rolf-Göran Bengtsson/Ninja La Silla/SWE        15
9T.  Helena Lundback/Madick/SWE                        15