<p>"In the end it's very important to have a good partnership with the horse. That you know the horse and the horse knows the rider and you trust each other. She's a very big fighter and that's the most important thing in cross country." Back-to-back Rolex Kentucky winners Michael Jung (GER) and fischerRocana FST added just 1.6 time penalties to take over the lead. Michael and the 12yo German Sport Horse, owned by his parents Brigitte and Joachim Jung, have a 5.9 lead heading into tomorrow, giving them one rail in hand.</p>
<p>Maxime Livio was the sole French rider at this year’s event, and he and Qalao des Mers finished the weekend in second place, adding nothing to their dressage score of 44.6.</p>
<p>“I love riding him. He’s an awesome little horse as you can see. That’s why he’s been to the Olympics and the Worlds.” British rider Zara Tindall and her 2012 Olympic and 2014 WEG silver-medal partner High Kingdom stormed up the leaderboard from 16th to 3rd with a double-clear round. Zara and the 16yo Irish Sport Horse gelding (owned by Gleadhill Stud Ltd. and Trevor Hemmings) sit on a 46.6 heading into tomorrow.</p>
<p>“That horse is nothing if not all heart.” Matt Brown is the top-placed American, moving up from 19th to 4th, after a double-clear round with Super Socks BCF, an 11yo Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by the Blossom Creek Foundation.</p>
<p>“She’s so game. She was actually looking at the spectators a bit, but I was up on my time most of the way, even with her not wanting to be right along the ropes. So it probably gave me a little bit better footing honestly.” Hannah Sue Burnett was over the moon with Under Suspection’s brilliant round, which bumped them up into 5th position after accumulating just a handful of time faults. Hannah Sue and Mary Ann Ghadban’s 13yo Holsteiner mare hold a score of 50.8.</p>
<p>“It was a long course for him—I’ve only run him once in a year and a half. I was trying to look after him. It was a bit of a balance trying to get him fit enough. I couldn’t be more pleased with him.” Olympian Phillip Dutton had a stellar day with his three mounts, as all finished within the top eleven. The highly experienced Mr. Medicott, owned by the Mr. Medicott Syndicate, looked better than ever after having time off from an injury. “Cave,” an 18yo Irish Sport Horse by Cruising, and Phillip sit in 6th with a 53.6 after picking up a few time faults.</p>
<p>“He’s the most genuine horse. He certainly covered up for my mistakes and jumped great. I couldn’t be happier.” Doug Payne sat tight as Vandiver pulled off an incredible save in the difficult Head of the Lake combination and finished their round strong. Doug moved up an impressive 16 places into 7th with Debi Crowley’s 13yo U.S.-bred Trakehner gelding.</p>
<p>Kristine and John Norton’s I’m Sew Ready leaps into the Head of the Lake with Phillip Dutton. The 13yo Dutch Warmblood gelding finished the event in 10 place.</p>
<p>“It rode pretty tough but luckily I’m on a cross-country machine, so I’m really really happy with him.” Ireland’s Tim Bourke, a 31yo based in Berryville, VA, and Luckaun Quality made an impressive move up the leaderboard from 41st to 9th. Tim and his 12yo Irish Sport Horse gelding sit on their dressage score of 57.2 heading into tomorrow’s show jumping.</p>
<p>“It was exhausting. I knew it was a really tough course, but it rode harder than I thought. Crackers has been around for awhile now—he’s a brave horse and a real trier.” Boyd Martin and Crackerjack jumped up the leaderboard from 23rd to 10th with their morning round. Boyd and Lucy Boynton Lie’s 14yo gelding by Aberjack finished their day with a score of 57.4.</p>
<p>“I wanted to take a crack at it. I didn’t want to overface my horse but I went the whole way around to see how much she still had left in her. She really tried for me.” Erin Sylvester earned the Land Rover Ride of the Day Award (and a 2-year lease on a Land Rover), for finishing closest to optimum time (11 minutes, 14 seconds). She and Mettraise, a 13yo Thoroughbred mare owned by Spike and Jean Sylvester, finished right on the optimum time to move up from 51st place to 13th.</p>
