United States Eventing Association

All five American riders are safely through to Show Jumping at the FEI World Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, after passing the final horse inspection on Sunday morning.

After a stellar day of cross-country performances at the FEI World Championships at Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, Team USA has leapt into silver medal position and is only 1.3 penalties behind the Germans who go into the final phase of the Championship in gold medal position.

The acknowledged master of modern eventing, Michael Jung, punched Germany into silver medal position after dressage with a leading score of 18.8 - his best at the CCI5* level, leaving his country 6.9 marks behind the Brits, who hold on to the gold medal at the end of the first phase.

While the British team is firmly in the lead at the FEI World Championships at Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, after the first day of dressage, Team USA is in bronze medal position - and only half a mark behind the second-placed New Zealand squad.

Eighty-nine riders from 21 nations will compete at the FEI World Championships for eventing in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, after one horse was withdrawn at the first horse inspection.

Laura Collett topped the first British one-two-three at Badminton since 2002 - and emulated her heroine Pippa Funnell, winner of the event that year - by adding just 0.4 of a time-fault in the showjumping to her leading dressage score of 21.

Although British riders are in control after cross-country day at Badminton, holding nine of the top 10 spots, most of the US-based raiders were delighted with their horses after a dramatic day of action.

Laura Collett and London 52 (Landos x Vernante), Olympic team gold medallists for Britain last year, snatched first place after dressage at Badminton from their Tokyo teammates Tom McEwen and Toledo De Kerser (Diamant de Semilly x Ariane Du Prieure II) with a beautiful test on Friday morning.

Tamie Smith and Alexandra and Ellen Ahearn and Eric Markell's 16-year-old German Sport Horse gelding Mai Baum (Loredano 2 x Ramira) are firmly in the lead of the large U.S. contingent at Badminton Horse Trials after the first day of dressage, and their score of 25.3 means they are in fourth place overall behind three British riders.

Marilyn Payne is one of the most experienced and respected ground jury members in eventing. She has adjudicated at every top event in the world, including two Olympic Games. Here are her top tips on how to impress the dressage judges - at any level.