United States Eventing Association

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Though the U.S. has the hometown advantage, so far the Germans are dominating the dressage portion of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, sitting in first, second, and fourth. Simone Deitermann, riding as an individual for Germany, holds a sizable lead with Free Easy NRW with their 36.0. The experienced Ingrid Klimke (riding for the German team) is in second with 41.3 aboard FRH Buttx Abraxxas, while the seasoned William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain and his Rolex champion Cool Mountain round out the top three with 42.0.

Two of the five Americans competed this afternoon with very good results. Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos were the lead-off pair to go this morning for the U.S., and scored a very solid 49.5, to put them in 14th. Later this afternoon, Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle RM also had a lovely test, earning a 47.0 for 11th place. The U.S. team currently stands in 5th.

Karen O'Connor, who was bumped up to the team after Kim Severson's Tipperary Liadhnan was forced to withdraw from cellulitis, will be the first U.S. rider to compete at 11:32 with Mandiba. The sole U.S. individual rider Becky Holder will follow shortly afterward with Courageous Comet at 1:38. Anchor rider Phillip Dutton, partnered with Woodburn, will ride later in the afternoon at 4:02.

Leader - Simone Deitermann & Free Easy NRW (GER) – 36.0

Deitermann, 29, is competing in her first World Championships with the 13-year-old gelding. “I’m very happy–I can’t believe it. He’s a very good horse."

She's owned the gelding for nine years: "We've trained together a lot... I think he's perfect!" she said.

The riders got an opportunity to school in the main arena on Tuesday to allow their horses to become accustomed to the electric atmosphere of the massive grandstand. "My horse was a bit nervous the first few times," she said. "Today he was very relaxed. It was a very good idea to go warm-up earlier."

Deitermann isn't a full-time rider: "I study economics, and I work in accounting part-time. Not too many riders do two jobs, but I ride half the day, which is enough time to train. For me, it's very good."

Some questioned why she was competing as an individual and not named to the team, but Deitermann shrugged and said: "The other riders have more experience. [The selectors] thought it was a good idea to have them instead."

What does this first time WEG competitor think of this year's cross-country course, designed by Michael Etherington-Smith? "It’s a very tough course—lots of technical questions, but very fair. You can ride very positively through all the technical obstacles and the distances... I like it!"

2nd – Ingrid Klimke & FRH Butts Abraxxas (GER) – 41.3
Likewise, second-placed Ingrid Klimke found the course looking challenging, but very fair. "I think it's definitely a challenging four-star course, lots of alternatives. But If you take the long options, it's quite a long way," she said.

She admitted she's never done a Normandy Bank in water, like the Head Of The Lake will offer to competitors on Saturday, but she feels prepared and trusts her mount.

"It’s a fair course, and I think we’ll see lovely rounds," she said. "The time won’t be easy with the hills. You'll still need enough energy in the tank for the last combinations."

3rd – William Fox-Pitt & Cool Mountain (GBR) – 42.0
Currently standing in third is this year's Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Champions, William Fox-Pitt and Cool Mountain. While many horses reacted to the massive atmosphere the main arena, having already seen it all this April, Cool Mountain stayed cool.

“A lot of horses have never been in that atmosphere," he explained. "Personally I had a great advantage being here in the spring, I knew how he’d react – he’s very relaxed. I was as confident he’d do the same again and he did. I did the same warm up I did in April and I stuck to what worked last time."

As for staying cool on cross-country, "It's a very big and testing course. I hope the questions are very clear to the horses and will reward good, forward riding," he said. "We're Lucky to ride Mike E-S courses. After walking it, we’re feeling confident. There will be a lot of tired horses at the finish—the questions go through to the end."