HORSE DEALS COVERAGE 2008 Beijing Olympics, Hong Kong

New Zealand Eventing legend, Mark Todd was "pleased to be back at the Olympics" and "happy to be first out at 6.30am". Competing at his sixth Olympic Games, Mark rode 'Gandalf' to be in provisional ninth place after the first 25 horses, with 49.40 penalties.

Despite the 6.30am start, there were plenty of spectators to cheer on the first few horses. The crowd built as the morning progressed. The first session of competition finished at 9.55am and recommenced at 7.15pm. The gap during the day is necessary to avoid the extreme heat. Even so at 8am it was very hot and sticky. Canadian rider, Kyle Carter is pictured riding 'Madison Park'. After 25 horses they are in provisional 23rd place with 63.50 penalties.

German rider, Peter Thomsen came into the team after the late withdrawal of Bettina Hoy and 'Ringwood Cockatoo'. Peter rode 'The Ghost of Hamish' for 53.30 penalties.

Italian combination, Vittoria Panizzon and the Rock King gelding, 'Rock Model' earned 50.60 penalties for provisional twelfth place after the first 25 horses.

We met Heath Ryan just after this incident during Clayton's test and he thought it must have been either, "a Tibetan protest, or Australians waving flags". It was the former.

Long serving USA eventing team member, Amy Tyron rode her Thoroughbred gelding, 'Poggio II' They earned 46.50 penalties in the dressage phase.

Clayton Fredericks was the Australian Team trailblazer. Sixth out, the World Champion Silver medalist rode his WEG mount, 'Ben Along Time' (by Cavalier Royale) to earn 37 penalty points for second place after the first 25 horses. 'Ben Along Time' is owned by Edwin and Peta McCauley who live in Hong Kong. Clayton did comment that "my dressage could have been better, but if I finish on that score I will be happy".

Spot the Aussie. The Australian contingent was out in force to support Clayton. The crowd included, Heath Ryan, Shane Rose, Megan Jones, Team Vet Denis Goulding, Chef de Mission,Brett Mace, Team vet, Andrew Hunt, Showjumping Chef d'Equipe, Stephen Lamb and EFA President, Geoff Sinclair, amongst others.

A pleased Australian spectator.

Ireland's Austin O'Connor rode the Selle Francais gelding, 'Hobby du Mee' for a dressage score of 52.80.

Swedish team rider, Katrin Norling rode her Anglo Arab mare, 'Pandora' to score 52 penalties in the dressage phase.

British Team rider, Daisy Dick, had her hands full with her rather spooky Irish Sporthorse gelding, "Spring Along'. They earned a disappointing 51.70 as a consequence.

Polish Individual rider, Pawel Spisak produce a 48.70 dressage test riding the Polish Sport Horse gelding, 'Weriusz'.

Canadian team members, Sandra Donnelly and the Canadian Warmblood, 'Buenos Aires', stride out during the first dressage session. They finished the test with 60.20 penalties.

Experienced German Team member, Frank Ostholt rode his Irish Sporthorse by Crusing, Mr Medicott to earn 44.60. The World Champion Team member, also 4th individually at Aachen in 2006 is one of the fancied combinations for an individual medal and Germany for a Team medal..

Gina Miles from the USA produced a good dressage test with her Irish Sport Horse gelding, 'Mckinlaigh' by Highland King for 39.30 penalties and third place after the first 25 horses.

Oh to be so happy during an eventing dressage test at the Olympic Games! That's the look you get when you have just earned a perfect 10 for a flying change. The 2007 Badminton winner and 2006 Burghley winner had no fears about the dressage. Lucinda was reserve rider for the Australian dressage team for the WEG in 2002. Lucinda and her wonderful 'little' mare, 'Headley Britannia' produced the best Four Star test of their careers for 30.40. They are in the lead after the first n25 and there is good money that she will stay there. A great start for Australia.

And here's the score board to prove it. Lucinda and 'Headley Britannia' earned 10 from Swiss judge, Christian Landolt, 9 from German judge, Martin Plewa and nine from the USA's Marilyn Payne.

We are not ones to be put off by a ban on flags. Go Aussie!

Irish team member, Geoffrey Curran with another Irish Sport Horse by Cavalier Royale (as Ben Along Time), 'Kilkishen'. They earned 61.70 dressage penalties.

Long serving Swedish Team member, Linda Algotsson rode the Swedish Warmblood, 'Stand By Me' for a dressage score of 41.50.

Well-known British team member, William Fox-Pitt did not get off to a good start, with his (Irish Sport Horse) 'Parkmore Ed' sent to the holding box at the trot up yesterday. He was passed, but things did not improve greatly today. "The horse was very lit up by the atmosphere", commented a disappointed Fox-Pitt on his score of 50.20.

Didier Dhennin was the first out for the French team. He rode the Selle Francais mare, 'Ismene Du Temple' by Cabdula Du Thillard for a dressage score of 42.80. The French have only four riders as 2002 individual World Champion, Jean Tuelere's 'Espoir De la Mare' injured herself whilst in Hong Kong. Tragedy struck further for the French with the eleventh hour withdrawal of European Champion and 2008 Badminton winners, Nicholas Touzaint and 'Galan de Sauvagere'. Apparently the horse injured itself in the box yesterday. Nicholas was understandably drastraught as he was favourite to take the Gold Medal..

A problem with the much used scanning machines saw spectators queued up outside the venue for over an hour. Everybody and all bags are scanned before entering the venue and it can be a lengthy process at the best of times.

There are Australians in abundance in Hong Kong helping with the Games and well-known course designer, Wayne Copping is one of them. Wayne is a rather over qualified cross-country fence steward.

When they could, large crowds poured in for the evening session of day one eventing dressage.

Alex Hua Tian and individual rider representing China was another to cope with a rather spooky horse in his Anglo Arabian gelding, 'Chico'. Alex, who trains with Clayton and Lucinda Fredericks scored 49.60 in the dressage phase.

Riding at his sixth Olympic Ganes, New Zealand's Andrew Nicholson rode 'Lord Killinghurst' for 44.60 in the dressage phase.

Becky Holder riding for the USA produced the expected good test tiding her eye-catching, 'Courageous Comet', to lie in fourth place after the first day of dressage with a score of 35.70.

With her jaw firmly set, our Meghan absolutely nailed the dressage to produce a best ever Four Star score of 35.40 riding her absolutely magic and newly clipped, 'Kirby Park Irish Jester'. After the first day of dressage, Megan and Jester are in third place behind Lucinda Fredericks and last to go, Belgium's Karin Donckers riding the lovely mare, 'Gazelle de la Brasserie' on 31.70.. After the first day of dressage the Australian team lead (102) from the USA (121) and Germany (135)