HORSE DEALS COVERAGE 2008 Beijing Olympics, Hong Kong

Russian rider, Tatiana Miloserdova with the Hanoverian gelding by Warkant, 'Wat A Feeling'. They received 61.875% for provisional 15th place after the first day of Grand Prix competition.

Heath Ryan with Clyde Wunderwald's 'Greenoaks Dundee' were first out for the Australian Dressage team. The judges were considered to be "rather tough" on the first day of the Grand Prix, which over two days determines the Team medalists. Heath "was pleased with Dundee, but disappointed be was unable to get a better score". They received 62.54% and are in 14th place after day one.

Heike Kemmer was first out for the German team with her wonderful Bon Bonapart gelding, 'Bonaparte'. They got the Germans off to a good start with 72.25% for first place after the first day of competition.

Australian dressage team rookie, Hayley Beresford created a great impression with Edvardo Fischer's Lusitano stallion, 'Relampago'. They produced a delightful and harmonious test for 65.58%. Although not a personal best, it might be enough to get them through to the Special for the top 25 horses after the Grand Prix. They are currently in tenth place.

Madison Armstrong from Perth who is a memeber of the Busselton Pony Club is a colourful spectator.

The two necessities for the local spectators, a fan and an FM radio to listen to the commentary in either English or Chinese.

Well known young horse rider, Hans Peter Minderhoud opened the Olympic dressage competition and was the first out for the Netherlands. He rode the beautiful 'Nadine' by TCN Partout for 69.625% and fifth place after the first day of Grand Prix competition.

It was certainly a night for Lusitano stallions. Daniel Pinto appeared on the first of them, 'Galopin de la Font' by Espanto. They took 13th place after the first day of competition with 63.083%.

Sixteen year old Luiza Almeida from Brazil is by far the youngest competitor in the Equestrian competition. Swimmers, yes, gymnasts, yes, but 16 and riding at the Olympic Games is news. She rode the Lusitano stallion, 'Samba' by Inca to earn 60.83% and provisional 18th place.

Patrik Kittel riding the impressive Florestan 1 stallion, 'Floresco' for Sweden. They received 67.125% for provisional seventh place after the first day of Grand Prix competition.

Jane Gregory, who helps Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks with their dressage, was first out for Great Britain in the Grand Prix. She rode the Danish gelding, 'Lucky Star' by Lucky Light to earn 63.375% for provisional 12th place.

Japanese rider, Yuko Kitai with the Swedish Warmblood gelding, 'Rambo' by Nactus. Their percentage, 59.25% saw them in 23rd place after the first day of grand Prix competition.

Canadian, Leslie Reid with her 12 year old Jazz gelding, 'Orion'. They percentage of 59.75 saw them in provisional 22nd place.

Never ones to miss a good show, L-R Meredith Ashton from Albury and Jenny Sheppard from Wilberforce take in the Olympic atmosphere in Hong Kong.

Riding for Denmark on a Danish horse, Anne van Olst with 'Clearwater' by Carpaccio earned 67.375% for provisional sixth place.

Frenchman, Marc Boblet rode the Belgian Warmblood gelding, 'Whitini Star' by Pik Solo for 66.12% and provisional eighth place.

Internationally famous equestrian photographer, Arnd Bronkorst, captures the action at Sha Tin. The locals are mad about having their picture taken you are often stopped to take a family portrait on their own camera.

Iryna Lis rode 'Redford' for Belarus. The gelding by Homers earned 63.50% for 11th place after the first day of Grand Prix competition.

Courtney King produced a super test with her Ferro gelding, 'Mythilus'. She was ranked from first to sixth by the judges and rested overnight in fourth place with 70.458%.

Another handsome combination from Brazil. Leandro Silva rode yet another Lusitano stallion, 'Oceano Do Top' by Fiancado De Flandes to earn 60.125% for provisional 21st place.

The judges placed Imke Schellekens-Bartels and 'Sunrise' by Singular Joter from second to seventh. The 2007 European Champion Team members earned 70.875% for overnight third place.

Carlos Pinto, (we are not sure what his relationship is with Daniel Pinto, but our guess is that they are brothers) with the Lusitano gelding, 'Notavel' by Forcado. They received 61.70% for provisional 17th place in the Grand Prix.

Chinese rider, Lina Liu understandably received a lot of attention, with the local photographers bolting to get photographers of her after the test. She rode 'Piroschka' to earn 60.625% for 19th place at the end of the first day of Grand Prix competition.

Swedish combination, Tinne Silfven and 'Solos Carex' a Danish Warmblood by Castro earned 66.04% for ninth place at the end of the first day of the Grand Prix competition. The Olympic Team medal is determined by the cumulative scores from the Grand Prix. The top 25 go through to the Special and then the top 15 go through to the Kur.

Korean, Junsang Choi did not enjoy the best of tests with his Holstein gelding, 'Cinque Cento' by Cambridge, he was nonetheless delighted with his horse and delighted to be at the Olympic Games. Thy earned 57.33% for provisional 24th place.

British rider, Emma Hindle and her super impressive Wenzel 1 stallion, 'Lancet'. The judges were pretty much in accord, except for US Judge Gary Rockwell who placed them fifth. At the end of the first day of Grand Prix dressage, they are in second place with 71.125%.

Riding for Japan, Meiki Yagi earned 60.167% riding the Don Primero gelding, 'Dow Jones' for overnight 20th place.

The Australians may not win the dressage, but on the first day of Grand Prix competition, they certainly received the loudest cheers.

Lucky Georgia Taylor from the Gold Coast declared that she was "having a great time" at the Olympics.

It is a bit tricky with photographing the crowd, as the tickets people have seen to be all over the place. Coincidentally we took a photograph of Kelsey Taylor some time after taking her sister, Georgia.