London 2012 Olympic Games - Dressage

Based in England, Australian Team Veterinarian, Graham Potts concentrates on the Showjumping Team Trot Up this afternoon.

Julia Hargreaves trots up be lovely Indoctro gelding, 'Vedor'.

It's a neat short back and sides for Australian team Member, Matt Williams. Now based in the USA Matt is pictured trotting up the Heartbreaker gelding, 'Watch me'.

European based South Australian jumping rider, Amy Graham looks serious as she trots up the Australian Jumping Team Reserve, 'Bella Baloubet'. The attractive Baloubet de Rouet stallion looks to be posing for the camera.

Danish combination, Anne van Olst and 'Clearwater' opened the Dressage action at the London Games. After 25 horses have gone on Day 1 of the Grand Prix, they hold eighth place with 71.32%. This year for the first time the Dressage Team Medals are determined by the combined scores of the Grand prix and Special, with the Individual determined by the Grand Prix Freestyle.

Based in Holland, Moroccan rider, Yassine Rahmouni acquired his horse as the result of a chance meeting with the King of Morocco on a jet ski. He is pictured aboard the result of the chance meeting, the Florencio 1 stallion, 'Floresco' that earned 64.45%.

Canadian rider, Jacqueline Brooks is pictured during the first day of Grand Prix Dressage riding the D Day gelding, 'D'Niro' that earned 68.52%.

German Team Member, Anabel Balkenhol is pictured riding her father, Klaus Balkenhol's De Niro gelding, 'Dablino' that holds ninth place after the first 225 of the grand Prix with 70.93%.

Australian Team Member, Kristy Oatley earned 68.22% riding the 12 year old Caletto 1 gelding, 'Clive' for provisional 19th place.

Not five , but seven Dressage judges are presiding over the competition at London, and all seven marks are counted. The judge at K seems sto be a little off the pace.

Jose Manuel Martin Dockx and the Andalusian stallion, 'Grandioso' by Adelante, earned 69.04% to hold 16th place after the first 25 have gone in the Grand Prix.

Popular British Team Member, Carl Hester produced a very safe and steady test and did not take any risks riding the lovely Metall stallion, 'Uthopia'. It was enough however to claim the lead at the end of Dressage day one with 77.72%. Carl has been working on Uthopia's fitness and he has been working on a water treadmill and has lost 60 kgs in the last six weeks. "He is fitter and better than last year".

Carl Hester, leader of the Team GB charge acknowledges the applause as he leaves the arena on the beautiful, 'Uthopia'.

The first for Team USA, Jan Ebeling rode the Argentinus mare, 'Rafalca' to earn 70.24% and provisional 13th place after Day1i of the Grand Prix competition.

Swedish pair, Minne Telde and the Sandro Hit stallion, 'Santana' paid dearly for strong resistance in the second pirouette. They were working on a higher score , but dropped to 67.47 and 20th place on day one of the Grand Prix. With the Grand Prix Special also to count for the Team competition, some horses will redeem themselves and some my fall off the pace after the break of four days.

Polish Individual, Michael Rapecwicz and the Polish bred, 'Randon' earned 66.91% on the first day of Grand Prix Dressage competition.

Dutch Dressage heroine Anky van Grunsven is back in the dressage arena where she belongs. She is pictured with her successful partner, 'Salinero' that produced a 73.34% test at 18 years old. They hold fifth place after day one of the Grand Prix.

German Team member, Dorothee Schneider is pictured with the Don Frederico mare, 'Diva Royal' that currently holds third place after the first day of Grand Prix competition, with 76.27%.

Hiroshima Chokes first competed at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964 in the show jumping arena. He rode 'Whisper' by Wolkenstein II to score 68.73% and 17th place at the end of day One.

The weather changes very quickly at Greenwich, as Denmark's, Anna Kasprzak will tell you. She rode the beautiful, 'Donnperignon' by Donnerhall, formerly ridden by Christoph Koschel at the WEG in Kentucky for a good score of 75.28% and fourth place at the end of Day one of Grand Prix Dressage.

Australian team Member, Lyndal Oatley had hoped to top 70% with her Sandro Hit stallion, 'Sandro Boy', sometimes called "Storm Boy", as he always seem to bring the rain. However they missed the worst of it and scored 69.37% for 15th place at the end of day one.

Australian team member, Lyndal Oatley gives the crowd (and that's just her immediate family) a smile and a wave as she leaves the arena with 'Sandro Boy'.

Riding for Finland, Emma Kanerva rode the Espri gelding, 'Spirit' to produce a good test for 12th place with 70.30%.

Belgian Individual rider, Claudia Fassaert produced a good rest riding the impressive de Niro gelding, 'Donnerfee' to earn 71.93% and seventh place after the first day of Grand prix Dressage. Another 25 horses compete tomorrow.

Finnish Individual, Mikaela Lindh looks to be enjoying her ride on her Danish bred Master gelding,, 'Mas Guapo'. They hold eleventh place with a score of 70.72%.

Brazilian Individual, Luiza Tavares de Almeida is pictured aboard the Lusitano gelding, 'Pastor' by Hostil on their way to scoring 65.86% on the first day of Grand Prix Dressage competition.

Spanish Team Member, Morgan Barbancon Mestres is pictured aboard the former Anky van Grunsven ride, the Gribaldi stallion, 'Painted Black'. They produced a lovely test to hold sixth place, just behind Anky, with 72.75%.

New Zealand rider,, Louisa Hill has come a long way to get to the London Games and she looks to be enjoying the occasion as she leaves the arena riding the Anamour gelding, 'Antonello'. They earned 65.25% on the first day of Grand Prix Dressage competition.

Laura Bechtolsheimer, the second member of Team GB produced a good test with her European Championship partner, 'Mistral Hojris'. The Danish gelding by Michellino holds second place after the first day of competition with 76.83%.