WEG: Official Horse Deals Coverage Week 1

It is almost time to the jumpers to make an appearance in the Rolex Main Arena. Australian reserve rider, Paul Athanasoff takes the wonderful 'Wirragulla Nicklaus' for a bit of familiarisation first this on cross country morning.

Japanese Team rider, Kenki Sato rode 'Hop and Skip' to jump clear and add just 5.6 time penalties for 38th place after the cross country phase of the WEG Eventing Championship. The Japanese Team are in ninth place heading in to the showjumping phase.

Brazilian combination, Guto de Faria and 'Ritz Carlton' make a careful jump over the wonderful Kingfisher jumping out of the water complex, 5abc, The Salato Wildlife Centre. Sadly they were eliminated later on the course.

Australian team members, Paul Tapner and 'Inonothing' jump over the A element of the Salato Wildlife Center at number 5. Tragically for the Australian Team and for Paul, he had to retire at fence 13, as Inonothing went lame. Diagnostic X-rays performed at the on-site Games Veterinary Clinic showed a fracture of the horse's left hind patella (knee cap). The horse is currently resting in his own stall. The prognosis is favorable.

Italian Team members Marco Biasia and 'Gandalf The Grey' make a beautiful jump over the Ford Harrod jump at number six. Unfortunately they retired later in the course. Of the 79 to start the cross country, 17 were eliminated and two retired.

US Team members Boyd martin and 'Neville Bardos' really look to mean business. They jumped clear and five seconds under time to head in to the jumping phase in 15th place, a big improvement on 36th after the dressage.

New Zealand Team member, Mark Todd was the trail blazer for the team and came home riding 'Grass Valley' with the addition of just 1.60 time penalties. Mark is in 16th place and New Zealand, poised to snatch a medal in fourth place, less than a fence behind the Canadians.

Australian individual, Peter Atkins makes a bit of an awkward jump over this fence, but his wonderful, 'Henry Jota Hampton' just tries harder when in a sticky situation. Peter has done a wonderful job with the former difficult Hunter/Jumper. They added just 3.8 time penalties to be in 34th place after the cross country.

Poor Simone Deitermann, riding as an Individual for Germany and in third place after the dressage, jumped a super round aboard 'Free Easy NRW' until the very last fence where she fell in the sight of the finish line.

Swedish Individual, Viktoria Carlerback and 'Bally's Geronimo' jump a stylish fence. They had a stop and added 4.8 time penalties to finish cross country day in 39th place.

New Zealand Individual, Jonathan Paget produced a super run riding Frances Stead's 'Clifton Promise'. They added just 2.4 time penalties to head in to the showjumping phase in 11th place.

British Team veteran, William Fox-Pitt put on a wonderful cross country demonstration riding 'Cool Mountain'. They added nothing to their dressage score and sit in second place on 42. The British Team lead the Team competition just under four penalties ahead of the USA. The jumping phase tomorrow with be very exciting indeed.

Australian Team members, Stuart Tinney and 'Vettori' could just about walk on water. They are pictured floating in to the second of four water jumps. They jumped a beautiful round for the addition of just 0.40 and moved from 30th to 13th place with 47.60 penalties.

Grand Prix dressage a few days ago and cross country today. Italian Team member, Susanna Bordone is pictured riding the ex Stuart Tinney horse, 'Carrera'. One stop and time penalties saw them slip from 20th to 46 place.

17abc and 18abc, The Land Between The Lakes was the main water complex of the four water obstacles on course. Despite the presumed difficulty of the obstacles, there was only one harmless fall, of rider, bouncing off the bank when the horse pecked on landing. Over 50,000 people attended cross country day, and many of them were keen to stay at this complex.

On a day the German Team would rather forget, Ingrid Klimke and 'FRH Butts Abraxxas' produced the goods to add just 1.60 time penalties to her dressage score to head in to the jumping phase in fourth place on 42.90.

Part of the 50,000 strong crowd at the Alltech World Equestrian Games cross country day.

Ausrtalian Individuals, Christopher Burton and 'Holstein Park Leilani' make a copybook jump over the big Kentucky Horse Park Steps. Chris and Leilani had two unfortunate stops cross country to come home rather down the line in 51st place.

Spectators on the move.

British Individual, Piggy French (her real name is Georgina) jumps across the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace corner on their way to a good round for the addition of just 1.60 time penalties. They head in to the final jumping phase in 12 th place with 47.40 penalties.

European Champions, Christina Cook and Miners Frolic had a mishap at the water complex number five, Salato Wildlife Centre and according to the judges crossed her tracks. The incident was really a matter of debate as to what actually constitutes, crossing your tracks. The British Team protested, but the 20 penalties stood. The Team leads going in to the final phase in first place by just under four penalties.

Sweden dropped dramatically from the Bronze medal position with only two of the team finishing the cross country. Niklas Jonsson and 'First Lady' did his best by coming home with just four time penalties to add. They are going in to the final phase in 17th place on 50.20 penalties.

Sonja Johnson and 'Ringwould Jaguar' again produced a vintage performance to jump clear adding just seven time penalties over the tough WEG Championship course. Australia has only two team members remaining and Sonja and Jag are of course one of them. They head in to the final phase of their last international outing in 26th place and you can expect some more upward movement.

You saw him in the dressage phase yesterday and today he is as impressive across country. Italian Team members, Stefan Brecciaroli and Apollo van de Wendi Kurt Hoeve were in second place after the dressage phase. The addition of 15.60 time penalties saw them with 51.10 and 19th place. However, they will probably move up tomorrow and they have certainly created a super impression.

French Team members, Arnaud Boiteau and 'Expo du Moulin' make a nice jump two from home at The Kentucky Covered Bridge.They had a stop across country for 52nd place. The French Team are in eighth place going in to the final jumping phase.

Well known to Australians, Clark Johnstone and 'Orient Express' looked super on their international Team debut. A stop across country and time penalties has them in 40th place going in to the final jumping phase. The New Zealand Team are in fourth place going in to the final phase and they are poised to claim a medal.

US Team member, Becky Holder produced a super run with her Thoroughbred, 'Courageous Comet'. With just 3.20 time penalties to add they are in third place with 42.50 penalties. The US Team had a good day at the office getting all four home and are in second place going in to the final jumping phase.

British Team veteran , Mary King as expected again produced the goods. She added nothing to her dressage score, 46.20, to move from 26th place to tenth riding the scopey ' Imperial Cavalier'.

Despite a broken arm, Belgian Team member, Karin Donckers jumped a super round with the lovely Karacondo mare, 'Gazelle de la Brasserie'. With 5.6 time penalties to add they are in seventh place with 44.40 penalties after the cross country phase. Belgium are in seventh place.

Australian Team members Sam Griffiths and 'Happy Times' looked sensational early in the course, but sadly a misunderstanding at a difficult stone wall corner resulted in a fall and consequent elimination. Sadly with just two remaining, Australia no longer has a team.

Phillip Dutton and Woodburn' produced a great Team run for the USA. Clear jumping and time, they sit in 14th place going in to the final phase, with the US Team in second place.

Germany's Michael Jung had a super run with 'La Biosthetique Sam', clear jumping and time to hold on to his nine penalty point lead going in to the final phase.

New Zealand's Andrew Nicholson and 'Nereo' were one of 12 combinations to come home clear and within time. They lead the New Zealand Team and are in individually fifth place going in to the final phase. They are pictured over the second fence,Kentucky Bourbon Country.