Germany Still Holding Onto Lead - USA Second

Ashley Holzer (CAN) & Imperioso

The medal positions remain unchanged after the third rider for each country in the Team Competition for the World Championship in Dressage. Germany is still leading the Team Championship from the United States. Spain is in for a sensation with the first World Championship medal in sight on their home turf.

The best score in the morning session went to German team member Klaus Husenbeth riding Piccolino with 72.08 per cent, moving him into sixth position in his first ever WEG. Jon Pederson(DEN) rode Espirit de Valdemar to a score of 69.40 per cent. His score is equal with Spanish team member Juan Antonio Jimenez Cobo with Guizo, leaving them both tied for eleventh position.

“It is very exciting but I was not nervous." said Husenbeth when asked for his reaction to being a member of the German team for the first time. "I am happy it was so good. Everything I asked for Piccolino did well today”

Spain's Juan Antonio Jimenez Cobo was also very pleased with his performance today. "I was thrilled with my performance. Despite the supportive crowd GUIZO felt very well and calm. We have had problems with the passage in the past but today it was very regular. It would be so good to win a medal!”

British Fans

The strong US team is still holding onto 2nd position overall, although American team rider Gunter Seidel was less than pleased with his ride on Nikolaus 7 today.

“Nikolaus started looking at something in the ring that took his concentration. He got quite strong and was not quite as loose and relaxed as he can be. It was not his day today.” explained Seidel.

But Seidel is still very optimistic for the future of his horse. “He has improved so much in the last year and a half and I expect him to be really settled in another year. Nikolaus has been based in Europe for the last couple of months and has worked extremely well. He is so well behaved at home you could put your granny on him and send her on a trail ride.”

Anky van Grunsven (NED) & Krack C

Anky van Grunsven also competed today with her relatively new mount, the Krack C.

“I made one huge mistake but he was great apart from the pirouette." stated van Grunsven. "It is only his fifth Grand Prix. We will keep practising and in a couple of years he will be great.”

German rider Nadine Capellmann & Farbenfroh are still the leaders with a very strong score score of 77.96 per cent from her ride on Wednesday.