Not wanting to sound dramatic, but here at H&C, we think we might have possibly just witnessed the best dressage horse in the world compete on British soil for the first time.

Edward Gal’s stunning Moorlands Totilas trounced the competition in the Grand Prix, leading by over 3% with a blistering score of 79.745% despite two significant mistakes – including in the walk passage transition, where the horse accidentally picked up canter.

The black stallion, by Gribaldi, is causing a sensation in the dressage world, coming fresh from success in the Dutch national championships, where he beat the Olympic gold medal winning combination of Anky van Grunsven and Salinero.

Hickstead’s Dane Rawlins, who was commentating, said: “Come on judges, if you don’t know how to give this horse tens, then we might as well all go home. I’d give that half pass an eleven. This horse does not have any weaknesses.”

Adeline Cornelissen took second on the impressive Jazz son, Parzival, with whom she won the qualifier at Olympia in December.

Top Brit was Laura Bechtolsheimer who on a score of 76.255% took third place. She rode a very powerful yet balanced test on Mistral Hojris, much to the crowd’s delight. Until the walk work, the pair was on 79%, but slight tension in the second half of the test brought their score down.

H&C’s blogger Hans Peter Minderhoud took sixth in a polished performance with Exquis Escapado, with the half passes and passage of particularly good quality. Despite a sudden blip in the piped music in the middle, the test was smooth and the home crowd - who know Escapado well from his days with Carl Hester - received him well, with whooping and cheering accompanying the final halt.

Richard Davidson and the ten year old Hiscox Artemis scored 69% to take the CDI5* Intermediaire II despite a couple of unsettled moments. “I wasn’t sure what happened, but someone said there was a bit of crashing about in one of the tents. We have to go the other way in tomorrow’s test, so I’ll know whether he did spook or if he was just being a monkey – which I suspect!”

The British Young Horse 5 year old International Championship was won by Vikki Thompson-Winfield riding the promising Beltoni on a huge score of 90%.

Tomorrow’s action includes the Grand Prix for young horses, the British Young Horse 6 year old International Championship, the Grand Prix special and the Kur.