Second day:
Germany's Kai Ruder leads heading into the cross country phase with a beautifully executed dressage test, scoring 33.8. Ruth Edge is now in second. These two are the only riders to gain sub fourty scores.

First day:
The end of the first day of dressage has drawn to a close at Badminton 2010. Ruth Edge leads the way with a polished performance with the consistent Two Thyme. The pair are the only sub-40 score, having posted 39.0.

The horse has not done many events for the last three years, but looked exceptionally well today. “He’s had a leisurely time,” explained Ruth. “He had leg trouble.

We were hoping he’d go to the Olympics, and he nearly went, but he was very slightly off. He hasn’t missed a season but needs a little holiday sometimes.”

Ruth is renowned for her polished dressage performances and can frequently be seen competing on the British Dressage circuit. Her preparation for Badminton this year has included swimming the horses twice a week and galloping them once, which we’ve been topping up since Burnham Market.”

When asked her opinion on this year’s cross country, she said: “I’m not planning on going swimming, we’ve done enough swimming now! The course looks fantastic; the ground looks perfect but the weather forecast is poor and I don’t think it will stay like that.”

“The jumps are very imposing but inviting and the course encourages you to ride to them and give them your all. The jumps make you want to attack the course, but it is also clever with its twists and turns. It’s fair but challenging for the level.”

“A lot will depend on the weather. I was disappointed with my early draw but perhaps it won’t be so bad if it’s very wet.”

Second place overnight is held by Kitty King (nee Boggis) and Boondoggle who scored 44.3. “He’s getting better and better. He was green when I first took over ride, but we worked on confidence and he’s learning to swing and sit more. Nick Burton normally helps me but we found out in December that he was judging here so I’ve been using Spencer Wilton since then.”

Third place overnight is Mary King -competing in her 19th Badminton - and Imperial Cavalier on 44.8.

“Badminton is the cream of the cream,” she said. “I’m as excited now as I was 19yrs ago. It’s ridiculous – I’m waiting for the excitement to go, but it hasn’t yet.”
Mary had some bad luck at the beginning of her test. “Sadly as we came in, the loud speakers crackled and there was a bang. I was wondering what was going on and ‘Archie’ got excited and tense. The judge leant out and apologised and said the bell was broken and to start when I wanted!”

“He was tense after that and I came out disappointed. As the day has worn on I’ve been surprised to stay as high up as I have.”

Mary singled out the colt pond as a possible problem fence on Sunday’s cross country course. “It’s quite a difficult fence. I don’t think it’s really possible to take a direct line through and it’ll be a bit of a wiggle, so quite untidy and tricky.”

The other fence she fears is the second to last fence, the Rolex Crossing, where she fell off two years ago. “I shall be leaning well back for that one,” she laughed.

H&C blogger Sharon Hunt is lying in 11th overnight after posting a score 48.2 with Tankers Town.

You can catch ALL the action LIVE on cross country day here on H&C through our livestream player here: http://www.horseandcountry.tv/badminton2010live