World Singles Championship (Italy), report from Karen Garrett:

The excitement is building on the second day of dressage. The morning started with a lovely test by Finnish driver Arja Mikkonen, who won the first World Singles Championship in 1998 and has competed in every championship since that time.

Both Kim Stover and Donna Crookston drove this morning. Kim had a score of 67.07, and Donna’s score was 67.46. Kim drove immediately after the Swiss competitor, Eric Renaud, who won the bronze medal at the last Worlds. His horse, Melissa, had both a terrific collection and extension with a really noticeable difference in her frame. Kim didn’t make any mistakes in her test, but Lucky, Kim’s horse, needed more impulsion; the judges seem to be rewarding forward, light, and relaxed. Donna had to touch her rein on one of the one-handed circles and that appears to have cost her.

Kim Stover and Lucky at the halt during their dressage test (photo by Karen Garrett)

Donna Crookston during her dressage test (photo by Karen Garrett)

A member of the Dutch team, Saskia van Heesch, got a 53.25 this morning, putting The Netherlands, with a cumulative score of 94.98, just 1.50 points ahead of the Germans (96.48), with both teams having one more team member to compete today. The Dutch driver had a horse with a lot of “wow” factor and spectacular extensions but also had a few problems. The horse broke into a canter in the first extension, tried to move off early on the ten-second halt, and jigged through most of the walk. The third member of the German team, Thorsten Zarembowicz, drove just before the lunch break and scored a stunning 35.20, which put him in the lead but brought gasps from the spectators when the score was announced, as the horse appeared a bit tense and went behind the vertical on several movements and only had about two steps on his back before he jack-knifed. The third member of the Dutch team drove at 5:25 this afternoon.

The youngest driver at this competition is sixteen-year-old Antonio Simoes from Portugal. He is destined for great things, having earned a 61.00 in dressage.