Australia's Ben Leahy is in synch with Feloupe in the CCI2* 7YO inspection
We’re off and running at the FEI World Breeding Eventing Championships for Young Horses in Le Lion, France and it isn’t just the horses that put their best foot forward
Any young riders that hope to trot up at a major championship should watch how the professionals do it – and how you need to get in synch with your horse!
Mary King has done this so many times she could do it in her sleep! Mary and King Robert are competing in the CCI2* 7YO
Here are some that impressed with their 'in synch' moves today;
Australia’s Paul Tapner and Bob Chapman – CCI1* 6YO Championship
Germany's Andreas Dibowski and Belfast 35 - CCI2* 7YO Championship
France's Tom Carlile and ATOS Barbotiere
Belgium's Lara de Liedekerke-Meier with QC Chica Leena - CCI1* 6YO. Last year Lara and her husband Kai-Steffen Meier led the 6 Year Old class after the dressage
Ones to watch
Chris Burton and Lawtown Boy will be one of the last to go in the CCI2* 7YO
Of course there are the big names you cannot go past. Chris Burton and Lawtown Boy may not have had the perfect preparation for this event with a most unexpected fall on cross country at the South of England International at their last event but otherwise their form this year has been excellent
Can France's Tom Carlile do the double again? He has ATOS Barbotiere in the CCI2* and Birmane in the CCI1*. The 6YO mare has won her first two international starts at 1* level and Tom is a star of Young Horse Championships
Andrew Nicholson has the Spanish bred Yacabo BK that has completed four CIC2* events and placed in the top 10 in three and also, our particular favourite, As Is, also Spanish bred and the winner of the CIC1* at Rockingham earlier this year where Andrew told us more about this horse
From Britain Laura Collett won the 7 Year Old Championship here in 2015 on Mr Bass and is back here this year with the French bred Sir Papillon and young Holly Woodhead has Finduss PFB. But the very on form Gemma Tattersall riding Chilli Knight, who finished sixth in the CCI2*YH at Osberton and third at Barbury, and Izzy Taylor on Monkeying Around and Direct Cassino, are hot British favourites
But there are less well known names to keep an eye on such as Japan’s Ryuzo Kitajima on Feroza Nieuwmoed (above) and New Zealander James Avery. James is on great form and brings the talented Vitali, winner of the CIC2* at Gatcombe Park in September
Loving looks - Australia's Sammi Birch and The Kincooley Ceili (above) and Canada's Madison Penfound with QEH Ocean Voyage (below) - both in the in the CCI2* 7YO
