Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee were the first to break the 40 barrier but Ruy Fonseca and Tom Bombadill Too moved into the lead straight afterwards
The United States leads after the dressage phase of the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto on a score of 133.00 but it is a very close thing with Canada in second position (133.70) and Brazil third (136.70). The gap then opens widely to fourth place, currently occupied by Guatemala with 170.10 but it will be a tense day of cross country on Saturday when the temperature is set to rise dramatically after a cold and wet opening day of competition
Individually, Ruy Fonseca of Brazil riding Tom Bombadill Too leads with 38.90 with Kathryn Robinson in second position with a score of 39.80 and Marilyn Little of the United States lies third with 40.30 riding RF Scandalous.
In her major games debut, Robinson produced a forward, balanced dressage test riding Let It Bee, her 14-year-old dark bay German-bred gelding.
"He was so good, I couldn't fault him; he's the horse of a lifetime," said Robinson, 29, of the horse she purchased as a seven-year-old. "He was pretty raw when I got him, he hadn't done anything. We've been learning together, which has been lovely. He wants to work with you and do his best. This is our first team competition; it is a great honour to be here."
While her mother maintains a home in Canada, Robinson is based in Kettering, Northamptonshire in England. She and Let it Bee are looking to have a successful outing in their first North American event.
"I'm so thrilled to be here, and hopefully it will carry on being good!" said Robinson. She praised Let It Bee for the opportunity, noting, "He's awesome! I am so lucky to have found him. He's taken me to places that I've never imagined going. I owe it all to him, really."
Aboard her sharp mare, RF Scandalous, The USA’s Marilyn Little had a solid test to sit third individually on 40.30. Little was pleased with the horse’s performance especially in light of challenging weather conditions and an electric atmosphere in the arena. “These are not the best conditions for her. She is really sensitive and a very high energy horse...I was thrilled that she was as attentive as she was; she put in a really good effort.”
Commenting on tomorrow’s cross-country phase, Little also emphasized the impressive design of the course which is both beautiful and challenging. “There is plenty to do out there; I do not think this is going to be a dressage competition. The water jumps are beautifully presented, but substantial and there are a lot of ditches. [The course] has my full and undivided attention.”
Experienced competitors Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton also agree that the course at at the nearby Pan Am Cross-Country Center at Will O'Wind Farm will require solid riding
“It's a good course. There are a lot of tiny little traps out there that I think you could have a silly mistake on. I think you have to concentrate the whole way around” says Martin while Dutton agrees that “It looks like a nice course. Considering the amount of ground they have, it is quite a flowing course. There are difficult questions spaced throughout and I think there will be some pressure to make the time and still make sure that you are accurate.”
