KEY POINTS:
Andrew Nicholson held on to third equal place after half the field completed their dressage tests at the Badminton Horse Trials at Badminton today.
Going early in the first day of the two-day competition, Nicholson was steady with the 11-year-old Henry Tankerville to finish on 45.2 penalties.
Nicholson has had the horse for six years.
"He's very easy to work with and has a nice mind," Nicholson said.
Henry Tankerville won the Bramham three-day event in Britain last year and was 13th at Burghley, his first four-star event, in autumn.
Australian Lucinda Fredericks, riding Headley Britannia, grabbed the lead in the event with just 34.8 penalties. The mare won Burghley last year.
Headley Britannia and Henry Tankerville was sired by Jumbo.
France's Jean-Lou Bigot is second on Icare D'Auzay with 41.8 penalties.
Another New Zealander, Caroline Powell, on Lenamore, was pleased with their 17th place on 51.2 penalties.
Most riders believe the course is bigger than in the past few years with underfoot conditions hard and fast.
The second half of the dressage field will compete on the second day (early tomorrow NZT), with the cross country scheduled for Sunday.
- NZPA
