The French team has taken the lead after Friday’s dressage test during the prestigious Nations Cup. Swedish team is currently second, and the third position is occupied by Germany. 7 teams are competing altogether.

The Polish team is currently sixth. The best result after the dressage goes to Mateusz Kiempa and Lassban Radovix, currently 11th in the individual ranking. Here’s what he said after his performance:

"I think the test went all right, it is a great honour for me to compete in the Nations Cup representing Poland, I want my score to be as good as possible for our team".

German rider Marie Kraack is currently the best in the individual ranking in the competition, aboard Havana Club.

"He was really super, he did what we expected from him, and he performed very well"- said the rider after her dressage.

Second place for now goes to Linda Algotsson (SWE) riding Fair Spot, and third to Yoshiaki Oiwa (JPN) with Duke of Cavan.

"He was very good, I'm happy with the test, he was a bit tense inside, I could have done a nicer test, but otherwise I'm really pleased with him" – he told us after his ride.

The Nations Cup competition in Strzegom is the first test of the new Olympic format, which will be used at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Three riders compete for each team, and their added score counts for the overall classification.

Dressage tests of the short CI competitions have ended on Friday as well. In the 2* competition two riders are in the lead with the same score: Maxime Livio (FRA) with Ariano du Quinze and Mateusz Kiempa (POL) with Libertina. In the one star competition Pia Münker (GER) with Dunkin Donut M. has taken the lead.

National competitions were happening alongside the international classes as well. Danish rider Casper Rasmussen got the best dressage score in the L class aboard Tranehajs Prada Noir, and in the L-18 class the lead has been taken by Weronika Jerczyńska (POL) with Karat.

Verena Laber (AUT) is the current best rider in the P class number 1 with Con Casiro, and in the P class number 2 the lead is taken by two Czech riders: Miroslav Trunda with Riviera and Miloslav Prihoda with Eldorado.

Dressage, the first part of the equestrian triathlon, gives us only a taste of what’s yet to come during the cross country trial. Competitors will face the course on Sunday in the Nations Cup competition as well as the long CI competitions (2 and 3 stars). Sunday’s jumping trial will reveal the winners of the Nations Cup.

Overall there are more than 280 athletes and over 300 horses competing during all the shows at LOTTO Strzegom Horse Trials.