Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen (Libby Law Photography)

Lexington, Ky. – The second day of dressage came to a close Friday afternoon at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in Gloucestershire, England. In an exciting day for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team, Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen are atop the leaderboard following the first phase of the competition. Performing an excellent test in front of a packed crowd, Montgomery (Tetbury, England) earned an impressive score of 33.3 for his fluid test with Jessica Montgomery, Kathryn Kraft, and Holly & William Becker’s 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding to lead the star-studded field of competitors. Only two minor bobbles brought the marks down for an otherwise lovely test with quality work.

“I knew he was capable of a really good score so I just went in there and tried to get the same feeling as he has given when we have gotten good marks in the past,” commented Montgomery of Loughan Glen. “The atmosphere helps this horse. It kind of peps him up, keeps him in front of my leg a bit easier so he is a good competitor horse in that way.”

Sitting in second place are Paul Tapner (AUS) and Kilronan on a score of 36.0, while Francis Whittington (GBR) and Easy Target lie in third with a 36.2.

Two other American pairs had strong showings in the first phase at the prestigious competition. Tiana Coudray (Chipping Norton, England) and Ringwood Magister, her and Jatial, Inc’s 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, sit tied in 14th place with a score of 43.7. With his other mount, Jessica & Carol Montgomery, Elizabeth Smith, and Janet Higgins’ 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Universe, Montgomery is in 45th place on a score of 50.8.

On Saturday, 83 horse-and-rider combinations will tackle Giuseppe Della Chiesa’s bold, galloping track covering the English countryside.

For more information about the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, visit http://www.badminton-horse.co.uk/.