![Allison Springer and Arthur (Libby Law Photography)](http://www.usefnetwork.com/images/articles/6641/web-14-lrbht-usa-springer-0428.jpg)
Allison Springer and Arthur (Libby Law Photography)
"I'm blessed that I have such a beautiful animal to ride," Springer said. "He's very, very spooky, so this is actually a difficult phase for him to get his most relaxed. He's 15 (years old), I've had him for 10 years now, so we do have a partnership."
Springer said she's walked Saturday's cross country course twice, and she believes Arthur is ready for the challenge.
"It's Burghley; it's big. Everyone says the same thing. Historically, that's been our least consistent phase, but I know he can do it and I have to go out and ride like I did a couple years ago here."
Marylyn Little (Frederick, Md.) performed a lovely test with Team Demeter, LLC's RF Demeter to earn a 47.5, putting them in fifth place. The Karen E. Stives High Performance Eventing Grant recipient and the12-year-old Oldenburg mare had a flowing test with quality trot work.
USEF Land Rover Competition Grant recipient Meghan O'Donoghue (Carbondale, Ill.) rounded out the U.S. effort on Thursday, riding her own Pirate to a score of 54.2. She and the 12-year-old thoroughbred gelding currently sit in 14th place.
Australia's Sam Griffiths and Happy Times lead the field with a score of 40.2 following the first day of dressage. Fellow countryman Andrew Hoy sits in second place with Rutherglen on a score of 40.8.
Hannah Sue Burnett, who also received a Karen E. Stives High Performance Eventing Grant, will perform her dressage test tomorrow with long-time partner Harbour Pilot, an 11-year-old Irish sport horse gelding owned by Jacqueline Mars.
For more information on the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, click here.
To view live scores, go to http://www.bdwp.co.uk/bur/14/.
Follow the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.