Stamford, England – The dressage phase of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials CCI4* wrapped up Friday afternoon and the U.S. combinations had solid performances in the talented field of 74 entries. Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights, recipients of a Jacqueline B. Mars Competition Grant through the USET Foundation, are the top American pair in 27th place as the compeition moves into the cross-country phase tomorrow.

Rutledge (Frederick, Md.) gave her own Covert Rights an excellent ride in his first overseas CCI4*. She and the 2006 Thoroughbred Cross gelding had a lovely test with a few minor bobbles to receive a score of 46.5 from the Ground Jury consisting of Nick Burton (GBR), Andrew Bennie (NZL), and Christina Klingspor (SWE).

“It was a good test, but he’s got plenty of room for improvement,” Rutledge explained of her young mount. “He had some really fantastic moments interspersed with some mediocre moments. I’m pleased with him overall; he’s starting to show a bit more maturity with the different types of atmospheres.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s cross-country phase, Rutledge added, “I’m looking forward to tomorrow; it’s why we all come here. The course is big and asks some great questions; hopefully we can put them all together.”

USEF Land Rover Competition Grant recipients Lynn Symansky (Middleburg, Va.) and The Donner Syndicate, LLC's Donner performed their dressage test on Thursday, earning a score of 47.7 in their Burghley debut, a personal best at the CCI4* level. Symansky gave the 2003 Thoroughbred gelding a solid ride, easing any tension and demostrating quality movements. After the completion of the dressage phase, the pair is in 33rd place.

Laine Ashker (Henrico, Va.), like Symansky, is making her debut at Burghley and laid down a respectable test on her own Anthony Patch, a 1999 Thoroughbred gelding. The pair sits in 35th place with a score of 48.8.

William Fox-Pitt (GBR) and Fernhill Pimms and Michael Jung (GER) and fischerRocana FST are tied in first place with a score of 34.2, while Sam Griffiths (AUS) and Happy Times are in third on a score of 36.8.

Symansky and Donner will be the first U.S. pair to tackle the cross-country course tomorrow, leaving the startbox at 12:20 p.m. BST, followed by Ashker and Anthony Patch at 1:44 p.m. BST and Rutledge and Covert Rights at 3:00 p.m. BST.

Find out more about the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials CCI4* and view the results.

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