Lexington, KY - The FEI Eventing World Championships, presented by Reem Acra, are officially underway at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Eighty horses passed the veterinary inspections yesterday, and the first forty performed their dressage tests today. With such decorated riders as Mark Todd of New Zealand, William Fox-Pitt and Pippa Funnell of Great Britain, and Ingrid Klimke of Germany taking to the arena today, the spectators were in for a treat.

Two of the five riders representing the United States performed their tests today under sunny Kentucky skies. Boyd Martin, who is on his first U.S. Team, rode his own Australian Thoroughbred gelding Neville Bardos to a score of 49.5, sending them to a three-way tie for 14th place. The test was characteristic for the pair: clean, precise, and well ridden.

"I was really happy with Neville," said Martin. "He was on the verge of exploding as we circled the arena. But he kept his cool and went in and did his personal best in dressage."

Buck Davidson also presented BallyNoe Castle RM today in the dressage. Both Davidson and BallyNoe Castle looked great as they navigated through their test. BallyNoe Castle's flashy trot work earned him a score of 47.0. The pair sits in 11th place.

"He was very good," said Davidson after his ride. "He's got a very good trot, but sometimes he gets a little nervous in the walk and canter. But today it felt like he held it together very well. I was really happy with him."

Davidson's father, the legendary American eventer Bruce Davidson, who claimed the World Championship here in 1978, is here supporting his son, although the younger Davidson claims his father is "way more nervous than I am."

The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team now rests in fifth place after today's competition, with a score of 96.50. They're behind Germany (83.80), Australia (91.00), Sweden (91.70) and Great Britain (93.20).

Currently sitting in the lead after the first day of dressage is Simone Dietermann of Germany, and her gelding Free East NRW. The pair turned in a nearly flawless performance to receive a score of 36.0. Free Easy's loose flashy and balanced canter-work paired with his forward and expressive trot-work brought in the high scores needed to rocket this pair to the top of the leaderboard.

"I can't believe it," she said after her ride. "He was a very good horse and he did a very good job. It was great."

Dietermann is also an accountant, so she only rides part of the time.

"Not too many riders do two jobs," she said. "Half the day I ride, and half day I do accounting. For me, it's good."

FRH Butts Abraxxas and Ingrid Klimke of German were expected to produce a quality dressage test, and they did not disappoint, earning a score of 41.3, boosting them into the second position. Klimke showed off her horse to the best of his abilities, as he impressed the judges with his flashy gaits and relaxed demeanor in the ring.

Currently sitting in third is William Fox-Pitt, who rode Cool Mountain beautifully to receive a score of 41.8. Cool Mountain received some high scores for his expressive trot work, and appeared very relaxed and obedient under Fox-Pitt's expert guidance. This little horse has had already had a big year so far, winning the CCI4* here at Lexington in April.

"I think it's definitely an advantage having been here before," he said.

Additionally, USEF President David O'Connor made a special appearance this morning as he performed the test ride for the judges before the competition began. Aboard the Selle Francais gelding Rocket, the individual Gold medalist from the Sydney Olympics would have received a score of 51.1.

Tomorrow, the last 40 horses and riders will complete their dressage tests, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Karen O'Connor is scheduled to ride at 11:06 a.m.; Becky Holder rides 1:42 p.m.; and Phillip Dutton rides at 4:06 p.m. O'Connor and Dutton are riding for the U.S. Team; Holder is competing for the United States as an individual.