Simone Pearce, sitting third in the 5YO at Ermelo

Yesterday night the program of the Longines FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses kicked off with the first qualification round for five-year-olds. 20 horses took part in the first round.

Currently third in the rankings, the Hannoverian mare Casablanca (Conen x Fidertanz) under the Australian rider Simone Pearce (owned by Chateau De Fontaine), received a 10 from the jury. Her powerful trot was the highest awarded gait, the other grades (8.0 for the walk, an 8.8 for the submission and a 9.5 for the canter and perspective as a dressage horse) got her an average of 9.16 and put her in a third position for now.

Rebecca Rooke, our second Australian rider was very happy with her French 5-year-old Trakehner Muschamp Royal Black, owned by Mr And Mrs Demoegen. She shared on social media "I am so proud of Royal Black at our first World Championships representing Australia in Ermelo. We managed to hold it together in the exciting atmosphere scoring 7.14."

President of the jury Eddy de Wolff van Westerrode said to Ermelo Media Team: “As a jury we are very pleased with the group of horses we saw today. Overall, it is noteworthy how well and professional the horses were presented. The riders show their horses to their best abilities in a very natural manner and of course we reward exactly that. As a judge, you always hope to get a few remarkable horses in the ring and yes, these wishes have come true! Especially the top 3 was really impressive. We are very curious about part 2, but today already promises us an exciting final!”

Today the 5-year-old class continues at 9.30am local time (5.30pm AEST) with the second half of the competitors.

Briana Burgess & Gerion will be competing in part 2 of the 6-year-old class today at 10.27pm AEST. Simone Pearce will be riding her second mount Feodoro, who is owned by Helgstrand Dressage, in the 6YO at 10.45pm AEST.

Equestrian Australia, the National Dressage Selectors wish the best of luck to all competitors.

View the 5YO Results

LIVE STREAMING is available on http://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_GB/events/1608