Equestrianism: Pantsu on song with Karuso in dressage

Piia Pantsu proved the best of the 17 first timers at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials yesterday, which was hardly surprising since the 32-year-old Finn was the individual bronze medallist at last year's World Equestrian Games. Pantsu and her 10-year-old mount, Ypaja Karuso, held the advantage over Andrew Nicholson and Pippa Funnell when yesterday's first blustery day of dressage was completed.

Pantsu, who has won at Luhmuhlen, in Germany, on three occasions, made her only other visit to Britain in 1997 when she had a cross-country fall in the European Championships at Burghley. The stylish Finn will be looking for a happier result with Karuso, who joined her string as a three-year-old. "He's a lovely horse," she said of her World Games partner, "I wouldn't want to ride any other horse in the world."

Nicholson's test on the 2000 Burghley winner, Mr Smiffy, was more polished than his performance in the dressage arena here last year. The New Zealander reckoned that the improvement was due to his extended get-together with the 13-year-old chestnut prior to the competition. Normally Mr Smiffy stays with his owner, Paul Davies, in Leicestershire, until it is time to travel to the event. "This time I've had him at my place for a few weeks and it's helped," Nicholson said.

Funnell had quite a few problems in trying to contain an exuberant Cornerman ("he just about kept the lid on," she said) and his good test was marred by some moments of inattention. She nevertheless had a much easier time than William Fox-Pitt on last year's Burghley winner, Highland Lad, who was languishing in 27th place after failing to contain his nerves in the windy conditions, which were just about at their worst when he did his test. Funnell (on last year's, winner, Supreme Rock) and Fox-Pitt (with Tamarillo) are expected to achieve better dressage scores today.

Meanwhile, the riders will continue to chew over the serious questions posed by Hugh Thomas's 32 cross-country fences that they will tackle tomorrow. The Vicarage Vee complex (fences 17 to 19) and the Beaufort Staircase (29) are generally regarded as the most difficult.