“It was his best test ever!” praised Severson, a member of the Gold Medal Team at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain. “He was totally with me, paying one hundred percent attention to me, and was not looking at the crowd and getting excited. He had been a little naughty and inattentive when I was riding him on Thursday, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.”

Despite already having two other horses that have met the qualifying criteria for Athens, Severson is hoping to qualify Winsome Andante, her preferred partner for the 2004 Olympic Games, at Rolex Kentucky.

“I broke my leg in the spring, then the horse had colic surgery in the fall, so we didn’t get to do a three day event at all last year,” noted Severson. “Somehow, it has made our bond stronger. I prefer to ride him if I am selected for Athens as I know him the best and we have a strong partnership.”

Moving into second position was Phillip Dutton, a two-time Olympic Team Gold Medallist for his native Australia. Riding Nova Top, a 13-year-old English thoroughbred gelding owned by Shannon Stinson, Dutton posted a score of 43 penalty points to move ahead of Great Britain’s William Fox-Pitt, 35, and Coastal Ties, an 11-year-old Australian-bred gelding. Fox-Pitt held the early lead following the opening day of dressage competition with his score of 43.4 penalty points.

Abigail Lufkin of Middleburg, VA, is currently in fourth position with her dressage score of 45.8 penalty points riding Kildonan Tug while New Zealand’s Donna Smith rounds out the top five with Call Me Clifton after earning a score of 46.6 penalty points.

Offering $190,000 in prize money, the CCI**** Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is a qualifying competition for the 2004 Olympic Games and includes the seventh competition for the USET Foundation Pinnacle Cup.

In addition to the CCI**** division, this year’s Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event is also hosting a Modified Four Star Three-Day Event that is in part patterned after the format to be used for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Open only to U.S. Citizens and Foreign Riders residing in North America who have already qualified for the Olympic Games under FEI rules, the Bayer Modified Four Star division marks the first time ever that horses and riders will have the opportunity to run the shortened distance prescribed for Athens.

The Bayer Modified Four Star division leader board saw a dramatic shake-up with the conclusion of dressage. Nathalie Bouckaert of Chatsworth, GA, got the international panel of judges’ attention, posting a score of 37.4 penalty points aboard West Farthing, an 11-year-old English thoroughbred gelding.

“All season he just keeps getting better and better,” praised Bouckaert, 23, who leads a field of 38 entries. “As soon as I got the main arena, he was on the job and paying attention.”

Reigning Pan American Champion Darren Chiacchia, of Springville, NY, moved into second position with a score of 40 penalty points riding Windfall II, an 11-year-old black Trakehner stallion owned by Timothy Holekamp.

“I was very happy with his steadiness in this atmosphere, it is biggest he has ever faced,” noted Chiacchia, 39, who has his sights firmly set on Athens.

Heidi White of Chadds Ford, PA, moved into third position with a score of 41.2 earned aboard Northern Spy, her 10-year-old English thoroughbred gelding while Thursday’s leader, Amy Tryon of Redmond, WA, moved down to fourth position but remains in the thick of things with a score of 42 penalty points with her long-time partner, My Beau, a 14-year-old Canadian thoroughbred gelding.