Triple London 2012 medallist Sophie Wells scored 74.595 per cent to top the Grade IV event and was delighted by the performance of her horse Valerius.

"I was pleased," said the Briton.

"He went in and listened to me.

"It's his biggest competition so far and he's not done much this year with one thing or another.

"He got a little bit tense going around the outside but I reassured him so he came back to me and listened to me through the test.

"We've been working on different areas like the walks and the halt and those things improved and maybe I can build on them."

Second in the standings is Belgian Michèle George, who rode FBW Rainman to score 73.643 per cent, while The Netherlands' Frank Hosmar on Alphaville NOP sits in third place with 73.167 per cent.

Reigning Paralympic and European champion Natasha Baker ensured more success for Britain in the Grade II team test as she picked up a score of 73.647 per cent on Cabral, ahead of Rixt van der Horst of The Netherlands with 72.618 per cent and Canada's Beijing 2008 Paralympic gold and silver medallist Lauren Barwick who rode to 70.176 per cent and said her performance was "electric".

"It was a little bit challenging because the cameras weren't there when we trained and they are big and black so right when the horse went into the arena there was something new which was a bit of a spook," she added.

"But she settled for me nicely and came back really well.

"I always ride for today and train for tomorrow so I think that set her up for the rest of the week."

Lauren Barwick came third in today's Grade II team test ©Kevin Sparrow


Meanwhile, the Grade Ia team competition saw Italy's Sara Morganti topping the bill with 75.783 per cent ahead of Singapore's Laurentia Tan, who finished with 74.552 per cent, and British multi-Paralympic and world gold medallist Sophie Christiansen with 74.261 per cent.

"I can't believe it," Morganti said.

"It was my dream to come first, but Laurentia and Sophie are such good riders that I didn't think I could.

"But I worked very hard and I'm just so, so happy.

"My horse in London 2012 was the youngest horse in the Games and now she is a little bit older and we have worked a lot with my personal trainer and the team trainer.

"There are a lot of people around a Paralympics rider and I'm very lucky.

"I thought I would never come first before Sophie.

"It is because I admire her and Laurentia so much that for me this is so precious."

The end of the first two days of the Games mark the halfway point of the team competition, which has extra resonance this year as the top three nations secure their team places at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Britain are currently in the lead with 226.816 points ahead of The Netherlands on 217.838 and Germany on 216.697.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories