Germany continued to prove its equine mettle yesterday, as Heike Kemmer topped all qualifiers on the first day of the Olympic individual dressage event.

But day two will see if Kemmer's score can hold up against the Netherlands' two-time Olympic-gold-medalist, Anky van Grunsven, and Germany's silver-medalist, Isabell Werth. Both are on today's list of qualifying hopefuls.

Kemmer, with horse Bonaparte, seized the early lead yesterday with a combined percentage score of 72.25.

"That was a good start for the team," she said. "Bonnie (the horse) gave everything he had."

Regarding her expectations of the German team, she said: "I guess the first round went to us. We'll see what happens. I have done my part".

In the standings, Kemmer is followed by Great Britain's Emma Hindle and horse Lancet, who obtained a percentage score of 71.125.

The Netherlands' Imke Schellekens-Bartels, with horse Sunrise, was ranked third with a combined score of 70.875.

She said her performance wasn't what she hoped it would be, saying: "My horse got a bit tense when she went into the ring. She was a little bit less strong then she normally can be. I think it's because the heat is coming down on her".

Schellekens-Bartels said beating the Germans will be tough, especially after their showing yesterday.

And her view is shared by teammate Hans Peter Minderhoud, who was ranked fifth after he and horse Nadine finished with a combined score of 69.625.

"I am not totally satisfied," he said. "It is not as good as I should have done. My horse felt less energetic, and I made a stupid mistake in the zig-zag. I did not do good enough to put the pressure on the Germans."

Great Britain rider Jane Gregory - wife of Aram Gregory, who competed for Hong Kong in the Doha Asian Games but didn't qualify to represent Hong Kong in the Olympics - finished the ride with her horse, Lucky Star, and scored 63.375, good for 12th.

"The test was disappointing, and it was definitely not my best," she said. "The horse didn't make any glaring mistakes, but he made some minor ones."

Australian coach-turned-athlete Heath Ryan, atop Greenoaks Dundee, ended the ride with a combined percentage score of 62.541 to finish 14th on the day.

(HK Edition 08/14/2008 page1)