Team GB’s eventers sit fourth overall in the team competition after the dressage round, following solid performances by Pippa Funnell and Kitty King on day two.
The British quartet finished 1.30 points behind Australia in the bronze medal place heading into Monday’s cross-country round, with William Fox-Pitt sitting atop the individual classification.
Funnell, riding 11-year-old Billy the Biz, placed 16th in the standings with 43.90 penalties and said her relatively inexperienced horse coped well in the Olympic envirionment..
“I was really, really pleased with [Billy the Biz]. He was a little bit of a village idiot outside, squeaking a bit and still feeling quite fresh. I was pleased with his mentality and how he coped in the arena,” Funnell said.
“I’m delighted that he’s put in a solid performance, considering that three years ago he was scrabbling around. The only reason I started eventing him was as a personal challenge too see if I could get a test out of him. He didn’t know about dressage, so I’ve got to be proud of him.”
Riders and horses will test themselves against a tough cross-country course on Monday before the jumping final decides the medals on Tuesday.
With just 5.70 points separating Germany in the gold medal position and Great Britain in fourth, there is still all to play for in the final two rounds.
King, whose score of 46.80 penalties leaves her 26th in the individual rankings, hopes her horse Ceylon L A N can learn from the Olympic experience to perform at a high standard over the next four years.
“It’s a massive atmosphere for a horse that is only nine, he’s young to be here. Probably Tokyo will be the best Games for him because he will be 13 and will have had that much more exposure and experience.
“I was delighted with how he tried, he wasn’t being naughty, we just made a few errors, which was a huge shame.”