The first phase of the MarsBadminton Horse Trialsis complete and it was an action-packed Friday (8 May) with the scoreboard undergoing a complete shuffle. The top 10 is an international affair with six nations represented. Here we take a look at which combinations hold those top 10 spots 1. Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo Last years Badminton and Burghley winners, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo (pictured above), started as they mean to continue, posting an impressive first phase score of 23.7 this morning to sit some 4.4 penalties ahead of their nearest rival. Ros gave birth to her second child just three-and-a-half months ago and said it has been a funny few weeks to get here. 2. Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl The USAs Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl were the leaders after the first day of dressage, and they go into tomorrows cross-country on a strong score of 28.1. Tiana said after her test: To go into the lead at Badminton is a pipe dream; just to be at Badminton is a dream. I had a little tear putting her on the lorry for her third Badminton, thinking it was pretty darn special, seeing as she was only supposed to be a project we were going to sell on.Its the sort of stuff you dream of as a kid. 3. Lara De Liedekerke-Meier and Hooney DArvilleBelgiums Lara and her lovely home-bred mare Hooney were winners of the five-star at Luhmhlen in Germany in 2024, and they have put themselves into a great position going into the Saturday of Badminton, sitting in third on 28.6. They havent had the best preparation after an injury scare following a fall earlier this season, but Lara said of her PB today: If you do a PB at Badminton, thats the right place to do it. 4. Felix Vogg and Cartania Swiss rider Felix Vogg and his 2025 Maryland 5 Star winner, Cartania, were another pair to impress the dressage judges today, posting a 28.7 to sit in fourth. Im very happy it has been a disaster the past few days with her being nervous around the crowds, but somehow we always manage to get the job done, said Felix. 5. Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier New Zealand rider Caroline Powell and her 2024 Badminton winner Greenacres Special Cavalier put in a great performance this afternoon to score 28.9 and sit in fifth after the first phase. Im very pleased she was such a good girl, said Caroline, who was just one of 10 to score a sub-30. 6. Marcio Carvalho Jorge and Royal Encounter British-based Brazilian rider Marcio put in a strong first phase performance to sit in sixth on 29.2 after a very correct test. Marcio, who is a qualified medical doctor and previously worked as an anaesthetist, commented on his horses relaxed nature after their test saying: Hes always had such a nice brain. Hes very cute and willsleepall day. Even today, before we tacked him up, he was lying down sleeping. He does this every day it doesnt matter if hes in competition or at home. Its so funny, but its good, because he rests his body and his legs. 7. Will Rawlin and Ballycoog Breaker Boy British rider Will Rawlin, who was second after the first day of dressage on 29.3, now sits in seventh going into the cross-country aboard Ballycoog Breaker Boy. Ive been absolutely over the moon with how hes been working over the past couple of days here, said Will. I really feel, even since Burghley last year, that weve stepped it up again and theres still so much more in there. Hes very sensitive and so I had to make sure that I relaxed and breathed so that it followed through to William. I would have been disappointed if we werent in the top three after today. 8. Wills Oakden and Keep It Cooley Wills and this lovely 11-year-old delivered a strong performance to score 29.4 and they sit in eighth after the dressage. We rate him highly we love him and hes still young, said Will. Hes inexperienced at this level, so this week is just about giving him mileage and exposure in this sort of atmosphere around this kind of track. There was one mistake in his left half-pass, which is annoying as thats usually one of his strongest movements, but other than that, were delighted with him.9. Bubby Upton and Cola Bubby Upton and Cola took the early lead on Thursday morning with a score of 29.8, but at the end of the first phase, they now sit in ninth. He was really good, but I would say he was on the on the edge, which is how hes been all year, to be honest, being a little too fresh, explained Bubby. But we managed to navigate our way through. I wouldnt say it was a perfect, polished test, but with him being more established at the level now, and him being such a beautiful horse, he has such kind of natural presence anyway. 10. Tim Price and Falco New Zealands Tim Price and Falco round off the top 10. They trotted up the centre line on Friday afternoon and posted a score of 29.9. Tim, who recently sustained a collarbone injury, said of Falco (who has very few teeth): I wanted a low, proper score that sounds a stupid, doesnt it? but he is capable, and he can really get a great test.It just takes a couple of mistakes, especially if theres a little bit of tension, but overall he was relaxed and had a soft, nice way of going. Images by Tim WilkinsonRelated contentHow to watch BadmintonI pumped milk to flatten me out and away I go: Ros Canter sails into the lead at BadmintonMare, 16, makes Badminton debut after recovering from tendon injuryI was hypnotised: Simon Grieve combats confidence wobble to return to Badminton after six-year absenceChange in warm-up plan pays off for New Zealands Jesse CampbellIt makes him at ease: American rider uses nosenet in dressage testThe post A very international top 10 at Badminton as defending champions Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo lead the way after dressage appeared first on Your Horse.