It was all change on the dressage leaderboard at Defender Burghley Horse Trials on Friday afternoon six combinations entered the top 10 but it was a familiar face in Oliver Townend who leads the way. The two-time Burghley champion piloted the 11-year-old Irish mare Cooley Rosalent into top spot after the pair delivered a polished test for a score of 22, just ahead of defending champions Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo.Shes a good girl. Ive been slightly caught out by the atmosphere. She was not as quite as Id have liked her to have been in there but shes ended up in the right place so far, said Oliver who won the title here in 2009 with Carousel Quest and in 2017 with Ballaghmor Class.There were a couple of frustrating things that shes brilliant at but we threw marks away around, like the halt and rein-back, but the work is becoming better and better.2. Ros Canter and Lordships GraffaloReigning Burghley and Badminton champions, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, sit hot on the heels of the leaders, just 0.4 of a penalty in arrears after they received a dressage mark of 22.4.Its all about trying to eke out as many of those marks as we can but I was particularly thrilled with his changes today, said Ros, who is pregnant. We missed two of those at Badminton and it had always been something that we kind of get, but they wouldnt necessarily be 100% believable, and Ive worked hard on those since May, and today, they just felt really secure so thats what I was most pleased with. 3. Tim Price and VitaliLast years runners-up Tim Price and Vitali are third at the end of the first phase, having topped the leaderboard at lunchtime on Friday. They received a mark of 23.1 for their rideable and relaxed dressage test.Hes super. Hes a class dressage horse, and he has got all the ingredients for a really hot test. Its funny, because sometimes hes been quite unrideable and scores really well, sometimes hes been really rideable and scores not so well, and vice versa so its a little bit down to what the judges are looking for on the day, said Tim.But from my point of view, rideability, super, relaxation, lovely. Just a great partnership on display. He went through all the motions other than one movement where he thought he was going to halt on the centre line or do a poo or something. The rest was spot on what I was looking for.Tim, who won the title here in 2018 with Ringwood Sky Boy, and Vitali hold the record Burghley dressage score of 18.7, a feat they produced in 2022.Vitali is a 15-year-old gelding who is owned by Joseph and Alex Giannamore.4. Samantha Lissington and Lord SeekonigNew Zealands Samantha Lissington and Lord Seekonig, a 12-year-old bay gelding, occupy fourth on 24 despite a last minute bit change.He felt really secure and lovely to ride. I was actually in a spot of bother, umming and ahhing on what bit to have him in today, said Samantha.Typically he runs in a double bridle. Hes a quite strong horse and can sometimes be a little tricky to put together but Id recently come to the conclusion that maybe a snaffle might be better if the frame drops a bit low, then Im not punished as much as from some judges, which I think is what happened in Aachen, and we saw a bit of that in Luhmuhlen as well.Then I was like, you know what? If I dont do it now, Im not going to do it so lets just see what weve got in the arena. At the end of the day, this is not the be all and end all, were preparing for WEG next year so we needed to see and he really delivered so it was great.Samantha is also in 45thposition with Billy Alberto.5. Piggy March and MCS MaverickPiggy March riding MCS MAVERICK in the dressage phase of the Defender Burghley Horse Trials, in the park land surrounding Burghley House near Stamford in Lincolnshire in the UK between 3rd 7th September 2025NIKON Z 9 f/5.6 1/1250s 400mm ISO800Thursday leaders, Piggy March and her new ride, MCS Maverick, sit in fifth after dressage.The 2022 Burghley champion took over the ride on the 12-year-old son of Mill Law from Pippa Funnell earlier this year and the pair is contesting their first CCI5* together.He is a beautiful horse and hes got it all there. Hes had the best training in the world coming from Mrs Funnell so I havent got any excuses, said Piggy.The big thing with this horse is getting his brain and thats just what the two days of being here is.Weve been riding,lunging, riding, lunging, lunging. Hes not the finished article yet.His body isnt really strong where youd like him to be, but thats still going to develop a lot over the next couple of years.You cant work him too hard as he gets sore and fragile in his body, continued Piggy.Its a bit of work, bit of loose lunging, grazing, seeing people. That test was brilliant for him.For our early stages of us being together in an atmosphere like that Ill take it all day long and I dont want another go.6. Emily King and Valmy BiatsIn sixth place are Emily King and Valmy Biats, who are enjoying a great run of form having finished fifth at Badminton in May and third at Scone Palace last month, on 26.1Im very pleased with how he coped because hes a very sensitive horse and there was quite a lot of extra atmosphere following Mr. Townend, said Emily who has been riding her own, David King, Paula and David Evans 16-year-old Selle Francais gelding for five years. Hes super sensitive, but he really tried in there so I was really pleased. Its great to get off to a good start but theyve built a phenomenal track and its going to be a proper cross-country competition. 7. Christoph Wahler and DAccord FRHGermany hasnt fielded a Burghley entrant since 2018, but Olympian and world team gold medallist Christoph Wahler ended the drought when he entered the dressage arena this afternoon aboard DAccord FRH.They scored 27.2 to slot into seventh at this stage.He hasfelt great all week. Hewarmed up really, really well, and I thought can I please just manage to get this in the arena today? Thenhe listened to me all the way around,said Christoph of the 13-year-old gelding.Hes been to Badminton, Kentucky and Aachen, so hes been in these sorts of arenas and he doesnt usually get too excited.Ive been hoping to get a Burghley horse one day and now were here.The 31-year-old said the cross-country is one of the toughest tracks hes seen.Its more technical than I thought it would be. I was expecting many big fences. I was expecting stamina. It is very hilly here,he said.DAccord is incredibly fast, but hes never been here so I have absolutely no expectations other then to try and do my best to help him jump clear.8. Austin OConnor and Colorado BlueIrelands Austin OConnor and the experienced 16-year-old grey Colorado Blue pulled off a personal best at this level when scoring 27.8 to layeighth overnight.Weve struggled to break the 30 mark and its been quite frustrating at times, said Austin. We keep chipping away at it and hes in great form. I think hes improving, as well as myself.After warming up, Austin dismounted for a while to give the gelding a break.He loses concentration fairly quickly and I just thought he feels so goodin his body, Im going to get off his back for 10 minutes. It was something different, and it might not have come off, but I thought hopefully hell pick up where we left off.This is the first time this pair has scored a sub-30 at five-star level.When they won the Maryland CCI5* in 2023, it was on a dressage score of 33.7.Its great, because some people dont realise the energy, effort, support that goes in to just this one phase, added Austin.The horse deserves it because hes known as a cross-country horse, but hes never done a bad test. Its just not been quite up there.9. Alexander Bragg and Ardeo PremierAlexander Bragg riding ARDEO PREMIER in the dressage phase of the Defender Burghley Horse Trials, in the park land surrounding Burghley House near Stamford in Lincolnshire in the UK between 3rd 7th September 2025NIKON Z 9 f/5.6 1/1250s 200mm ISO1250Occupying ninth position are Alexander Bragg and Ardeo Premier, a 12-year-old Irish Sports Horse who finished second in theEventers Grand Prix at Hickstead this year, on a score of 28.4.Hes really versatile. Hes a real cool dude and multi talented, said Alex.Its always nerve wracking before you go in [to the dressage arena].You put hours and hours of training in to get to that point and you know what the horse is capable of, but actually delivering that and performing on the big stages is tricky, because youre dealing with the horses apprehension from outside distractions and the atmosphere, and youve also got to deal with your own and try and remain composed.I think if you get a goodcentre line, thats always helpful, and I knew which bits I could be brave at with him.Alex said the horses extended canterworkand flying changes are particularly good and were highlights in his test.His trot is not so expressive, but thejudgesat E and M can see those 8m circles. They can see accuracy, so my plan was just dont drop marks in those areas.My target was around a 70% test, a score of 30, so the fact that he exceeded that just shows his commitment and Im just thrilled with him.10. Tom Crisp and Dassett Rock StarTom Crisp and Dassett Rock Star, Eve Mayes, Izzy Mayes and Louise Nashs 11-year-old gelding, produced a test for 28.5 to round out the top 10.I knew we could do it and Ive been working hard at home with Sune [Hansen] at Spring Hill Dressage. Hes helped me a lot just to be a bit more confident and really go for it. If you make a mistake, you make a mistake, but I think youre better off setting off thinking you can go for it and make mistake than be a bit too careful which is what Ive been guilty of for a few years. This horse is very capable of doing a good test and today it came together so were really, really chuffed, said Tom.He was just with me the whole way, kept his head in the game, nailed all of his changes, and its so easy just to miss one of them and then thats a mark gone, isnt it? Were very rarely at this end of the leaderboard after dressage. It feels a bit strange, but I can get used to it.The pair completed Badminton earlier this year in 51st position.Top 10 after dressageThe standings at the end of the dressage phase are:Oliver Townendand Cooley Rosalent on 22 penaltiesRos Canterand Lorships Graffalo, 22.4Tim Priceand Vitali, 23.1 penaltiesSamanatha Lissingtonand Lord Seekonig, 24Piggy Marchand MCS Maverick, 25.7 penaltiesEmily Kingand Valmy Biats, 26.1Christoph Wahlerand DAccord FRH, 27.2Austin OConnorand Colorado Blue, 27.8Alexander Braggand Ardeo Premier, 28.4Tom Crispand Dassett Rock Star, 28.5View the full dressage leaderboard hereCross-country will get underway tomorrow, Saturday 6 September, at 11.30am when Harry Meade and Et Hopz du Matz take to the course.Images by Tim Wilkinson.Related contentTop riders battle with nerves, too! How one Burghley rider overcame a confidence lossUS journalism student based with Ros Canter is youngest rider in Burghley fieldProperty director and cheap ex-racehorse make their CCI5* debutA very special horse: from unbacked five-year-old with a teenage rider to five-star formMeet the Burghley first-timer on a quirky mare who dislikes large crowds and refuses flatwork lessonsThe post Burghley top 10 in pictures: Townend leads the field after dressage appeared first on Your Horse.