11/05/2026
Six nations are represented in a truly international top 10 at the conclusion of dressage at MARS Badminton Horse Trials, and while reigning champs Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo could not be beaten this afternoon, we enjoyed some solid efforts from those who slotted in below.
So how’s that leaderboard looking? There’s Ros in top spot, of course, and then the US’s Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl, Thursday’s emotional leaders who put a 28.1 on the board yesterday afternoon and have stayed firmly in the mix ever since.
And in third? A new addition this afternoon, a third flag at the business end of the leaderboard, and another woman who probably couldn’t really love her horse more if she tried.
Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Hooney d’Arville have firmly catapulted themselves into ‘fan favourite’ territory since their victory at Luhmühlen CCI5* in 2024 – Belgium’s first-ever five-star win and the zenith of a storied partnership that began well before Hooney was a foal on the ground. Lara bred the mare, putting her youth championship – and senior World Championships — ride Nooney Blue to the Belgian showjumping stallion Vigo d’Arsouilles, but in a funny sort of way, the significance of Hooney’s parentage meant that Lara struggled under the weight of her own expectations, and it took plenty of time, patience, and the odd bit of turbulence en route to seal the deal as an established, consistently competitive partnership.
Now, though? They’re at the forefront not just of Belgian eventing, but of the broader global sport, too. Today, they hit another milestone, earning a five-star personal best of 28.6 to take overnight third place at the close of the dressage phase.
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📷 Sophie Robins / Girl In The Field