Fabienne Lütkemeier and D'Agostino posted a score of 73.586 at Caen's Stade D'Ornano before her compatriot Kristine Sprehe added 78.814 - the best mark of the day.

"I'm very happy after our first two riders today," said German Chef d'Equipe Monica Theodorescu.

"We are in a good situation at the halfway point and I'm looking forward to tomorrow for our next two team members."

The Netherlands, whose took team gold in the discipline at Kentucky 2010, currently sit in second following Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock's Johnson's 74.357-point ride, which leaves them second in the individual standings, and Diederick van Silfhout's score of 73.414, but they will be looking to take the lead after Edward Gal and Adelinde Cornelissen's performances tomorrow.

Great Britain, the Olympic gold medal winning team at London 2012, holds third place thanks to Carl Hester, who is third in the individual standings, and Nip Tuck's mark of 74.186 and Gareth Hughes' 69.714.

Andrea Fappani and Custom Cash Advance are in the lead after the first individual reining qualifier ©Dirk Caremans/FEI


Meanwhile, the United States lead the reining team event with 445 points after the first day of action in the Parc des Expositions thanks to first individual qualifier rankings leader Andrea Fappani and Custom Cash Advance.

Their 224-point performance thrilled the crowd before team mate Jordan Larson, who lies in third place, closed his pattern number six with 221.

The US are, however, facing the challenge of Belgium, with Piet Mestdagh, riding RS Spat Man O War, closing his run with a score 216.5 and Ann Poels-Fonck scoring 222.5 - the second highest mark of the day.

The nation's total team score sits at 439, which puts it second behind the US.

Germany are third with 436.5 points thanks to Ludwig Grisha's and Ruf Tuf Juice score of 218.5, which leaves them tied for third place in the individual standings with Martin Larcombe who rode Wimpys Cute Tune of Australia, which closed with a total of 435.

Elsewhere, Germany's Hannelore Brenner, the defending world champion and double gold medallist at the London 2012 Paralympics, earned the top Grade III score of 72.474 per cent on Women Of The World in the Para-equestrian dressage event at La Prairie racecourse.

"I'm really happy to be here with my horse," Brenner said.

"It's our eighth championship and every year she is so wonderful.

"She is nearly 19 years old and she was really fantastic.

"There are some things we can do better but I am happy with the ride.

"I want to ride the best I can with my horse but I know there are some really good horses, so we will see how we can do."

European champion Sanne Voets of The Netherlands on Vedet PB NOP was next on 72.053 per cent ahead of Denmark's Annika Lykke Risum with Aros A Fenris, who are in third on a mark of 69.868 per cent.

Lee Pearson riding Zion took the Grade Ib in round one of the team competition with 77.960 per cent at the World Equestrian Games ©Dirk Caremans/FEI


The Grade Ib competition saw all three London 2012 medallists - Australia's Joann Formosa, Briton Lee Pearson and Pepo Puch of Austria - competing against each other for the first time since the Games in Greenwich Park.

Pearson riding Zion, took the win with an impressive 77.960 per cent ahead of Puch on Fine Feeling S with 76.520 per cent, while Italian Silvia Veratti and Woikoski Double U were third on 72.000 per cent.

London 2012 champion Formosa, winner of last year's International Equestrian Federation Against All Odds award, finished in seventh place on Worldwide PB with 71.200 per cent.

"He [Zion] went into the arena and he was a bit tense, but I was still really pleased with him and the trot work was phenomenal," Pearson said.

"He's a brilliant horse to train.

"He's so laid back and he learns very quickly, I'm very excited about his future career."

Day two of the World Equestrian Games will see competition continue in the three disciplines of dressage, reining and Para-equestrian dressage.

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