A fabulous performance from Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) and Valegro ensured that Britain maintains the lead in the team competition after the dressage Grand Prix concluded at the London 2012 Olympic equestrian venue at Greenwich Park today. But the advantage is a very slender one, as Germany lies only just over half a point behind going into the medal-deciding Grand Prix Special next Tuesday (Aug. 7). (View all the individual scores here and the current team standings here.)

 The Dutch tea, lie third, boosted by a test from double Reem Acra Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) World Cup Dressage champions Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival who slotted into runner-up spot ahead of Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg (Damon Hill) and Kristina Sprehe (Desperados) who claimed third and fourth places individually.

Cornelissen said she had an unnerving moment as she rode down to the arena: "He almost stopped and said ‘Aaaagh, what are all those people doing in there?’ But when we got going he said, ‘Oh, I know this stuff’, so it was fine," the 33-year-old rider said with a laugh afterwards.

Dujardin’s score of 83.663 set a new Olympic record, although due to changes to the rules this only dates back to the Athens Games in 2004, as results were measured in points before that. The talented 27-year-old knew that she and her horse had produced something extraordinary today however. "It was unbelievable. I wanted to come here and to have fun. I wanted to go out and show what this horse can do; it was a once in a lifetime opportunity," she said