Equestrian: Sir Mark Todd leads the Burghley Horse Trials

Sir Mark Todd has won five previous Burghley titles, the last coming in 1999. Photo: Libby Law/photosport.nz

It's a New Zealand one-two at the completion of the dressage at the Burghley Horse Trials in England.

Five-time champion Sir Mark Todd leads on Kiltubrid Rhapsody, after picking up 26.4 penalty points.

Tim Price and Ringwood Sky Boy are half a point back in second.

Todd, the oldest rider in the field at 62, reflected on a solid test.

"The horse was second after the dressage at Badminton [before finishing sixth overall] and I think he has improved since.

"He has a brilliant temperament and nothing phases him."

Kiltubrid Rhapsody skipped once in his extended trot, but was otherwise impressive.

The horse is also a good jumper, and Todd is looking forward to tonight's cross country – albeit with some caution.

"We have never had so many changes of direction and there seems to be more uphill bits than other years."

With the dressage scores close, Todd felt the course would call for strong endurance and stamina.

"There is a lot of up and down hills, a lot of big jumps, big combinations and questions."

Yesterday Todd had a couple of dressage errors with NZB Campino – who sits 12th on 30.8 penalties – and was determined not to make "another silly mistake".

Price also felt the course would be demanding.

"I think it is bigger this year and possibility with fewer technicalities in places. It keeps coming.

"This year there are some big questions all the way home and I think that will be influential."

Price was rapt to be second on a 15-year-old horse he picked up "for a few quid as an unruly six-year-old".

"He was fairly unmanageable. I tried to sell him for about four years but no one would buy him, so I carried on.

"Slowly over time he has matured and learnt his craft. He has been a pleasure to have, is a character on the yard and I wouldn't be without him."

In addition, Price is 16th equal aboard Bango on 32.1 points alongside Andrew Nicholson and Swallow Springs.

Nicholson is also 29th aboard Jet Set IV on 33.8.

Caroline Powell and On the Brash sit 37th equal on 35.1; Burghley debutant Ginny Thompson and Star Nouveau are 48th on 36.5; and Dan Jocelyn is 49th equal aboard Dassett Cool Touch on 36.6.

Defending champion and world number one Oliver Townend is in third and fifth, with four penalty points covering the top 10.

A Kiwi has won the last major outing of the British eventing summer on 13 of the last 31 occasions.

New Zealand winners at the Burghley Horse Trials
Sir Mark Todd – 1987, 1990, 1991, 1997, 1999
Andrew Nicholson – 1995, 2000, 2012, 2013, 2014
Blyth Tait – 1998, 2001
Caroline Powell - 2010