The CSI5* event in Valence kicked off on Thursday and it was Beezie Madden (USA) who took home the biggest win of the first day topping the Prix MMA – a 1.50m against the clock – that also counted for the Longines Ranking. Riding the 11-year-old stallion Breitling LS (Quintero x Acccord II), Madden clocked the winning time of 65,32 seconds. Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA) on the 8-year-old stallion Chalou (Chacco Blue x Baloubet du Rouet) placed second with a time of 66,10 and Ben Maher (GBR) on the 12-year-old mare Diva II (Kannan x Berlioz) took the third spot with a time of 66,12 seconds. Rene Lopez (COL) on the 13-year-old gelding Con Dios II (Colman x Romino) placed fourth with a time of 66,22, and the fifth place went to Christian Ahlmann (GER) on the 12-year-old stallion Cornado II (Cornet Obolensky x Acobat) with a time of 66,92 seconds.

The first five star class of the day, a 1.45m in two phases, went to Julien Epaillard (FRA). Riding the 11-year-old stallion Safari D'Auge (Diamant de Semilly), Epaillard had the winning time of 28,68 seconds. Michael Duffy (IRL) on the 12-year-old stallion Millfield Ultymate (Ulysses M2s x Condios) placed second with a time of 29,96, and Laura Renwick (GBR) on the 9-year-old gelding Dominant H (Heartbreaker x Indorado) placed third with a time of 30,41. Fourth place went to Ben Maher (GBR) on the 14-year-old stallion Tic Tac with a time of 30,70 seconds, and Harold Boisset (FRA) on the 11-year-old mare Qualita Z (Quasimodo Z x Ramiro) took the fifth spot with a time of 31,38.

Arthur Le Vot (FRA) on the 8-year-old stallion Vinchester (Huppydam des Horts x Iris de Celland) topped the U25 class, a 1.40m against the clock. The pair was the fastest at 69,81 seconds. Emma Meissonnier (FRA) on the 10-year-old gelding Tip Top des Bles (Pivarot van de Kapel x Tarzan Moussure) placed second with a time of 71,01, and Emily Moffit (GBR) on the 10-year-old mare MTF Madame X (Continio x Corland) took the third spot with a time 71,17 seconds. Mathieu Bourdon (FRA) on the 9-year-old mare Ubiquita Majuscule (Ogrion des Champs x Qualisco III) placed fourth with a time of 71,38, and Perrine Mary (FRA) on the 12-year-old gelding Radjah de Turcis (Nirvana V x Arpege Pierreville) took the fifth place with a time of 72,01.