COPENHAGEN, 22 Aug 2015, (AFP) - The 30-year-old, chasing a fourth European Tour title, had stretched his lead to seven at one stage before the chasing pack closed in.
Horsey has led since Thursday but he was reined in on Saturday courtesy of three bogeys on the back nine while Australia's Terry Pilkadaris carded a fine third round 65.
Horsey finished the day with a three-under 68 for the round and a tournament total of 15 under 198.
Pilkadaris is one shot off the pace while Englishmen John Parry and Chris Paisley are four back from Horsey.
"I played most of the European Tour events in Asia so to come over onto mainland Europe and play is a little different but I'm feeling good about the game and if the putts go in tomorrow we have a chance," said 41-year-old Pilkadaris, who turned professional in 1998 and has won tournaments on the Asian Tour.
"The course set up is a little different. There's more rough out here and more of a premium on driving the ball in the fairway."
Leading third round scores in the Made in Denmark European Tour event at the Himmerland Golf and Spa Resort, Farso on Saturday (GBR/IRL unless stated, Par 71):
198 - David Horsey 63 67 68
199 - Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 66 68 65
202 - John Parry 66 67 69, Chris Paisley 68 68 66
203 - Richard Green (AUS) 68 65 70
204 - Bradley Dredge 66 68 70
205 - Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) 66 71 68, Paul Lawrie 65 72 68, Mads Sogaard (DEN) 68 68 69, Peter Lawrie 66 69 70
206 - Rikard Karlberg (SWE) 69 68 69
207 - Daniel Gaunt (AUS) 69 67 71, Robert Dinwiddie 70 70 67, Julien Guerrier (FRA) 71 70 66, Darren Clarke 69 70 68, Paul Peterson (USA) 71 67 69, Florian Fritsch (GER) 68 70 69, Oliver Fisher 70 69 68, Tom Lewis 68 70 69, Daniel Woltman (USA) 68 72 67
208 - Richard Bland 70 72 66, Merrick Bremner (RSA) 71 71 66, Magnus A Carlsson (SWE) 70 68 70, Anders Hansen (DEN) 69 72 67, Daniel Brooks 72 70 66, Morten Orum Madsen (DEN) 68 71 69, Robert Karlsson (SWE) 69 70 69, Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 69 69 70, Andrea Pavan (ITA) 73 69 66, Eduardo De La Riva (ESP) 68 68 72, Michael Jonzon (SWE) 70 68 70, David Lipsky (USA) 71 71 66, Benjamin Hebert (FRA) 69 72 67, Oliver Farr 64 71 73