Defender Burghley Horse Trials 2026
Photo: Louise Anderbjörk
Each September, the grounds of Burghley House in Stamford, Lincolnshire, are transformed into the setting for four days of elite eventing during the Defender Burghley Horse Trials. The event sits at the highest level of equestrian sport as one of only seven CCI5* eventing competitions worldwide, while also forming part of the prestigious Eventing Grand Slam alongside Badminton Horse Trials in the UK and the Kentucky Three-Day Event in the United States.With more than 173,000 visitors expected across the four days, around 50 of the world's leading competitors, and a prize fund exceeding £300,000, it has grown into one of the UK's most significant sporting occasions.
Historically, horse trials have been held at Burghley since 1961, when the event began on a much smaller scale with just 19 competitors and around 12,000 spectators. However, the grounds quickly established themselves at the center of the sport, with Burghley hosting the European Championship already in its second year in 1962. Since then, the venue has staged two World Championships, in 1966 and 1974, six European Championships and a Young Riders European Championship; something no other horse trials venue in the world has done.
On Saturday 5 September, Burghley opened its gates for the Cross Country phase as the public highlight of the weekend. Designed by Derek di Grazia, the course stretched 6,455 metres through the parkland, looping around the grounds with 28 obstacles to be tackled at speeds of roughly 21 miles per hour in order to meet the optimum time of 11 minutes and 20 seconds.
Photo: Lousie Anderbjörk
With 47 horse-and-rider combinations from seven nations taking on the course, it did not take long after the first starter for the difficulty of this CCI5* course to make itself apparent. The opening combinations produced a relatively smooth start, with Great Britain's Holly Richardson and Bellyneety Silver Service among those to complete the course clear. However, with the fourth starter, Susannah Berry aboard Clever Trick, Burghley saw its first combination retire and the challenges continued throughout the afternoon. By the finish, nine combinations had retired and another nine had been eliminated at obstacles.
For many photographers and spectators alike, the day began around fence 13, the 1.75-metre-wide Pol Roger Table. Located at the crossing point between riders heading in and out of the central house grounds, it became an early gathering point, and a good spot to cheer on the horses and riders as they cleared the table before accelerating into the long gallop towards the western stretch. This proximity for the crowd to the action truly makes the Defender Burghley horse trials a unique event, and creates a fantastic atmosphere throughout the day.
Further around the course, as it closed in on the river flowing through the estate, the obstacles became increasingly technical. The line towards the World Horse Welfare Pardubice fence which connected to the Boodles Raindance sequence at 7ABC, ran straight through the river, with horses moving from an active canter in water before jumping up to a tight combination of angled fences on land. It was a true test of agility and accuracy as much as speed, and demonstrated the exceptional level of communication between horse and rider required to compete at this level.
Photo: Lousie Anderbjörk
Towards the end of the day, focus naturally shifted to the final fence of the course: The Defender Finale Archway, with Burghley House rising up in the background to make for a stunning backdrop to the horses final jump. As soon as the fence was jumped and the finishing line crossed, you could see the whole team of grooms, trainers, and support staff of each combination run into the ring and celebrate with the horse and rider, and it was a lovely visual reminder of how extensive the teams are behind these athletes to help them across the start and finish lines.
At the end of the day, Great Britain's Katie Magee and Treworra had produced one of the day's most impressive performances, moving from 19th after the dressage into the top five following their outstanding cross country round. With everything left to fight for in the Sunday’s showjumping round, this put the British riders in a promising spot to defend Rosalind Canter’s British title victory from last year at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials.
Photo: Lousie Anderbjörk