Your Horse has teamed up with the Defender Burghley Horse Trials (5-8 September) to offer two lucky winners a family season pass and car pass, plus one place on a course walk (Thursday and Friday only) and a special Burghley goody bag to take home.
The Defender Burghley Horse Trials is undoubtedly the autumn highlight of both the British equestrian scene and the rural social calendar.
The central focus is the CCI5* — the ultimate test of horse and rider — and Defender Burghley is cherished by the world’s elite equestrian athletes for its legendary cross-country course around the varied terrain of Burghley’s beautiful park.
“I think it’s the best event in the world,” said Piggy March, who won Burghley for the first time in 2022 with Vanir Kamira. “I grew up wanting to ride at Burghley, and it’s always the event I look forward to the most all year.”
Closing date: 19th August, 2024 *UK only
Great entertainment
Burghley is also the proving ground for future champions. The prestigious Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Finals (Friday 6 September) feature Britain’s best four- and five-year-old horses and always draw a huge crowd.
The main arena masterclasses on Thursday and Friday this year will not only feature Carl Hester, but also William and Pippa Funnell, Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Henrietta Knight and six-times Burghley winner William Fox-Pitt.
New for this year
And everyone loves the Shetland Pony Grand National, which takes place in the main arena on both the Saturday and Sunday.
New for 2024 are bookable cross-country course-walks with top riders, while Tea and the Trot-Up, during which guests enjoy a delicious tea while listening to former Burghley course-designer Mark Phillips’ thoughts on the event before watching the first horse inspection and then taking a short guided walk of the track, is back after its success in 2023.
Shopping galore
Of course, while Defender Burghley is a feast of horse sport, it is probably equally famous for its superb shopping. There are around 500 carefully chosen retailers from which visitors can purchase everything from clothing, jewellery and accessories to garden (and house) furniture, art and sculpture and fabulous food and drink.
Additionally, the Defender Experience, which sees attendees driven over dynamic display equipment, is always a hit, and the title sponsor is also bringing mini Defenders this year.
Camping and glamping
For anyone wishing to stay at Burghley, for the first time campers can bring their horseboxes, while Burghley Boutique offers glamping in the lovely setting of the Walled Garden.
Defender Burghley, a truly special event, offers something for everyone. For more information, and to buy tickets, click here.
Watching from home
For those who can’t attend Defender Burghley every day, they can watch all the action and more on Burghley TV. A year-round subscription costs £20 and gives access to hours of footage from past events. Find out more.
