The Defender Burghley Horse Trials is an annual three-day event held at Burghley House near Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, currently in early September. Defender Burghley Horse Trials is classified by the FEI as one of the seven leading three-day events in the world (the others being the Badminton Horse Trials, the Kentucky Three-Day Event, the Australian International Three Day Event, the Luhmühlen Horse Trials, the Maryland 5* and the Étoiles de Pau). It has competition at CCI5*-L (five star) level. The prize for first place is currently £110,000. Prize money is given down to 20th place.
Burghley is also one of the three events in the Grand Slam of Eventing.
Run in conjunction with the event since 1990 is the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse final, which judges four- and five-year-old horses on their potential as future Olympic mounts.
History edit
Horse trials have been held at Burghley House since 1961 when its owner the 6th Marquess of Exeter, an Olympic gold medalist in athletics and IOC member, heard that a three-day event at Harewood House could no longer be held due to suspected foot and mouth disease. Since then no other international horse trials site has staged as many championships, a record ten in all including the first World Championship in 1966.[1]
It is the longest continuous running international event. Up to 2023 there have been seven course designers: Bill Thomson, M.R.C.V.S. 1961 – 1983, Lt-Col. Henry Nicoll, D.S.O., O.B.E., 1975, Philip Herbert 1984 – 1988, Captain Mark Phillips, C.V.O., 1989 – 1996 and 1998 – 2000, Mike Tucker 1997 and 2001, Wolfgang Feld 2002 – 2004, Capt. Mark Phillips, C.V.O., 2005 – 2019 and Derek di Grazia, 2022–present.
Winners edit
| Year | Rider | Horse | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 |  Anneli Drummond-Hay (GBR)
|
Merely-A-Monarch | |
| 1962 | James Templer (GBR)
|
M'Lord Connolly | |
| 1963 |  Harry Freeman-Jackson (IRL)
|
St. Finbarr | |
| 1964 | Richard Meade (GBR)
|
Barberry | |
| 1965 | J.J. Beale (GBR)
|
Victoria Bridge | |
| 1966 |  Carlos Moratorio (ARG)
|
Chalan | |
| 1967 | Lorna Sutherland (GBR)
|
Popadom | |
| 1968 | Sheila Willcox (GBR)
|
Fair and Square | |
| 1969 | Gillian Watson (GBR)
|
Shaitan | |
| 1970 | Judy Bradwell (GBR)
|
Don Camillo | |
| 1971 | H.R.H. Princess Anne (GBR)
|
Doublet | |
| 1972 | Janet Hodgson (GBR)
|
Larkspur | |
| 1973 | Mark Phillips (GBR)
|
Maid Marion | |
| 1974 |  Bruce Davidson (USA)
|
Irish Cap | |
| 1975 | Aly Pattinson (GBR)
|
Carawich | |
| 1976 | Jane Holderness-Roddam (GBR)
|
Warrior | |
| 1977 | Lucinda Prior-Palmer (GBR)
|
George | |
| 1978 | Lorna Clarke (GBR)
|
Greco | |
| 1979 |  Andrew Hoy (AUS)
|
Davey | |
| 1980 | Richard Walker (GBR)
|
John of Gaunt | |
| 1981 | Lucinda Prior-Palmer (GBR)
|
Beagle Bay | |
| 1982 | Richard Walker (GBR)
|
Ryan's Cross | |
| 1983 | Virginia Holgate (GBR)
|
Priceless | |
| 1984 | Virginia Holgate (GBR)
|
Night Cap II | |
| 1985 | Virginia Holgate (GBR)
|
Priceless | |
| 1986 | Virginia Leng (GBR)
|
Murphy Himself | |
| 1987 |  Mark Todd (NZL)
|
Wilton Fair | |
| 1988 | Jane Thelwall (GBR)
|
King's Jester | |
| 1989 | Virginia Leng (GBR)
|
Master Craftsman | |
| 1990 | Mark Todd (NZL)
|
Face the Music | |
| 1991 | Mark Todd (NZL)
|
Welton Greylag | |
| 1992 | Charlotte Hollingsworth (GBR)
|
The Cool Customer | |
| 1993 | Stephen Bradley (USA)
|
Sassy Reason | |
| 1994 | William Fox-Pitt (GBR)
|
Chaka | |
| 1995 | Andrew Nicholson (NZL)
|
Buckley Province | |
| 1996 | Mary King (GBR)
|
Star Appeal | |
| 1997 | Mark Todd (NZL)
|
Broadcast News | |
| 1998 | Blyth Tait (NZL)
|
Chesterfield | |
| 1999 | Mark Todd (NZL)
|
Diamond Hall Red | |
| 2000 | Andrew Nicholson (NZL)
|
Mr. Smiffy | |
| 2001 | Blyth Tait (NZL)
|
Ready Teddy | |
| 2002 | William Fox-Pitt (GBR)
|
Highland Lad | |
| 2003 | Pippa Funnell (GBR)
|
Primmore's Pride | Won as the final leg on the way to winning the Eventing Grand Slam |
| 2004 | Andrew Hoy (AUS)
|
Moon Fleet | |
| 2005 | William Fox-Pitt (GBR)
|
Ballincoola | |
| 2006 | Lucinda Fredericks (AUS)
|
Headley Britannia | |
| 2007 | William Fox-Pitt (GBR)
|
Parkmore Ed | |
| 2008 | William Fox-Pitt (GBR)
|
Tamarillo | |
| 2009 | Oliver Townend (GBR)
|
Carousel Quest |  |
| 2010 | Caroline Powell (NZL)
|
Lenamore |  |
| 2011 | William Fox-Pitt (GBR)
|
Parklane Hawk | |
| 2012 | Andrew Nicholson (NZL)
|
Avebury | |
| 2013 | Andrew Nicholson (NZL)
|
Avebury | |
| 2014 | Andrew Nicholson (NZL)
|
Avebury | |
| 2015 |  Michael Jung (GER)
|
La Biosthetique-Sam FBW | Won as the first leg on the way to winning the Eventing Grand Slam |
| 2016 | Chris Burton (AUS)
|
Nobilis 18 | |
| 2017 | Oliver Townend (GBR)
|
Ballaghmor Class | |
| 2018 | Tim Price (NZL)
|
Ringwood Sky Boy | |
| 2019 | Pippa Funnell (GBR)
|
MGH Grafton Street | |
| 2020 | No event | Cancelled due to COVID-19 | |
| 2021 | No event | Cancelled due to COVID-19, replaced by Bicton Arena International 5* | |
| 2022 | Piggy March (GBR)
|
Vanir Kamira | |
| 2023 | Oliver Townend (GBR)
|
Ballaghmor Class |
Casualties and incidents edit
1988 edit
- Mark Davies (GBR) was killed when he fell at fence 26 during cross country at Burghley.[2]
1990 edit
- Ian Stark (GBR) was disqualified for exessive pressing of his exhausted horse, Alfresco during the event.[3]
1999 edit
- Simon Long (GBR) was killed when his horse Springleaze Macaroo flipped over a fence and crushed him during the cross country event.[4]
2004 edit
- Caroline Pratt (GBR) was killed during a rotational fall from her mount Primitive Streak on cross country.[5]
2009 edit
- Harry Meade (GBR) was disqualified and handed a red card for riding an exhausted horse. His mount, Dunauger No. 14 fell at fence 19.[6]
- Paul Donovan (IRL) received a FEI yellow warning card for failing to stop after incurring 3 refusals on Sportsfield Sandyman.[7]The citation was given for "Dangerous riding - Continuing after three clear refusals, a fall, or any form of elimination (Eventing Rules Art. 525)" during the CCI4* event.[8]
- A runaway tractor rolled down a hill into a car parking area causing thousands of pounds in damage and "panicking spectators". [9]
2010 edit
- Nicola Malcom (GBR) was airlifted to hospital after she and her horse McFly fell at a fence during the cross country competition.[10]
2011 edit
- Michael Pollard (USA) received a Yellow Warning card for Abuse of Horse - Riding an exhausted Horse (Eventing Rules Art. 526) during the CCI4*.[11]
2012 edit
- Heartbreak Hill ridden by Paul Hart (SA) was euthanized on the cross country course after breaking his leg while competing.[12]
- Sam Watson (IRL) received a Yellow Warning card for Abuse of Horse - Excessive pressing of a tired Horse (Eventing Rules Art. 526), Dangerous riding - Too fast or too slow (Eventing Rules Art. 525) during the CCI4*.[11]
2013 edit
- Clifton Promise, ridden by Jonathan Paget (NZL) was found to have reserpine, a banned substance in his system while competing. Clifton Promise was disqualified.[13]
- Clifton Pinot, ridden by Kevin McNab (AUS) was found to have reserpine, a banned substance in his system while competing. Clifton Pinot was disqualified from the competition.[14]
2014 edit
- Orto, ridden by Sara Squires (UK) was euthanized after experiening a fatal injury from hitting a fence during cross country.[15]
- Three riders were hospitalized after falls on cross country, Natalie Blundell (AUS), Gina Ruck (GBR) and Neil Spratt (NZL).[16]
- Megan Heath (NZL) received a Yellow Warning card for Abuse of Horse - Excessive use of whip, bit and/or spurs (Eventing Rules Art. 526) during the CCI4* event.[8]
2016 edit
- Paul Tapner (AUS) was hospitalized after a fall from Up In th Air during the cross-country portion of the event.[17]
2019 edit
- David Britnell (GBR) received an Eventing Recorded Warning for Dangerous riding - Series of dangerous jumps (Eventing Rules Art. 525) at the CCI5* event.[11]
2022 edit
- HD Bronze and Harry Mutch (GBR) fell at Cottesmore Leap, during the cross-country portion of the event.[18]
- Rosie Thomas (GBR) received several Recorded Warnings from the FEI for their conduct while riding their horse Balladeer Humbel Guy. They were warned for Dangerous riding - Pressing a tired Horse (Eventing Rules Art. 525), Dangerous riding - Series of dangerous jumps (Eventing Rules Art. 525), Dangerous riding - Severe lack of responsiveness from the Horse or the Athlete (Eventing Rules Art. 525) during the CCI5* event.[11]
2023 edit
- Julia Norman (GBR) was cited with a Eventing Recorded Warning by the FEI for "Abuse of Horse - Minor case of blood on the Horse (Eventing Rules Art. 526.1)" during the CCI5* at Burghley.[11]
References edit
- ^ "Burghley Horse Trials Guide | Humes Outfitters". 31 October 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ "Central News East: 12.09.1988: Horse Trials Death". MACE Archive. 30 April 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "Central News East: 09.09.1990: Burghley Horse Trials". MACE Archive. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "Fourth rider this year dies at horse trials". The Independent. 4 September 1999. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Seenan, Gerard; Newsum, Gillian (6 September 2004). "Rider's concerns before fatal fall". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Ryder, Erin (8 September 2009). "Rider Disqualification Handed Down at Burghley Event". The Horse. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "Townend Does the Double at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials". FEI. 5 September 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Warning Cards : Eventing". data.fei.org. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Runaway tractor panics spectators". 6 September 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "CAROLINE POWELL POISED TO TAKE ON KIWI'S BURGHLEY MANTLE". FEI. 3 September 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Warning Cards - Discipline = Eventing". data.fei.org. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "KZN Breeders : Heartbreak For South African Eventing Champion". kznbreeders.co.za. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "PARTIAL DECISION of the FEI TRIBUNAL Positive Anti-Doping Case No.: 2013/BS07" (PDF). FEI.org. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "DECISION of the FEI TRIBUNAL Positive Anti-Doping Case No.: 2013/BS06" (PDF). FEI.org. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Orto Euthanized At Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials - The Chronicle of the Horse". Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "Avebury Is the Star of Burghley Again". USEA : United States Eventing Association Inc. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "FEI Classics™: Burton rules supreme at Burghley". FEI. 3 September 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "Mutch eager for Burghley return after woes of last year". Yahoo Sports. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2024.