Defender Burghley Horse Trials 2024
From Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th September, Defender Burghley Horse Trials will return to the parkland of Stamford’s Burghley House. It’s one of the world’s toughest eventing fixtures, and a world-class sporting event as well as a country show beloved by its well-heeled audience
It’s back, bigger and better than ever for 2024, the Defender Burghley Horse Trials. This year will be the 60th Burghley Horse Trials to be held in the parkland of Stamford’s Elizabethan stately home. Back in 1961, an established eventing fixture which was due to take place at Harewood House was cancelled due to an outbreak of Foot & Mouth.
Happily the Marquess of Exeter was happy to host the event instead and so began a tradition of a three day eventing competition (actually held over four days), comprising a dressage round plus a cross-country course designed by Derek di Grazia covering four miles and with 30 fences, then the competition’s showjumping element. The competition itself is central to the event, of course, and is rated CCI5* by the sport’s governing body, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, which makes it one of the toughest competitions in the world.
In terms of its difficulty, Defender Burghley Horse Trials ranks alongside the Badminton Horse Trials, held in Gloucestershire in the month of May and the Kentucky Three Day Event held in Lexington in September.
Competitors who win Burghley walk away with a prize of £110,000 plus a horsebox full of glory, but those who also win Badminton and Kentucky in any order within 12 months win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, and receive £275,000, on top of the prizes for each competition. It’s a feat achieved by Pippa Funnell in 2003 and Michael Jung in 2016.
The appeal of the Burghley Horse Trials though extends far beyond its status as a world-class eventing fixture. Each year over 175,000 spectators enjoy the event’s ability to provide unsurpassed luxury shopping thanks to 600 trade stands and over 100 food and drink vendors.
There’s also the chance to spot a few celebrities. Past competitors include HRH The Princess Royal, who took the European Championship in 1971, and Zara Tindall, who competed at last year’s event.
In total Defender Burghley Horse Trials takes place across 530 acres, with 80 competitors and 340 horses on site. The event is beloved by locals too as it’s thought to be worth over £20m to the local economy each year.
Highlights to enjoy at the 2024
Over 600 trade stands: Luxury shopping with everything from country clothing to fine art
Defender Burghley Horse Trials is not just a world-class sporting fixture, but a posh country show too, with over 600 carefully selected trade stands and a waiting list for those keen to exhibit at the event.Burghley’s organisers have the luxury of being able to pick the very best names to exhibit at the show, from luxury jewellers Boodles to clothing and boots from names like Dubarry, Fairfax & Favor, Holland Cooper and Joules to the best names in technical and equestrian clothing or in footwear from Ariat and LeMieux. Official Burghley Horse Trials sculptor Belinda Sillars will be exhibiting alongside local galleries like Gladwells, based in Stamford and Knightsbridge, as well as Newark’s Sally Mitchell Fine Art. The Burghley Lifestyle Pavilion alone has over 70 companies specialising in unusual and stylish products, whilst the Country Living, Horse Village, Rural Crafts and World of the Horse pavilions also help to contribute to an truly exceptional luxury shopping experience.
Raise a glass to Burghley’s talented competitors
As Pol Roger is a key sponsor, it would be rude not to enjoy a glass of Champagne. The Burghley Horse Trials is a great opportunity to socialise and meet up with friends, so it’s fortuitous that Pol Roger remains a key sponsor of the event, which sees over 4,800 glasses of Champagne consumed and 26 gallons of Pimm’s enjoyed over the weekend.
Among the culinary highlights this year are premium picnic hampers created by Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks available to purchase online for £40/person (hamper £80) with collection available on the day (See www.madeinoldstead.co.uk).
New for 2024 meanwhile is The Avebury Restaurant, open to the public for breakfast from 8am £32/person, as well as two or three course lunches (£65/two courses, £75/three courses, note that pre-booking is essential). Alternatively, enjoy afternoon tea from 4pm on Wednesday 4th as competitors are presented to the ground jury. Tea at the Trot Up (£300/person) combines the opportunity for 100 guests to reserve their plated afternoon tea and meet some of the stars of eventing (See www.burghley-horse.co.uk).
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Fresh Talent at Burghley: LeMieux Pony Club Team Jumping and Dubarry Young Event Horse competitions
Two highlights of Defender Burghley Horse Trials are the LeMieux Pony Club Team Jumping Competition in the House Arena on Thursday, and the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse competition, which is open to horses aged four and five years old.
The Young Event Horse competition is open to riders, trainers and competitors, and is now in its fourth decade, introducing the audience to the ‘five star’ eventing horses of the future. Meanwhile the LeMieux competition is for teams of three or four horses, run under British Showjumping rules and it results in a jump-off for the top eight teams.
Art at Burghley: Burghley Horse Trials’ Artist in Residence is joined by its first Sculptor in Residence
The 2023 Defender Burghley Horse Trials saw the appointment of Daniel Crane as the event’s first Artist in Residence. Sporting artist Daniel works predominantly in oils and is also resident artist to the Household Cavalry. He has painted some of the UK’s most renowned horses including Olympic dressage champion Valegro.
New for 2024, the event will also have its first Sculptor in Residence, in the form of Belinda Sillars, who will be given wide access to the event, including behind the scenes, with a view to creating a piece of sculpture that captures what Burghley is all about. Belinda, who has also exhibited at Burghley since the 1990s, creates sculptures in bronze and has undertaken many significant commissions for events like the Chatsworth and Bramham Horse Trials.
Burghley TV & BHT Radio: The best way to keep up with all the action
With so much going on all at once, at an event that spans over 350 acres, keeping up with the action can be tricky when there’s so much else to see. Happily, Burghley TV returns for 2024 hosted by Nick Luck and Rosie Tapner with commentary, analysis and plenty of behind-the-scenes interviews. Also back is BHT Radio, at 87.7fm, with its expert live audio commentary.
Find Out More: Defender Burghley Horse Trials takes place from 5th-8th Sept. Friday £30, Saturday £52.50, Sunday £30. Car parking £55/four day adv. Season admission £115/adv. Season car parking £55. Membership from £385. See www.burghley-horse.co.uk or call the box office on 01780 752 131.