The Defender Burghley Horse Trials returns to the parkland of Stamford’s Elizabethan stately home this month, with another three rounds of competition designed to test the skill of both horse and rider at the most demanding, world-class level…

For 20 years, one of the most high-profile competitors in the event has been Zara Tindall. The rider’s first Burghley, in 2003, was one of the most impressive top-level debuts in modern sport. Aged just 22, she and her big chestnut equine partner, Toytown, blasted round the huge cross-country track like a tornado, coming across the finishing line a staggering 23 seconds under the optimum time.

It’ll go down as being one of the most memorable events in the history of the Defender Burghley Horse Trials, a fixture of which Zara and her parents are clearly very fond.

“Burghley is one of my favourite events,” Zara says. “My father was the cross-country course-designer for many years and he won it on Maid Marion in 1973, two years after my mother won her European Championship title here on Doublet, which was owned by my grandmother, the late Queen. It’s been a special place for my family and of course I would love to win it myself.”

Those watching in 2003 will always remember the ease with which they shot round Burghley’s unique, testing undulations and over the demanding fences. Zara’s experience in the racing world showed: she rode with long reins and in a forward seat, utterly trusting Toytown, who had taken Zara from her Pony Club days to the greatest event in the world.

“In his younger years Toytown was a nightmare to hack out and ride,” remembers Zara. “He had a lot of attitude and personality; he was a very expressive, exuberant character. He loved showing off, but he was a redhead at heart. He was really tricky, but he loved his job and loved a crowd, which at a major event was fantastic because he upped his game.”

“We came up the levels together and had the most amazing partnership. I shall never forget that feeling he gave me across country.”

“I remember that first Burghley and my father giving me such stick for being so far inside the time. I told him I didn’t have any choice in the matter; Toytown was pulling my arms out at the end! I loved Burghley and I loved having him there. That was where he was meant to be, that was his big stage,” Zara says.

Zara and ‘Noddy,’ as Toytown was known at home, went into the final show jumping phase at Burghley that weekend in the lead. But the fairy-tale didn’t quite happen. They hit one jump to a loud groan from the excitable crowd and dropped to second.

They hadn’t quite pulled off what would have been a historic win; Zara is the only rider whose parents, Mark Phillips and HRH The Princess Royal have both won Burghley; Mark in 1973 and the Princess Royal in 1971.

But it was an eye-catching performance that they then used as a springboard to securing the European Championship title in 2004 and the World Championship in 2006.

And, in a way, it was the right result. The outstanding British competitor Pippa Funnell, one of Zara’s sporting mentors, won Burghley 2003 as a result of Zara’s pole down, and became the first ever rider to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing (the Kentucky Three-Day Event in the USA, the Badminton Horse Trials and Burghley consecutively); “Pippa still owes me!” laughs Zara.

In the intervening years between Burghley 2003 and Burghley 2023, Zara has married the World Cup-winning rugby player Mike Tindall and they have had three children together. Mia, Lena and Lucas are often pictured at horse trials with Zara and Mike; eventing is a very family-friendly sport.

It’s a really sociable event for visitors too, and some who visit Burghley enjoy the fixture without ever seeing a single horse. With 600 trade stands and a keen social scene, the event is both World Class sporting fixture and country show, celebrating the best of rural life with the very best shopping and socialising with Champagne courtesy of sponsor Pol Roger.

The Defender Burghley Horse Trials is one of just seven events worldwide with the very highest five-star classification, meaning the skill of horse and rider cannot be overstated.

Last year saw the debut of course designer Derek di Grazia who is presiding over a subtle evolution of the course once again this year.

Despite having its origins in 1961, a 21st century Burghley Horse Trials now means a dedicated TV channel, live-streaming the event to the world, and a site covering 530 acres. 20 acres alone are concentrated around a central ‘village’ with the relocation of the entire Horse Trials team, normally based in a dedicated office just off Barnack Road, into temporary digs in the heart of the event. The team is so busy that key sponsor Defender (one of three new sub-brands for Land Rover) lends the team about 50 vehicles to get around the site.

For Stamford, too, the event is a terrific source of pride, even if it does see more than 170,000 visitors descending on the town. The Burghley Horse Trials is worth about £20m to the local economy, with local hotels and restaurants booked out a year in advance and many local businesses benefiting greatly from the huge footfall around the town.

Spring saw Zara and Class Affair achieving their best result to date at Kentucky in the spring, although their appearance at this year’s Badminton was scuppered by a family function… well, we say family function, it was her uncle, King Charles III’s coronation. Happily though, Zara was one of the first of around 80 entries for this year’s Defender Burghley Horse Trials.

“I’m going to try to get past fence seven this time!” she jokes. “Class Affair has got so much scope and if I can keep his concentration, he should suit Burghley really well.”

Eventing: Dressage, Show Jumping, Cross Country…

Three Day Eventing is a comprehensive test of the all-round ability of the horse and rider, comprising Dressage, Cross Country and Jumping phases…

• The Dressage phase of the Three Day Event tests the basic training of the horse, whilst helping him to develop an improved posture for carrying a rider and testing his obedience and calmness.
• The most popular and the most demanding of the three disciplines is Cross Country. With over four miles of course and 30 fences, visitors can get close to the action at Burghley on Saturday.
• Held on the Sunday of the Event, Jumping is the final element of the competition and the course at Defender Burghley is designed by International Course Designer Paul Connor.

The Concours Complete International (CCI) is the competition rating for eventing, Burghley’s CCI5*-L is the highest level of competition, suitable for horses and riders with a good deal of experience and success in international competition. Other CCI5*-L events include Badminton and Kentucky which together with Burghley constitute the ‘grand slam’ of eventing.

The History of The Defender Burghley Horse Trials…

The Burghley Horse Trials arrived in Stamford in 1961 through serendipity. A previous competition at Harewood House was cancelled in 1961 due to an outbreak of Foot & Mouth, so the 6th Marquess of Exeter David George Brownlow Cecil offered the use of the parkland of Burghley House to the British Horse Society, and the rest is history.

In its second year Burghley ran the FEI’s European Championship. It went on to host two World Championships (1966 and 1974), six European Championships (1962, 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989 and 1997) and one Young Riders European Championship (1978). No other horse trials site has staged as many Championships.

Burghley Horse Trials is one of only seven CCI 5*-L events worldwide and in 2003 a victory at Burghley saw Britain’s Pippa Funnell becoming the first rider to ever win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. Andrew Nicholson has completed The Burghley Horse Trials more times than any other rider: 36 times, notching up five wins, five seconds and six thirds.

In 1971, HRH Princess Anne rode at Burghley and took the European Championship title. Captain Mark Phillips also has a long standing association with the event, winning Burghley in 1973 and subsequently becoming its Course Designer. Their daughter Zara Tindall is the only child of two former winners to compete at the event.

The Defender Burghley Horse Trials in Numbers…

£20m It’s estimated that the event is worth £20m to the local economy, with visitors shopping locally, staying in hotels and dining in local restaurants during the event, and providing Burghley’s 600 trade stands with access to a well-heeled market for luxury goods. It’s estimated that 25% of visitors are between 45 and 54 years of age, 75% of attendees are female, and half of visitors earn more than £60,000…

173,000 There are around 173,000 visitors to the event each year, and about 40% of them travel more than two hours to attend.

13,000 The Burghley estate covers more than 13,000 acres, 2,000 acres of which is the main estate. The Horse Trials takes up 530 acres of space including 20 acres for the central ‘village.’ 22,277 metres of tents and marquees are erected to create spaces like the main arena, and trade stands. That’s the equivalent area of 919 tennis courts.

12,000 The first Burghley Horse Trials in 1961 had just 19 competitors and 12,000 spectators attending.

20,000 Over 20,000 ice creams are consumed during the event (subject to the weather!), whilst visitors enjoy 4,800 glasses of Champagne – Pol Roger is a sponsor – and 26 gallons of Pimm’s!

340+ Over 340 horses will take part in the competition, with around 80 competitors. 800 officials and volunteers are responsible for running the cross-country element of the competition, which is usually 6,500m long and comprises 30 obstacles. Over 50 doctors and vets are on hand to ensure the health of riders and horses.

1961 The event has been running since the early 1960s and the most prolific winner is William Fox-Pitt who has taken the top prize six time, (1994, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2011).

Eight horses have completed Burghley six times: Watkins (Tanya Cleverly), Smokey VI (Chris Collins and William Powell-Harris), Significant (Clare Lewis), Fairfax (Rodolphe Scherer and Heidi Antikatzidis), Happy Times (Sam Griffiths), Armada (Oliver Townend and Andrew Nicholson), Lazy Acres Skip On (Sarah Oliver), Ballincoola (William Fox-Pitt). The youngest horse ever to win Burghley was Merely-A-Monarch, aged six in 1961. The oldest were the 17 year old horses Lenamore (Caroline Powell, 2010) and Vanir Kamira (Piggy March, 2022).

£110,000 The first prize for winning Burghley is £110,000; the most offered in the sport of eventing. The total prize fund is £300,000.

Find Out More: Defender Burghley Horse Trials takes place from 1st-4th Sept. Thursday/Friday/Sunday £27/adv. Saturday £48/adv. Car parking £15/day adv. Four day admission £93/adv, car parking £50/adv, membership from £350. See www.burghley-horse.co.uk or call the box office on 01780 752 131.