With the Olympics and Paralympics happening this year, 2024 proved to be a very busy year for almost every sport, and the equestrians are no exception. And while there are various events happening in every season, autumn is especially full of competitions and trials that you don’t want to miss.
Burghley Horse Trials is undoubtedly one such event. Taking place over the course of three days in early September, it brings together renowned athletes, crowd-favourite horses, and a variety of spectators. The official programme consists of three events — dressage, cross country, and show jumping, but in reality the Burghley Horse Trials is much more than that.
The International Federation of Equestrian Sports (FEI) classifies it among the seven leading eventings of its kind, alongside with Badminton Horse Trials (England), the Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA), the Australian International Three Day Event (Australia), the Luhmühlen Horse Trials (Germany), the Maryland 5* (USA), and the Étoiles de Pau (France).
On top of that, since the competition at the Burghley Horse Trials is at CCI5*-L level (the highest rating in equestrian sports), it is one of the three events that together make the Grand Slam of Eventing. The other two events are Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event in Lexington, Kentucky (United States) and Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in Gloucestershire (England).
Burghley Horse Trials: The Backstory
The first thing you will notice when arriving at the Burghley Horse Trials venue is the 16th century mansion. Seated near the town of Stamford in Lincolnshire, it boasts of Elizabethan architecture and the status of Grade I listing, i.e. building of exceptional interest, from the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission.
The Horse Trials were first conducted in 1961 at the grounds of the Burghley House that was built and is still occupied by the Cecil family. After a three-day eventing commonly held in Harewood, West Yorkshire was cancelled the same year due to a suspected case of foot and mouth disease, David Burghley decided to launch a similar event in Stamford.
The establishment of the Burghley Horse Trials wasn’t, however, the only contribution David Burghley, the 6th Marquess of Exeter, has made to the development of sport in the United Kingdom. Back in his college years, he was well-known as an avid athlete and participated in the 1928 Amsterdam Summer Olympic Games, where he won a gold medal in the 400 m hurdles. In 1933 he joined the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and in 1936 was elected to become the Chairman of the British Olympic Association.
Interesting Facts About Burghley Horse Trials
Burghley Horse Trials holds the record of having conducted the highest number of championships among the international events in this category. Since its inauguration in 1961 to this day, ten championships, including the first 1966 World Championship, have been held here.
The horse to go down in history as the first winner of the Burghley Horse Trials in its inaugural year was Merely-A-Monarch. He was also the first horse to win the Badminton Horse Trials.
Only one horse has managed to win the Burghley Horse Trials champion title three times. This honour belongs to Avebury, who was crowned as the winner in 2012, 2013, and 2014. The only other horse to come close to this record was Priceless who won the title twice, in 1983 and 1985.
The list of winner horses and riders by year is as follows:
| Year | Rider | Horse |
| 1961 | Anneli Drummond-Hay (Great Britain) | Merely-A-Monarch |
| 1962 | James Templer (Great Britain) | M’Lord Connolly |
| 1963 | Harry Freeman-Jackson (Ireland) | St. Finbarr |
| 1964 | Richard Meade (Great Britain) | Barberry |
| 1965 | J.J. Beale (Great Britain) | Victoria Bridge |
| 1966 | Carlos Moratorio (Argentina) | Chalan |
| 1967 | Lorna Sutherland (Great Britain) | Popadom |
| 1968 | Sheila Willcox (Great Britain) | Fair and Square |
| 1969 | Gillian Watson (Great Britain) | Shaitan |
| 1970 | Judy Bradwell (Great Britain) | Don Camillo |
| 1971 | H.R.H. Princess Anne (Great Britain) | Doublet |
| 1972 | Janet Hodgson (Great Britain) | Larkspur |
| 1973 | Mark Phillips (Great Britain) | Maid Marion |
| 1974 | Bruce Davidson (USA) | Irish Cap |
| 1975 | Aly Pattinson (Great Britain) | Carawich |
| 1976 | Jane Holderness-Roddam (Great Britain) | Warrior |
| 1977 | Lucinda Prior-Palmer (Great Britain) | George |
| 1978 | Lorna Clarke (Great Britain) | Greco |
| 1979 | Andrew Hoy (Australia) | Davey |
| 1980 | Richard Walker (Great Britain) | John of Gaunt |
| 1981 | Lucinda Prior-Palmer (Great Britain) | Beagle Bay |
| 1982 | Richard Walker (Great Britain) | Ryan’s Cross |
| 1983 | Virginia Holgate (Great Britain) | Priceless |
| 1984 | Virginia Holgate (Great Britain) | Night Cap II |
| 1985 | Virginia Holgate (Great Britain) | Priceless |
| 1986 | Virginia Leng (Great Britain) | Murphy Himself |
| 1987 | Mark Todd (New Zealand) | Wilton Fair |
| 1988 | Jane Thelwall (Great Britain) | King’s Jester |
| 1989 | Virginia Leng (Great Britain) | Master Craftsman |
| 1990 | Mark Todd (New Zealand) | Face the Music |
| 1991 | Mark Todd (New Zealand) | Welton Greylag |
| 1992 | Charlotte Hollingsworth (Great Britain) | The Cool Customer |
| 1993 | Stephen Bradley (USA) | Sassy Reason |
| 1994 | William Fox-Pitt (Great Britain) | Chaka |
| 1995 | Andrew Nicholson (New Zealand) | Buckley Province |
| 1996 | Mary King (Great Britain) | Star Appeal |
| 1997 | Mark Todd (New Zealand) | Broadcast News |
| 1998 | Blyth Tait (New Zealand) | Chesterfield |
| 1999 | Mark Todd (New Zealand) | Diamond Hall Red |
| 2000 | Andrew Nicholson (New Zealand) | Mr. Smiffy |
| 2001 | Blyth Tait (New Zealand) | Ready Teddy |
| 2002 | William Fox-Pitt (Great Britain) | Highland Lad |
| 2003 | Pippa Funnell (Great Britain) | Primmore’s Pride |
| 2004 | Andrew Hoy (Australia) | Moon Fleet |
| 2005 | William Fox-Pitt (Great Britain) | Ballincoola |
| 2006 | Lucinda Fredericks (Australia) | Headley Britannia |
| 2007 | William Fox-Pitt (Great Britain) | Parkmore Ed |
| 2008 | William Fox-Pitt (Great Britain) | Tamarillo |
| 2009 | Oliver Townend (Great Britain) | Carousel Quest |
| 2010 | Caroline Powell (New Zealand) | Lenamore |
| 2011 | William Fox-Pitt (Great Britain) | Parklane Hawk |
| 2012 | Andrew Nicholson (New Zealand) | Avebury |
| 2013 | Andrew Nicholson (New Zealand) | Avebury |
| 2014 | Andrew Nicholson (New Zealand) | Avebury |
| 2015 | Michael Jung (Germany) | La Biosthetique-Sam FBW |
| 2016 | Chris Burton (Australia) | Nobilis 18 |
| 2017 | Oliver Townend (Great Britain) | Ballaghmor Class |
| 2018 | Tim Price (New Zealand) | Ringwood Sky Boy |
| 2019 | Pippa Funnell (Great Britain) | MGH Grafton Street |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |
| 2021 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic; replaced by Bicton Arena International 5* | |
| 2022 | Piggy March (Great Britain) | Vanir Kamira |
| 2023 | Oliver Townend (Great Britain) | Ballaghmor Class |
2024 Burghley Horse Trials Review
This year the Burghley Horse Trials welcomed its participants and spectators from 5 to 8 September. While the visitors were offered a variety of activities on the ground, the main programme consisted of the following events:
- Thursday, 5 September – dressage
- Friday, 6 September – dressage
- Saturday, 7 September – cross country
- Sunday, 8 September – jumping
After the prize fund was increased in 2022, the winner now gets £110,000 in prize money in addition to the champion title. Other monetary prizes are distributed up to the 20th place.
Martyn Johnson continues to lead the event since his appointment as the director of Burghley Horse Trials in 2021. American cross-country course designer Derek di Grazia returned to Burghley for the third year in a row to design the course for the 2024 competition.
As one of the leading events in its category, Burghley Horse Trials always attract large numbers of international participants. This year, the qualification process revealed the following list of contestants:
| Rider | Horse | Nationality |
| Harry Meade | Superstition | Great Britain |
| Harry Meade | Away Cruising | Great Britain |
| Harry Meade | Et Hop Du Matz | Great Britain |
| Ros Canter | Izilot Dhi | Great Britain |
| Pippa Funnell | Mcs Maverick | Great Britain |
| Matthew Heath | Golden Recipe | Great Britain |
| Gaspard Maksud | Kan-Do-2 | France |
| Susie Berry | Irene Leva | Ireland |
| Aaron Miller | Friendship Vdl | Great Britain |
| Emma Hyslop-Webb | Jeweetwel | Great Britain |
| Nicole Mills | Fearless W | Great Britain |
| Bella Innes Ker | Highway Ii | Great Britain |
| Dan Jocelyn | Blackthorn Cruise | New Zealand |
| Holly Richardson | Bally Louis | Great Britain |
| Tom Jackson | Capels Hollow Drift | Great Britain |
| Luc Chateau | Viens Du Mont | France |
| Felix Vogg | Cartania | Switzerland |
| Phil Brown | Harry Robinson | Great Britain |
| Lucy Latta | Rca Patron Saint | Ireland |
| Alexander Bragg | Quindiva | Great Britain |
| Austin O’Connor | Colorado Blue | Ireland |
| Richard Jones | Alfie’s Clover | Great Britain |
| Libby Seed | Heartbreaker Star Quality | Great Britain |
| Nicky Hill | Mgh Bingo Boy | Great Britain |
| Jennie Brannigan | Fe Lifestyle | USA |
| Francis Whittington | Dhi Purple Rain | Great Britain |
| Harry Meade | Cavalier Crystal | Great Britain |
| Harry Meade | Away Cruising | Great Britain |
| Harry Meade | Et Hop Du Matz | Great Britain |
| Tim Price | Viscount Viktor | New Zealand |
| Max Warburton | Deerpairc Revelry | Great Britain |
| Declan Cullen | Seavaghan Ash | Ireland |
| Ian Cassells | Master Point | Ireland |
| Lizzie Baugh | B Exclusive | Great Britain |
| Andrew James | Celtic Morning Star | Great Britain |
| Mia Farley | Phelps | USA |
| Zara Tindall | Class Affair | Great Britain |
| Tom Bird | Cowling Hot Gossip | Great Britain |
| Emily King | Valmy Biats | Great Britain |
| Cosby Green | Copper Beach | USA |
| Will Rawlin | Ballycoog Breaker Boy | Great Britain |
| Andrew Heffernan | Harthill Phantom | Netherlands |
| Tom McEwen | Chf Cooliser | Great Britain |
| Sarah Ennis | Grantstown Jackson | Ireland |
| Alice Casburn | Topspin | Great Britain |
| Caroline Powell | Greenacres Special Cavalier | New Zealand |
| Emma Thomas | Icarus X | Great Britain |
| Sophia Hill | Humble Glory | Australia |
| Tom Crisp | Liberty And Glory | Great Britain |
| Hannah Sue Hollberg | Capitol H I M | USA |
| Gireg Le Coz | Aisprit De La Loge | France |
| Oliver Townend | Cooley Rosalent | Great Britain |
| Jonelle Price | Grappa Nera | New Zealand |
| Aistis Vitkauskas | Commander Vg | Lithuania |
| Toshiyuki Tanaka | Jefferson Jra | Japan |
| Lauren Innes | Global Fision M | New Zealand |
| Nadja Minder | Toblerone | Switzerland |
| Padraig McCarthy | Lady Ophelia | Ireland |
| Jesse Campbell | Cooley Lafitte | New Zealand |
| Rose Nesbitt | Eg Michealangelo | Great Britain |
| Joseph Murphy | Calmaro | Ireland |
| Monica Spencer | Artist | New Zealand |
| Wills Oakden | A Class Cooley | Great Britain |
| Gemma Stevens | Chilli Knight | Great Britain |
| Nicolas Touzaint | Absolut Gold Hdc | France |
| Andrew McConnon | Wakita 54 | USA |
| Ryuzo Kitajima | Feroza Nieuwmoed | Japan |
| Susie Berry | Wellfields Lincoln | Ireland |
| Gaspard Maksud | Zaragoza Ii | France |
| Matthew Heath | Askari | Great Britain |
| Pippa Funnell | Majas Hope | Great Britain |
| Ros Canter | Lordships Graffalo | Great Britain |
| Harry Meade | Annaghmore Valoner | Great Britain |
| Harry Meade | Away Cruising | Great Britain |
| Harry Meade | Et Hop Du Matz | Great Britain |
| Tim Price | Vitali | New Zealand |
Burghley Horse Trials Winners
Rosalind Canter and 12 year old Lordships Graffalo were off to a good start from the very beginning. Topping the scoring charts in every discipline, the pair became the new champions of the Burghley Horse Trials.
Lordships Graffalo, or as Canter referred to him in an interview, “Walter”, is the second horse to win both British five-stars and an Olympic gold medal. Continuing the tradition of Merely-A-Monarch and other horses after him, Lordships Graffalo became the 15th horse to win both the Burghley and Badminton Horse Trials.
The full results for the top 10 were as follows:
| Nationality | Rider | Horse | Score after Dressage | Score after Cross Country | Total Score after Showjumping |
| Great Britain | Rosalind Canter | Lordships Graffalo | 22 | 22.0 | 23.6 |
| New Zealand | Tim Price | Vitali | 22.3 | 25.5 | 29.5 |
| Great Britain | Harry Meade | Cavalier Crystal | 31.3 | 31.3 | 31.3 |
| Great Britain | Harry Meade | Annaghmore Valoner | 27.8 | 27.8 | 31.8 |
| Great Britain | Tom Jackson | Capels Hollow Drift | 28.6 | 34.2 | 34.2 |
| France | Gaspard Maksud | Zaragoza | 26.8 | 30.4 | 34.3 |
| France | Nicolas Touzaint | Absolut Gold Hdc | 26.1 | 34.9 | 34.9 |
| Great Britain | Alexander Bragg | Quindiva | 35.1 | 35.1 | 35.1 |
| Great Britain | Gemma Stevens | Chilli Knight | 29.7 | 32.1 | 36.1 |
| Great Britain | Alice Casburn | Topspin | 36.6 | 38.2 | 38.2 |
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