The 2024 Defender Burghley Horse Trials is a truly blue-riband event.
This year’s starting lineup includes two of the 2024 Olympic team gold medallists—world no. 1 Tom McEwan and reigning European champion, Ros Canter on her gold medal winning horse Lordships Graffalo.
There are seven previous 5* winning combinations in the extraordinary field as well. Among them are reigning Burghley title holder, Oliver Townend, this time riding his Rolex Kentucky winning mare, Cooley Rosalent and this year’s Badminton winners, Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier.
A new dressage test greeted the riders this year, introducing walk pirouettes, which proved interesting to watch and were performed creditably by all of the first day’s riders.
At the end of day one, British riders held the first three places.
Canter and Izilot DHI were second to enter the arena and the pair were absolutely dynamic, with Izilot showing an elasticity and balance rarely seen outside of a pure dressage arena.
“I was absolutely over the moon with him,” beamed Canter.
“I went into the arena wanting to show off his ability more than I have done before, having previously kept it a little bit safe as he can be a little bit sharp. I’m convinced there is a lot more to come from him but I’m thoroughly delighted that he went in there and kept his cool but managed to show his movement off.”
At Badminton, earlier this year, Canter retired Izilot on the early part of the cross country course as she felt she did not have his full attention She feels she will have better luck here at Burghley despite the fact that the first part of the course asks so many questions.
“He is, historically, much easier to ride at this time of the year. He is a much better horse for being outside with the sun on his back and having got into the swing of going to competitions and out in the lorry—September is definitely an easier month for him!”
Canter scored a personal best, her 19.9 penalties being her first 5* sub-20 score and she finished a street ahead of her nearest rivals, Pippa Funnell and MCS Maverick. Funnell, who won her first Burghley 21 years ago to become the first rider to win the Rolex Grand Slam, was one of only five riders today to have penalties in the 20s.
“It was a huge relief to get the test done! He is probably one of my best horses on the flat at home but he can be less easy in the arena,” said Funnell. “All the walk work didn’t suit him but he managed it with just one little jog and the pirouettes were as good as I could have hoped for. I was delighted with his canter work, and now I’m quite excited to be truly in touch going onto the cross country, knowing I can be really competitive.”
With a score of 28.3, Pippa finished 0.3 points ahead of Tom Jackson and Capels Hollow Drift. Switzerland’s Felix Vogg, is lying 4th on his 13 year old mare, Cartania, just 0.1 point ahead of Max Warburton (GBR) and Deerpairc Revelry.
New Zealand’s Tim Price, another previous winner of the event lies 6th with Viscount Viktor, on 29.5 penalties. Two of the five American entries have ridden today and both are placed within the top 15; Mia Farley and Phelps lie 13th and Jennie Brannigan is in 15th place on FE Lifestyle.
Many of the riders have had one or two walks around the course now and are beginning to get a feel for it.
“As you expect, it’s very big, but it is a very fair in that it is very obvious to the horses what they are supposed to be doing, but there is absolutely no margin for error,” Tom Jackson observed, “any lack of concentration from you or your horse is going to cost you dearly.”
Dressage continues on Friday, Sept 6 at 9:45 am local time.