Nana Dalton’s eventing blog: fast running out of superlatives for Bug *VIDEO*
I think I’m fast running out of superlatives to sum up our incredible week at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials with a truly remarkable horse!
The icing on the cake was Bug (Elite Syncopation) jumping a superb clear round in the showjumping. I simply could not be more proud of him and will forever have him held high on a pedestal for not only being a true survivor, but for helping me jump my first double clear at four-star level.
Massive congratulations also go to a top horseman and someone I’m lucky enough to call a good friend, Chris Burton who came third and fourth on his two fabulous Australian thoroughbreds. Chris has been a huge help and support to me over the last couple on years including the last couple of weeks while we’ve been based at his yard.
Out of the 12 double clears at Burghley this year, three of them came out of his stables and they are all munching grass out in his fields this morning, enjoying the sun on their backs.
We’ve experienced plenty of very happy moments which we’ll savour and will keep us very much inspired to continue working hard so we can taste more of the same in the future.
Nana
Nana and Bug’s Burghley experience
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
After Nana’s original Burghley hope, Miley (Absolut Opposition), suffered a slight setback, Bug (Elite Syncopation) stepped up to the plate to contest h is first four-star.
After arriving safely at the Lincolnshire event on Wednesday, Bug flew through the first trot-up.
Nana and Bug then had a day off from competing as they weren’t due to do their dressage until Friday. Nana filled her time having a flatwork lesson with Yogi Breisner and then they did some arena familiarisation in the evening to help settle Bug into the surroundings in which he would do his dressage test.
Bug’s dressage was very pleasing, and he scored a solid mark of 53.
Cross-country day dawned on Saturday and Nana was thrilled that Bug cruised around the influential course clear, picking up a few time-faults.
Full report from Burghley in next week’s H&H, out Thursday, 10 September — 17 pages of photos and analysis, including columns from Ruth Edge, Lucy Wiegersma and Mark Phillips.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Nana first joined our blogging team in the run up to her first attempt at Badminton Horse Trials in spring 2015, then rejoined us as a guest blogger during the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in autumn 2015. She also shared her highs and lows while competing at Burghley in 2019.