Kitty King at Fence 15ABC, Rolex, during a cross country preview of the Defender Burghley Horse Trials 2023 at Burghley House near Stamford in Lincolnshire in the UK on the 17th August 2023.
With Defender Burghley (30 August-3 September) fast approaching, it’s time to get a first look at the Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course for 2023.
Horse & Hound sent recent European team gold and individual silver medallist Kitty King to Lincolnshire to review Derek di Grazia’s second Burghley track, following his debut as course-designer at the event in 2022. You can read her thoughts on every fence in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine (dated 24 August). In the meantime, check out these pictures of the course…
Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course: first look
Kitty King at Fence 4AB LeMieux Arena Rails, during a cross country preview of the Defender Burghley Horse Trials 2023 at Burghley House near Stamford in Lincolnshire in the UK on the 17th August 2023.
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Kitty checks out the first combination, the LeMieux Arena Rails at fence 4ab.
Kitty King at Fence 7, Holland Cooper Leaf Pit, during a cross country preview of the Defender Burghley Horse Trials 2023 at Burghley House near Stamford in Lincolnshire in the UK on the 17th August 2023.
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
That’s a long way down! The big drop at The Holland Cooper Leaf Pit (fence 7abcd) is always a feature fence on the Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course.
Kitty King at Fence 9AB, Herbert;s Hollow, during a cross country preview of the Defender Burghley Horse Trials 2023 at Burghley House near Stamford in Lincolnshire in the UK on the 17th August 2023.
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Kitty susses out the line through fence 9ab, Herbert’s Hollow.
Kitty King at Fence 9AB, Herbert;s Hollow, during a cross country preview of the Defender Burghley Horse Trials 2023 at Burghley House near Stamford in Lincolnshire in the UK on the 17th August 2023.
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
How big is it? Kitty peeks over the top of fence 9a.
Kitty King at Fence 10ABC, Defender Trout Hatchery, during a cross country preview of the Defender Burghley Horse Trials 2023 at Burghley House near Stamford in Lincolnshire in the UK on the 17th August 2023.
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
The Defender Trout Hatchery (fence 10abc) always catches out some of the field. We’re pleased to see Kitty has her wellies on ready to take a thorough look at the water fences.
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Kitty King at Fence 10ABC, Defender Trout Hatchery, during a cross country preview of the Defender Burghley Horse Trials 2023 at Burghley House near Stamford in Lincolnshire in the UK on the 17th August 2023.
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
The bounce into water at the Defender Trout Hatcher (fence 10abc), seen from the landing side.
Kitty King at Fence 15ABC, Rolex, during a cross country preview of the Defender Burghley Horse Trials 2023 at Burghley House near Stamford in Lincolnshire in the UK on the 17th August 2023.
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
The angled skinny hedge in a ditch which forms the first element of the Rolex combination (fence 15abc).
Kitty King at Fence 27, Lion Bridge, during a cross country preview of the Defender Burghley Horse Trials 2023 at Burghley House near Stamford in Lincolnshire in the UK on the 17th August 2023.
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
The Lion Bridge (fences 26 and 27) is the final big question before two plain fences on the way to the finish.
Pictures by Peter Nixon
Read Kitty’s thoughts on every fence on the Defender Burghley cross-country course in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, on sale 24 August 2023, plus videos of Kitty walking some of the key combinations online the same day
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Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.
