Defending champions Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo headline the current entries for Defender Burghley Horse Trials (4 to 7 September). Ros is among four former Burghley winners in the 2025 field – Piggy March, Caroline Powell and Tim Price are also entered. World number one Harry Meade has three horses on the list, after securing a hat-trick of top-12 placings here in 2024, and other pairs to watch include Ireland’s 2023 Maryland 5 Star winners Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue. Entries for the Lincolnshire CCI5* close tomorrow (15 August).
Work costing £32,000 to “improve” a bridleway has baffled riders as they now have to negotiate new gates and two sets of concrete steps, either side of a stream. A ford on the Wixoldbury bridleway in Gloucestershire was prone to flooding and getting very boggy in winter. South Gloucestershire Council carried out the work after being contacted by riders, but the “improvements” have been met with mixed reactions. One rider told H&H the changes are an “abomination”, but the council told H&H the crossing has had “positive feedback” from riders.
Young event rider Ellie Fredericks, who represented Britain at the 2023 young rider European Eventing Championships, is following in her parents’ footsteps to ride for Australia. Ellie, 21, is the daughter of CCI5* winners and medallists Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks. “This has been a decision that’s certainly been on my mind over the last year and with both my parents riding for Aus I feel privileged hopefully to be able to follow in their footsteps. Here’s to an exciting rest of the season!” said Ellie.
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Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.
