The 2020 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (2-6 September) was another top-level competition that fell victim to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Sadly neither riders nor spectators were able to flock to the grounds of Burghley House at Stamford in Lincolnshire to enjoy five-star eventing at its best, but fans were treated to a virtual bonanza online instead.
The next Land Rover-sponsored event at Burghley will be held on Thursday 2 September to Sunday 5 September 2021. The riders will tackle a cross-country challenge set by a new course designer as Captain Mark Phillips hands over to Tokyo Olympic course-designer Derek di Grazia.
The first Burghley event was held in 1961 and the horse trials had never been cancelled or abandoned until Covid-19 took out the 2020 renewal.
Anneli Drummond-Hay was the event’s first winner, riding Merely-A-Monarch, who also became the first horse to win both Badminton Horse Trials and Burghley when he took the Gloucestershire event the following spring.
Andrew Nicholson’s ride Avebury, who won the event in 2012, 2013 and 2014, is the only horse who has won Burghley three times. The only other horse to triumph at the event more than once is Ginny Elliot’s ride Priceless, who won in 1983 and 1985, when he was also crowned European champion.
Burghley has also hosted the European Championships on five other occasions, the most famous of these being in 1971 when Princess Anne took the title on Doublet.
“Her pledge to ensure the success of USEF’s teams and programs has left a lasting impression not only on the disciplines she has been so deeply tied to throughout her career, but also on those she has mentored and worked with over the years”
The Dutch dark bay was crowned British novice champion in 2016, finishing ninth in the young horse championships at Osberton the same year
Burghley believes that the four-day format is in the best interests of all concerned
With this week’s Burghley Horse Trials cancelled by Covid-19, we satisfy your Burghley cravings witih quotes from Burghley 2019
‘All my career I had won pink rosettes and best boy awards and suddenly I thought ‘no, I can be good at this and I can win’
Have you always dreamt of riding round the iconic five-star cross-country course at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials? Well, now you can thanks to this incredible video
Burghley’s iconic fences have remained since its first running nearly 60 years ago. Catherine Austen traces the history of the Leaf Pit, the Trout Hatchery and more
Take a look back at the action from the 2014 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials via these daily video reports, as we continue to reminisce in what should have been the week of the five-star event, had it not been for the coronavirus pandemic...
In the absence of a real Burghley, it’s fun to speculate on how this year’s leaderboard might have looked – even though such “events” can never be used to give prize money or influence Olympic selection. Diarmuid Byrne from EquiRatings plays out a simulated competition
As today should have been the day of the first horse inspection, enjoy some videos from the Horse & Hound archive recorded at the 2008 event, which include some big names you might recognise...
From the inaugural winner to a modern-day star, Ellie Hughes, Catherine Austen and Pippa Roome pick Burghley’s horse heroes
The virtual weekend will take place 4-6 September, the weekend the horse trials should have run, as organisers say they are ‘determined’ to mark the 2020 date
‘We are delighted to provide owners and riders with a competition in this unusual year’
The team is aiming to cycle from Badminton to Burghley — Covid-19 guidance permitting — to raise money for the air ambulance
Five of the world’s seven top-level horse trials have now been cancelled for 2020 in light of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic
‘Please bear with us and if we find we are unable to safely stage the event it certainly will not be for want of trying’
We look at 12 rider frighteners from around the world. How many would you willingly take on?
The elegant grey, who won Burghley in 2009, has died aged 25 following a long retirement
The 2019 eventing season has seen its fair share of excitement. We look back at 12 event we'd never have predicted when the season started back in March
