Maria Wynne reports On the 2026 Defender Burghley Horse Trials

Posted on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 by Heather Dodd

By now everybody knows the results of the 2026 Defender Burghley Horse Trials.  A well-deserved success for Gemma Stevens and her worthy partner Chilli Knight was the culmination of twenty five years of persistence and determination.

Over thirty years ago I had the privilege of riding across the ancestral hallowed turf at Burghley with my equestrian partner. This year I did again ride across the very same turf, but this time on an electric scooter. The thrill was definitely not the same and neither was the experience. A scooter deems you invisible, and you become a mere hazard to the other spectators.

Burghley itself does a brilliant job of accommodating those that are less than mobile, and on the whole the facilities do their very best to help scooter users enjoy themselves.  The biggest hazard is the public who are distracted by friends, food, drinks, big screens and the splendid shopping on offer.  The scooters are very quiet and all too often shoppers suddenly veer into your chosen path requiring swift evasive action.  I would argue that it is more hazardous to negotiate Burghley on four wheels than four legs. Mainly because you are not in anyone’s line of vision and everything else is so much more interesting.  I was very relieved to be covered by Insurance which costs £42.00 pa and covers me for up to £2 million in an accident, just in case my steering failed.  However this is not an excuse for people to start flinging themselves in front of me.   I spoke with the Motability rental service on site, and they reported that there had been twenty, TWENTY scooter related accidents at Badminton.  One in particular that involved a novice scootee and a table of Champagne.  The poor lady who lost control, steamed into the table, spilling and shattering everything, and quite destroying the bonhomie of the occasion. Unfortunately she was so mortified that she neglected to offer to replace the champagne that was now soaking the Badminton Turf. This did nothing for the public reputation of the average scooter user, and put them on a par with Jeremy Clarkson’s Caravan Enthusiasts.

There was a similar incident on the Saturday in front of the Media Centre and the big screen there.  Another middle aged novice scootee, in a large fur headband and enormous sunglasses, with a tan from Monte Carlo, obviously just wanted to traverse the turf without effort. This was unfortunate for the very stylish French couple who had just sat down with their expensive and fragrant luncheon on trays to enjoy the view of the screen and the XC action close up.  Mrs Fur Hat ploughed into them at speed with an almighty bang, launching their lunches in a graceful arc onto the person sitting in front of them.  Me.  The French couple apologized profusely to Mrs Fur Hat.  She did not return the courtesy or offer to replace their meals.  That was rude. At least the spectating dogs were happy with the advent of such an unexpected tasty feast.

What was noticeable was that despite the plethora of people in attendance like me, a lot of the stands had small steps up making it very difficult to access the merchandise and spend money.  I could understand this with some retailers, but not others.  For example, jewellery is universally applicable to individuals, disabled or not.  Hiking boots less so. But to have the choice removed from you should be your own decision.  However the fact that I could not access these retail delights pleased my Bank Manager immensely.  My passion for very large silver jewellery has not gone unnoticed.

With the main attraction of World Class Athletes and shopping it could be easy to miss the smaller stories that transpire during the course of the event.   Craig Revel Hawley of ‘Come Dancing’ fame put in an unexpected appearance on the Insights stage.  Quite what he was going to contribute on the equestrian front I’m not sure, but his overly flamboyant commentary about “loving pearl necklaces” did not go down well with the audience.  The double entendre was lost on them, mainly because most of them WERE wearing their heirloom pearl necklaces, and they were far too gentrified to dignify the failed quip with even a titter. It was a case of failing to read the parkland room. I don’t think he put in a second appearance.

The working in areas behind the scenes reveal the greatest insights into the competing combinations and the dynamics between horse and rider, and in some cases the importance of sports psychology. I can sit there for hours. There was one Irish rider in particular who intrigued me.  The partnership was soft, fluid and calm prior to entering the main arena.  But once through onto the main stage the nerves and tension sprang up like an invisible wall. The previously upright, soft, absorbent rider suddenly stiffened, went rigid and moved their shoulders back against the horse. The response was immediate.  Total discord, frayed nerves, miscommunication and tension. The canter work was destroyed.  It was sad to see all the years of training and work disappear in the face of the big occasion and the natural nerves. Having spoken to many leading riders over the years, it is here that the strength and importance of virtual visualization can determine the outcome of a twelve minute dressage so effectively. The eventual winner Gemma Stevens deployed the tactic on Sunday when advised by her husband Gary to “Imagine you’re at Hickstead”.

One first time Burghley competitor who visibly thrived was the American, Will Coleman who enjoyed such success at Rolex Kentucky earlier in the year.  I was privileged to work with him in the USA about twenty years ago when he was a teenager and he was a huge burgeoning talent back then too. Over the course of the five days he gathered quite the ardent following amongst the wide ranging female contingency, and the many female interviewers.  Being tall, handsome, charming, softly spoken, successful and talented as well as American is quite the combination.  Will enjoyed an eventual seventh place on the lovely mare Very Dignified.

There were other performances and partnerships that stood out to me for a variety of reasons.

Yasmin Ingham and Goliath de Loir were consistent, precise and harmonious throughout all three phases. They never looked to be out of their mutual, shared and contained comfort zone, and the exactitude with which Yasmin rode the XC was lovely to watch.  Kate Rocher-Smith was a wonderful sport and typified the Eventers sense of humour when she took an involuntary bow for the spectators, having been launched into The Trout Hatchery like a javelin. And the misadventure that befell Corimiro and Sarah Bullimore at the very last fence was such an unhappy ending to what had been an inspired round. Corimiro was so full of running, he looked like he could go round again, and he just freewheeled a bit too much on the final turn.

The greatest crowd pleaser of the day was the grey Ballinaguilkey Fortunus and his 52 year old rider Anthony Clark. First time debutantes at this level.  They captured the hearts of the attending crowd and the commentary team. They genuinely looked as though they were going for a leisurely lob around the countryside. As Sir Mark Todd said “They’re taking rather a long time” but the obvious partnership and friendship between the two was a joy to see.  The genuine sense of thanks and achievement that was conveyed with a good pat after each fence lifted everybody’s heart. Sir Mark Todd went on to encourage spectators to give the combination the biggest round of applause upon completion. Sadly the dream ground to a halt at fence No 23 to a universal groan of disappointment. But our imaginations were captured. What they represented to us all was what lies at the heart of the sport.

There were two riders that I took absolutely zero pleasure in watching.  They may as well have been waterskiing.  Brutal, without finesse, horrible rough hands and at odds with their horses.  They also demonstrated an absolute lack of preparation by not planning the correct escape routes in case things went wrong.  Not something that anyone would expect at this level.  Thankfully the Ground Jury were of the same opinion, as were many members of the general spectating public that I spoke to. Names were not even required. In my opinion that these were second generation competitors was obvious because their riding styles so closely emulated that of their parents.

Finally I cannot finish writing about Burghley without commenting on the Fashion ‘Statements’.  What is it about boots and skirts? I appreciate that every sport has its uniform, as do Geographical areas. Cornwall has Sea Salt, Abersoch has Billabong and Fat Face, and Snowdonia has North Face.  However, not every fashion should be worn by every enthusiast. I saw more pairs of knickers being flashed due to the obscene shrinkage of the denim skirts than if I had been browsing Victoria’s Secret. Teamed with cellulite it is not appealing.

Ladies, if your breeches are larger than a size 12 then this dress code is not for you.  It does not flatter and it does not appeal. The application of reasonable amounts of self-tan can help, but please make sure the overall effect is consistent. Larger than a size 12 with no tan is just not attractive.  And if the knee high boots do not contain your calves without bursting then it is an absolute NO. However beautiful the boots are, the width fitting is there for a reason.   There are far more flattering styles for you to choose.  At some points I could not work out if I was trapped in an episode of Gypsy Wives or at an International Three Day Event.  There is a solution and this is the reason that Holland Cooper is so popular. The tailoring flatters and minimizes the specific body areas that we all dislike, and it is classy and stylish, whilst being immediately identifiable with the high octane sports of Eventing and Racing. Microscopic denim skirts and shorts do not. And neither do cotton knickers. However, maybe it is because I am sat so low down in this wretched chair that these become observations at all.

With that said and written, I am already I am looking forward to the season of 2027 and hope to see you there. In a more powerful chair. With fatter shock absorbent wheels/tyres.