Countdown to Burghley Horse Trials begins

The countdown to the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trialshas begun – and this year a different cross-country course will mean new challenges and terrain for both horse and rider.

Making history

Last year’s winners Andrew Nicholson and Avebury – who made history by winning the competition together for three consecutive years – is out of contention following his fall at Gatcombeearlier this month.Luckily he is on the mend, but is off for the rest of the season.

A number of other top combinations will be missing at this year’s Burghley as it falls one week before theEuropean Eventing Championshipsat Blair Castle in Scotland.

Exciting competition

It’s still sure to be a weekend of exciting competition, however, with many big names entered including five-times Burghley winner William Fox-Pitt, who will be riding Fernhill Pimms.

Nichola Wilson is entered with Beltane Queen, on whom she came third at Gatcombe, and Annie Clover who took her to victory at Bramham in June. Pippa Funnell has three horses entered, while Oliver Townend has four.

Overseas riders include German Olympic gold medallistMichael Jung –whomakes his Burghley debut with Fischerrocan FST and La Biosthetique Sam FBW – New Zealand’s Jonelle Price on The Deputy and Sam Griffiths and his Badminton 2014 winner Paulank Brockagh.

Hit the wall

This year the cross-country runs in the opposite direction, which course-builder Mark Phillips said makes it “totally different.”

“You’ve got a two-minute pull up to Cottesmore Leap, which is at around three and half minutes,” he said. “ That’s a critical time on the course – you musn’t get there too fast. We know historically if you’re too fast at the three or four-minute mark you tend to hit the wall at eight or nine minutes.

“The riders have been trying to work out how quickly they can get there without going over the top, so they don’t have too much time to make up when they hit the meat of the course. There is still a lot to come, so they don’t want to be running out of petrol in those latter stages.”

Overall test

When asked if he thought there was any combination that would prove influential, Mark replied the “overall test is the question”.

“The good riders jump these massive fences, taking minimal energy out of the horses,” he said. “The not so good riders make it more difficult for the horses, therefore using more energy.

“If you can make it smooth and be very accurate, and make it as easy as possible for horse then you finish with more petrol at end, and will be closer to the time.”