Event rider Chris Burton expecting his first baby

Event rider Chris Burton is expecting his first baby in May with wife Rebekah Thompson.

‘Big life change’

Chris exclusively revealed the happy news to H&C at the International Event Forum (IEF), where Jenny Rudall was filming the latest episode of Rudall’s Round-Up.

Chris and Rebekah moved to the UK from Australia in 2011 and were married in 2015. Rebekah is also an event rider, but will be taking a break from riding to have their first baby.

“We’ve got a big life change on the way,” Chris said.

Non PC approach

Jenny also spoke to Chris about the demo he gave in front of a packed audience at Hartpury College, where he revealed his ‘non PC’ approach to training his horses.

“I ride my horses with a very soft hand. But I use the reins,” he said. “Reins are for stopping and legs are for going.”

His firm but fair approach to training certainly seems to work, as Chris finished on the lowest dressage score in Burghley history last year, to win the title.

Smooth talker

With his first British four-star title under his belt and a baby on the way, it looks like 2017 will be a good year for the Aussie rider.

“The one thing for sure is I’ve got a beautiful wife and a family on the way, so it’s already a good year,” he said.

Oh Chris, you know how to melt our hearts! As well as being a talented rider and having pretty fabulous hair, it turns out he’s also a romantic…

You can catch all the action from the IEF – including Chris’s demo – by watching Rudall’s Round-Up: Eventing Forum, which is now available on Catch-Up, via H&C Play.