Burghley Horse Trials
The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is an annual three-day event held at Burghley House near Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, currently in early September. The Land Rover Freelander Burghley Horse Trial is classified by the FEI as one of the six leading three-day events in the world (the others being the Badminton Horse Trials, the Rolex Kentucky Three Day, the Australian International Three Day Event, the Luhmühlen Horse Trials and the Étoiles de Pau). It has competition at CCI**** (four star) level. The prize for first place is currently £50,000. Prize money is given down to 20th place.
Burghley is also one of the three events in the Grand Slam of Eventing.
Run in conjunction with the event since 1990 is the Burghley Young Event Horse final, which judges 4 and 5 year old horses on their potential as future Olympic mounts.
History
Horse trials have been held at Burghley House since 1961 when its owner the 6th Marquess of Exeter, an Olympic gold medalist in athletics and IOC member, heard that a three-day event at Harewood House could no longer be held. Since then no other international horse trials site has staged as many championships, a record ten in all including the first World Championship in 1966.
It is the longest continuous running international event. Up to 2006 there have been six course designers: Bill Thomson, M.R.C.V.S. 1961 – 1983, Lt-Col. Henry Nicoll, D.S.O., O.B.E., 1975, Philip Herbert 1984 – 1988, Captain Mark Phillips, C.V.O., 1989 – 1996 and 1998 – 2000, Mike Tucker 1997 and 2001, Wolfgang Feld 2002 – 2004 and Capt. Mark Phillips, C.V.O., 2005 -.
Past winners
- 2016 - Chris Burton
on Nobilis - 2015 - Michael Jung
on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW - 2014 - Andrew Nicholson
on Avebury - 2013 - Andrew Nicholson on Avebury
- 2012 – Andrew Nicholson on Avebury
- 2011 – William Fox-Pitt
on Parklane Hawk - 2010 – Caroline Powell on Lenamore
- 2009 – Oliver Townend on Carousel Quest
- 2008 – William Fox-Pitt on Tamarillo
- 2007 – William Fox-Pitt on Parkmore Ed
- 2006 – Lucinda Fredericks on Headley Britannia
- 2005 – William Fox-Pitt on Ballincoola
- 2004 – Andrew Hoy on Moon Fleet
- 2003 – Pippa Funnell on Primmore's Pride
- 2002 – William Fox-Pitt on Highland Lad
- 2001 – Blyth Tait on Ready Teddy
- 2000 – Andrew Nicholson on Mr. Smiffy
- 1999 – Mark Todd on Diamond Hall Red
- 1998 – Blyth Tait on Chesterfield
- 1997 – Mark Todd on Broadcast News
- 1996 – Mary King on Star Appeal
- 1995 – Andrew Nicholson on Buckley Province
- 1994 – William Fox-Pitt on Chaka
- 1993 – Stephen Bradley
on Sassy Reason - 1992 – Charlotte Hollingsworth on The Cool Customer
- 1991 – Mark Todd on Welton Greylag
- 1990 – Mark Todd on Face the Music
- 1989 – Virginia Leng on Master Craftsman
- 1988 – Jane Thelwell on King's Jester
- 1987 – Mark Todd on Wilton Fair
- 1986 – Virginia Leng (née Holgate) on Murphy Himself
- 1985 – Virginia Holgate on Priceless
- 1984 – Virginia Holgate on Night Cap II
- 1983 – Virginia Holgate on Priceless
- 1982 – Richard Walker on Ryan's Cross
- 1981 – Lucinda Prior-Palmer on Beagle Bay
- 1980 – Richard Walker on John of Gaunt
- 1979 – Andrew Hoy on Davey
- 1978 – Lorna Clarke on Greco
- 1977 – Lucinda Prior-Palmer on George
- 1976 – Jane Holderness-Roddam on Warrior
- 1975 – Aly Pattinson on Carawich
- 1974 – Bruce Davidson on Irish Cap
- 1973 – Captain Mark Phillips on Maid Marion
- 1972 – Janet Hodgson on Larkspur
- 1971 – H.R.H. Princess Anne on Doublet
- 1970 – Judy Bradwell on Don Camillo
- 1969 – Gillian Watson on Shaitan
- 1968 – Sheila Willcox on Fair and Square
- 1967 – Lorna Sutherland on Popadom
- 1966 – Captain Carlos Moratorio
on Chalan - 1965 – Captain J.J. Beale on Victoria Bridge
- 1964 – Richard Meade on Barberry
- 1963 – Captain Harry Freeman-Jackson
on St. Finbarr - 1962 – Captain James Templer on M'Lord Connolly
- 1961 – Anneli Drummond-Hay on Merely-A-Monarch