BHT DAY 2: The "Wimbledon" of equestrian eventing
It's the first time Stamford's welcomed the international competition since before COVID
Last updated 2nd Sep 2022
The Burghley Horse Trials enters its second day today, but with it being three years since the last one, and a host of new faces coming to the event for the first time, we took a closer look at how the competition actually works.
Friday's all about rounding up the dressage stage of the competition, with the cross country coming tomorrow before a winner's declared on Sunday after the show jumping.
Event Director Martyn Johnson told us Burghley is like the "Wimbledon" or "US Open" of equestrian eventing:
'Burghley is one of the top class, five-star events. We only have seven in the world, it's sort of a grand slam event. It's like a triathlon for the equestrian athlete.'
'The competitors get scored for the dressage - they get a percentage score, and then they get a penalty score which is then carried forward to the next phase, the cross country. There's then a timed cross country course which is around 11-and-a-half minutes, which they have an optimum time to try and achieve.'
'That then carries forward to the show jumping phase where again you're basically trying to keep these faults away and the lowest score at the end of the competition wins.'
An in-depth look at Burghley and the cash prize
The Burghley Horse Trials have officially returned to Stamford for the first time since before the pandemic, and this year's event is set to be 'one-of-a-kind'.
Just short of 200,000 people are expected through the gates and on the grounds of the iconic country home from Today (1st September) until Sunday (4th September).
Fans and celebrities will watch around 70 of the world's top riders go gracefully head-to-head throughout the week, competing across dressage, jumping and cross country - with a share of a prize fund of over £300,000 on offer for the top 20 competitors.
A handsome £100k sum will go to the winner.
A 'year like no other' for riders, organisers and the fans
With Horse Trials returning to Burghley for the first time since 2019, there's a few changes which have been made that are set to make this year one for the history books.
READ MORE: Behind-the-scenes access at the Burghley Horse Trials 2022
READ MORE: Burghley House's Lion Bridge repaired in time for '180,000 to cross'
Emma Hyslop-Webb's one of those competing for the grand prize, and she's no stranger to Burghley, but she will be to the course this time around - with it being put together by Tokyo Olympics and five-star track-designer Derek Di Grazia.
She told Greatest Hits Radio there "really is a sense of excitement different to any year":
'I think it's new challenges, we've got a different course-builder, it's not happened for two years, so I feel there's going to be a different spark and flare to it than there ever has been before, because people have missed this, the community of Stamford have missed this.'
'Getting to see the top riders, a sense of thrill, adrenaline that you just can't get a feel from watching on the TV. It probably looks very rideable from sitting on the sofa, but when you're actually here and walk up to the dimensions and the size of the fences - it's completely different.'
20-year-old Alice Casburn's one to watch in the future of 5-star eventing, and it'll be her first time competing at Burghley this year:
'You always expect a big course when you go to a five-star like this but it's when you walk it you realise how big 'big' can be', she said.
'I'm incredibly excited, Burghley is like my home five-star really so I'm incredibly excited, if not slightly petrified to be here.'
All you need to know
For FAQs and more information on getting to the Burghley Horse Trials, click here.
For a provisional timetable on each day's events, click here