4 - 7 September 2025
The latest previews, interviews and reports from Defender Burghley.
Defender Burghley Horse Trials kicked off this afternoon when 59 combinations were presented to the ground jury of Christian Steiner (AUT – President), Anne-Mette Binder (DEN) and Nick Burton (GBR) at the Fairfax & Favor-sponsored first horse inspection under bright and blustery skies in Burghley’s Main Arena.
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Burghley Horse Trials is delighted to have been short-listed to hold the 2026 FEI World Eventing Championship, alongside Aachen (Germany) and Boekelo (the Netherlands).
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Defender Burghley Horse Trials is proud to announce that for the first time the event will have an Artist in Residence, sketching at the heart of the horse trials to create a unique artwork.
Sporting artist Daniel Crane is known to many in the equestrian world and is quite local to Burghley as he lives near Louth in the same county - Lincolnshire.
A dedicated hunting man, Daniel works predominantly in oils and is also resident artist to the Household Cavalry. He has undertaken a great many private commissions and painted some of the greatest horses in memory, including the racehorse Frankel and Olympic dressage champion Valegro.
Event Director Martyn Johnson says: “With a treasure trove of art in Burghley House, besides the long-recognised artistic possibilities around elite horse sport, it seems a logical and fitting step for us to introduce an Artist in Residence at Defender Burghley Horse Trials. We’re delighted to be working with Daniel in this way and very much look forward to seeing what he produces.”
Daniel Crane adds: “Burghley has been a major feature of my calendar my whole life; I know it so well and meet many friends and clients there. I look forward to setting some time aside with my sketchbook at this year’s event and to sharing the resulting work when complete.”
Look out for Daniel at work on your visit to Defender Burghley Horse Trials (31 August-3 September). www.burghley-horse.co.uk
In preparation for 2023 Defender Burghley Horse Trials
The parkland area at Burghley will be partially closed to pedestrians and unauthorised vehicles from Monday 31 July to Friday 15 September 2023 to allow for the set-up of the 2023 Defender Burghley Horse Trials.
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The Norfolk-based fashion company will be presenting the prizes for the Best-Dressed Male and Female at this first phase of the event, which always attract a lot of attention and are hotly contested.
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