Defender Burghley Horse Trials 2025 cross country videos
59 combinations from eight nations are currently entered into the 2025 Defender Burghley Horse Trials (4th – 7th September) with one entry from Australia and seven from New Zealand.
While entries are still open (closing on Friday 15th August, with the draw taking place early next week), let’s take a first look at the contenders for the second British CCI5* of 2025.
Babies and bikes may affect British entries
Not surprisingly the home country Great Britain has the biggest number of entries but there are a couple of surprises with last year’s winner Ros Canter listed with Lordships Graffalo. They are on fine form and would be hot favourites, having just won the CCI4*-S at Hartpury International but Ros has just announced that she is withdrawing from selection for the Agria FEI European Championships at Blenheim Palace (18th – 21st September) due to her pregnancy.
Three-time winner Oliver Townend also doesn’t have an entry this year, but the British entries are still packed with serious contenders and exciting up and comers.
One of these is Burghley debutants, Katie Magee and Treworra, the newly crowned British Open Champions, who took Tim Price by surprise at Hartpury last weekend. World Number One and CCI5* specialist Harry Meade has three entries in Annaghmore Valoner, Cavalier Crystal and Et Hop Du Matz and is no doubt aiming to finally stand on top of a 5* podium after so many recent good performances, including Burghley last year when he finished third, fourth and 12th.
Unfortunately however Harry has been out of competition most recently (due to a bicycle accident of all things according to Horse & Hound) but will hopefully be back on top form for Burghley.
Emily King (Valmy Biats), Bubby Upton (Magic Roundabout IV), David Doel (Galileo Nieuwmoed), Laura Collett (Bling), Tom Jackson (Hawk Eye) and Piggy March (MCS Maverick) are all ‘ones to watch’, with Piggy returning to Burghley for the first time since her win in 2022.
New Zealand and Australian entries
UK-based Sammi Birch and Finduss PFB are the only combination entered from Australia, following their good run at Badminton Horse Trials in May.
Six combinations are entered from New Zealand with Tim Price and Vitali leading the Kiwi pack. A past winner in 2018, Tim was runner-up here with Vitali in 2024 and the pair are on good form (although we think that Tim will be very aware of time faults on cross country after Hartpury!), taking an impressive individual and team win at Aachen a few weeks ago.
Samantha Lissington enjoyed her first CCI5* podium this year, taking second place at Luhmuhlen with Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ and moving into the top 10 of the FEI Rankings – she brings two rides in Billy Alberto and Lord Seekonig and 2011 Burghley winner Caroline Powell will be riding the 13-year-old gelding High Time who has had two previous 5* completions at Pau 2024 and Badminton 2024.
New Zealand also has three other experienced 5* combinations in Jesse Campbell riding Cooley Lafitte, Lauren Innes riding Global Fision M and Tayla Mason riding Centennial.
The International field
Ireland has six strong entries in Susie Berry riding Clever Trick, Lucy Latta riding RCA Patron Saint, Padraig McCarthy riding MGH Mr Messack, Joseph Murphy riding Belline Fighting Spirit and Calmaro, Austin O’Connor riding Colorado Blue and Sam Watson riding Ballyneety Rocket Man.
Austin O’Connor is high on our list as a potential winner with his 2023 Maryland CCI5* hero Colorado Blue and Lucy Latta is another Burghley debutante who could shine; the talented amateur rider has entered her Badminton 2024 runner-up RCA Patron Saint.
Germany, Switzerland and France have one entry apiece in Christoph Wahler, Felix Vogg and Gaspard Maksud. This will be the first Burghley for Christoph Wahler, who was part of German’s gold medal-winning team at the 2022 World Championships. He will ride D’Accord FRH, on whom he was seventh at Badminton this year, and is the first German to compete at Burghley since the great multiple Olympic gold medal winner Michael Jung in 2018.
2022 Luhmuhlen winner, Switzerland’s Felix Vogg will be having his second start at Burghley after taking 13th place here last year with Cartania and Gaspard Maksud also returns for the second time after a very successful sixth place here last year.
The USA has two entries with 21-yaer-old Cassie Sanger riding Redfield Fyre making their Burghley debut following their first 5* at Kentucky earlier this year and UK-based Grace Taylor riding Game Changer.
An Eventful Life is filming all combinations on cross country at Defender Burghley Horse Trials 2025 – order or view cross country videos here
