An Eventful Life will be filming all competitors on cross country at Defender Burghley Horse Trials 2025 - order or view videos from across the years at Burghley here
Defender Burghley Horse Trials 2025 entries open
Entries are now open for both the CCI5* and the Dubarry Young Event Horse Finals at Defender Burghley Horse Trials (4-7 September).
The CCI5* competition, which is widely considered to be the most exciting and challenging top-level eventing contest in the world, will be presided over by a ground jury consisting of president Andrew Bennie (NZL), Christina Klingspor (SWE) and Valerie Pride (USA).
Entries for the CCI5* will close on 12 August, and will be revealed on 13 August. The draw will take place on 19 August.
The Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Finals for four- and five-year-old horses - Britain’s most prestigious young horse championships and the source of many future Burghley and Olympic contenders - will be judged by Harry Payne and Judy Bradwell (dressage), Bettina Hoy and Ian Stark (jumping), Fred Barralet (suitability and type) and six-times Burghley CCI5* winner William Fox-Pitt (potential to gallop).
Defender Burghley Director Martyn Johnson said: “We are expecting an excellent entry this year, with several British former winners likely to be among them, as well as the very best from New Zealand, Australia and the USA, among other nations. Cross-country course-designer Derek di Grazia has reversed the track for 2025 - the first time this has happened since 2017 - and this, along with some exciting new fences, will give a fresh look and different feel to the course this year.”
Shopping, Masterclasses and the best of British ....
And while Defender Burghley is a feast of horse sport, it’s probably equally celebrated for its superb shopping. There are around 500 carefully chosen retailers from which visitors can purchase everything from clothing, jewellery and accessories to furniture, art and sculpture, kitchenware, lovely Christmas presents you can’t find on the high street, everything equestrian, books and impossible-to-resist food and drink.
Burghley’s supported charity for 2025 is the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, who are well-known for providing a vital service to members of the equestrian world and the wider rural community.
Burghley’s legendary Masterclasses this year star the king of British dressage, Carl Hester - with Tom McEwen and an international grand prix competitor as guest riders - German Olympic gold medallist and highly respected trainer Bettina Hoy, and up-and-coming stars from The Howden Way Young Horse Academy.
On Thursday afternoon after the conclusion of CCI5* dressage, members of the British squad for the European Eventing Championships have been invited to practise dressage in the unique atmosphere of Burghley’s main arena.
The exceptionally popular Insights Stage will feature discussions, interviews and demos from a range of well-known personalities, hosted by former New Zealand eventing team member Lucy Jackson.
To find out more about Defender Burghley (4-7 September 2025) and to purchase tickets and hospitality, visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk.
