HE DEFENDER Burghley Horse Trials is an institution, this year running from Thursday, 31 August until Sunday, 3 September. It started almost by accident in 1961, following the last-minute transfer of a three-day event from Harewood after a suspected foot-and-mouth outbreak. Today, the competition is one of only seven prestigious CCI5* events in the world. Burghley also boasts the biggest first prize in the sport of eventing, as this year’s winner will take home £110,000. It is heaven for the horsey and hound crowd (the event tends to herald the start of the hunting year, as stubbles are cut and hounds begin their early mornings) and just as essential as a high point on the social
