The Defender Burghley Horse Trials begin today, Thursday 31 August 2023, just a short drive from Rutland at Stamford's Burghley House.

The trials originally began in 1961, and have had a long and successful history on the world stage ever since, attracting famous faces from the equine world year after year.

In 1962, Burghley ran the FEI's European Championship, and went on to host two World Championships (1966 and 1974), six European Championships (1962, 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989 and 1997) and one Young Riders European Championship (1978). No other horse trials site has staged as many Championships.

Today the event has become one of the most popular and highly regarded within the equestrian and social calendars and ranks within the UK's top ten national sporting occasions by attendance. It has also been voted a firm favourite amongst riders from all over the world, securing the coveted L'Annee Hippique award an incredible seven times – a record within international Eventing.

Burghley Horse Trials is one of only seven CCI five star events worldwide, the star rating denoting the highest standard of event (technically and administratively) and the most challenging test of horse and rider.

Equestrians from across the country attend the annual event. Image credit: Rutland Farm Park.

With over 173,000 visitors over the four days, more than 600 carefully selected exhibitors, an average of 80 of the world's top competitors and a prize fund of over £300,000, 21st century Burghley Horse Trials is a far cry from the inaugural event, which took place 60 years ago with just 19 competitors and in front of a mere 12,000 people.

Eventing came to the magnificent Elizabethan parkland surrounding Burghley House in 1961 by accident rather than design, after the Marquess of Exeter, a keen equestrian, heard that the three-day event at Harewood was to be cancelled due to a suspected outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease. He invited the British Horse Society to transfer the event to his estate in a move which was to prove the start of a remarkable journey.

Thought history, Burghley has long been graced with Royal visitors and competitors.

In 2011 HRH The Princess Royal presented the prizes, but in 1971 as the young Princess Anne, she also rode here and took the European Champion title.

Captain Mark Phillips also has a longstanding association with the event, winning Burghley in 1973 and subsequently becoming its Course Designer.

Their daughter Zara Tindall is the only child of two former winners to compete at the Event. In both 2019 and 2017 HRH The Countess of Wessex visited Burghley on the Sunday of the Event to present the winner with the Defender Perpetual Challenge Trophy.

Defender Burghley attracts fantastic crowds to witness exhilarating equestrian action alongside browsing the world renowned shopping avenues in this truly stunning location.

Burghley House, Stamford, hosts the horse trials every year. Image credit: Nub News.

The three Day Eventing is a comprehensive test of the all round ability of the horse and rider, comprising Dressage, Cross Country and Jumping.

Each year, the event supports a charity, and this year they will be championing Horatio's Garden, who grow thriving communities and biodiverse gardens in all 11 NHS spinal injury centres in the UK. The seventh garden is currently under construction in Northern Ireland and the eighth is planned to open in Sheffield in 2024.

You can support this charity, enjoy a spectacular weekend of racing and soak up the atmosphere at Burghley House from today, Thursday 31 August, until Sunday, when the show comes to a close.

Find out more and book tickets online.

Alternatively, check out our What's On this weekend article for more local events going on in and around Rutland.