Gemma Stevens and the 12-year-old Chilli Knight (pictured top) lead the 2026 Defender Burghley Horse Trials after a superb day of cross-country day. The British pair were one of only a handful to finish inside the 11min 20sec optimum time, completing the 6,455m track in 11min 17sec to retain their dressage score of 29.6 they jumped one place up after the dressage.Derek di Grazias 28-fence track was set at570m/min, with an optimum time of11min 20sec, and the time proved a significant challenge Holly Richardson and Ballyneety Silver Service were the first combination to make it inside the time, stopping the clock at 11min 18sec, before Gemma matched the feat at 11min 17sec.It honestly felt like a rollercoaster, said Gemma. This way round is so up and down it just feels like youre constantly climbing or going downhill, round a corner to another humongous fence, round a corner to another humongous combination. Its relentless.She spent much of the track chasing the clock. I kept being down on my minutes, and I was like, Im never going to get the time. Then I managed to claw it back, and then I was down on the next one, and I clawed it back again. The biggest scare came at the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit, where Chilli Knight and Gemma disagreed on their take-off stride. He just said, Its okay, Ive got you Im just going to try my hardest and I screamed and told him how much I love him, Gemma said. Im really sorry to all the people down at the Leaf Pit, because there was a lot of swearing and then a lot of telling him how much I loved him on landing. He should never have jumped that fence. I dont know how he did it unbelievable. Chilli Knight is only around 16hh, but Gemma believes this horse, who is bred and owned by Christopher and Lisa Stone, has a different mentality when confronted by a five-star fence. He never stops trying. When he gets to a big one, he grows a pair of wings this whole new little man comes out. New Zealands Tim Price produced the first completed round of the day on Global Quest but finished 12 seconds over the time, adding 4.8 penalties to finish on 36.9.Butler serves up Holly Richardson and Ballyneety Silver ServiceBritains Holly Richardsons performance on her first ride was particularly noteworthy. The diminutive grey Ballyneety Silver Service who is known as Butler at home stopped the clock just two seconds inside the optimum, producing the first clear inside the time and moving Holly from 28th after dressage to third on 38.3. I just sat down with the plan and stuck to it, Holly said. He just kept answering the question perfectly. You dont really have time to think about it you just start thinking about the next fence as soon as you land over the one before.Nothing compares to this Tim Price and Global QuestTim Prices second-place finish on Global Quest was one of the days most impressive performances. The 13-year-old was making his first appearance at Burghley and added just 4.8 time penalties to his dressage score of 32.1. I am so happy with him, Tim said. Weve done a couple of five-stars, but nothing compares to a track or a place like this. Global Quest, who is owned by Diana and Lance Morrish, looked every inch the professional throughout his round. He had all those elements that I just discovered today helping me when the going gets tough, growing another leg, taking a big distance like its nothing. The Leaf Pit provided another example of how quickly things can change. He just launched the brush at the bottom of the Leaf Pit, which was unexpected, Tim said. It made the next stride incredibly short. It was five seconds of messiness, but the other 11 minutes were super.Katies big climb and Carolines contrasting day Katie Magee and Treworra Katie Magee also produced a strong performance with Treworra, adding 2.4 time penalties to her dressage score of 36.2. The pair finished fourth on 38.6.Caroline Pamukcu and HSH BlakeWilf is a true five-star cross-country horse brave, polite and powerful, said Katie. He covers the ground without a fight, looks for the flags and really wants to do it for me. Caroline Pamukcu, meanwhile, retained fifth place with HSH Blake on 40. Her eight time penalties were considerably more manageable than the problems encountered earlier in the day on her first horse, HSH Tolan King, who she retired at the Trout Hatchery.HSH Blake proved once again how classy he is they had a blip when unseating at the recent eventing World Championships, but prior to that, they finished runners-up in the five-star at the Kentucky Three-Day Event this spring. With Blake I probably went too slow for the first three minutes, and then I had to pick up the pace, said Caroline. But hes unreal. He just tolerated everything. An admiration of Toblerone Nadja Minder and Toblerone Dressage leader Nadja Minder and 19-year-old Toblerone had the unenviable task of going out knowing that anything other than finishing within the optimum time would put Gemma Stevens ahead. Twenty-six-year-old Nadja and Choccy jumped clear, but the clock proved too tricky to catch, and they added 13.2 penalties, dropping them from first to sixth on 42.7. Nadja was honest about the effort required. Hes such a five-star warrior now. It was hard work I had to use a bit of kicking and elbows and everything to make it happen. Yet her admiration for this veteran was undiminished. Hes incredible how hes not intimidated by anything he just pricks his ears, looks for the flags, front feet up, back feet up, and on we go. The complete syllabus Harry Meade and Cavalier CrystalHarry Meade, who retired his first ride Et Hop du Matz after a problem at the Defender Dairy Mound, then later produced a strong round on Cavalier Crystal. They came into this event as one of the favourites, and after a disappointing first phase score, which left them in 31st, a strong clear cross-country jumping round, where they picked up six time-faults, now puts them in seventh going into the final phase. Burghley for me is the real deal in every sense, Harry said. Youve got the terrain, youve got the size of the fences, youve got the technicality of the course. Its just the complete syllabus. I felt that I rode like an absolute lemon on my first horse, and really let my horse down. I just stupidly didnt stick to my instincts.Harry admitted he has a mental reset before his second ride aboard Cavalier Crystal and produced the performance he wanted with the mare.She was superb, lovely cross-country horse and was very, very happy in her round. She jumped beautifully and didnt have a single moment where she found it difficult. Max Warburton and Deerpairc RevelryMax Warburton, meanwhile, was delighted to get Deerpairc Revelry safely home, despite the 12-year-old gelding tiring towards the latter stages. They sit in eighth. We finished slower than wed all hoped, Max said. From about halfway, he started to make a little bit of a noise, and maybe his wind is maybe not as great as we all thought.Hes still only 12 though and hes made a trip around a very, very big five-star feel pretty easy, so overall were over the moon. Tom Jackson and HawkeyeFor Tom Jackson, the day brought an especially satisfying milestone with Hawk Eye, who completed his third five-star and first clear at the level to now sit in ninth.Im really happy with him, said Tom. He was unfortunate at Badminton to have a trip up, but Im delighted that we could show everyone what hes made of today. Hes just such a star Yasmin Ingham and Goliath du LoirBritains Yas Ingham described completing her first Burghley cross-country round as an incredible experience, with the 10-year-old star Goliath Du Loir proving himself every inch the genuine, honest partner she has always believed him to be.For Yas, who has produced this gelding since he was five, tackling his first five-star was inevitably daunting. But those nerves soon gave way to confidence as the pair negotiated their way around cross-country course designer Derek di Grazias formidable track. I dont know why I was worried because hes just such a star, Yas said. Hes so honest and has such a genuine personality and we have a great partnership.Having sought advice from fellow competitor Gemma Stevens before setting off, Yas focused on being patient, trusting her lines and, ultimately, getting the job done.The scale and intensity of the course made it a demanding ride right to the finish. Yas admitted that nothing quite compared with approaching the top of the Leaf Pit, trying not to look down, while her horse initially found plenty to distract him.He came out with his eyes on stalks, looking at all the crowd, she explained. But by about minute three he put his head down and got stuck in. After that, we both started really enjoying it.A costly day for some Cross-country day proved influential. There werenine retirements, including Tim Prices Falco, who was in third he refused jumping into the Trout Hatchery and Tim opted to save him for another day. Caroline Powells High Time, Caroline Pamukcus HSH Tolan King, Clarke Johnstones Domasco, Susie Berrys John The Bull and Clever Trick, Harry Meades Et Hop Du Matz, Sam Watsons Ballyneety Rocketman and Anthony Clarks five-star debutant Ballinaguilkey Fortunus were also among todays retirees. There were alsonine eliminations, but all horses and riders have been reported to be ok. Tom Jacksons United 36 fell at the final part of the Trout Hatchery, Sarah Bullimore fell from Corimiro at the final fence, Tiana Coudray and DArtagnan, who came unstuck at a set of gates, Alexander Braggs Jaeger Master and who fell jumping into the Trout Hatchery. Others who didnt complete included Lucy Latta and RCA Patron Saint, Cassie Sanger and Redfield Fyre, Samuel Jeffree and Santoro, Tara Dixon and Master Smart and Kate Rocher-Smith and Dassett Select.Images by Tim WilkinsonUseful linksLive scoresHow to watch this weeks Defender BurghleyRelated contentThere was swearing!: Gemma Stevens motors into Burghley lead after fast, gutsy clearFrom the courtroom to Burghley: US lawyer lines up for her first British five-starHes a cool dude now hes leading Burghley: action-packed first phase results in some surprisesI am old!: 52-year-old rider fulfils five-star ambition at BurghleyTeacher knows best!: Sam Watsons approach to riding a horse with oodles of energyThe post I screamed and told him how much I love him: British rider leads the way after thrilling day of cross-country at Burghley appeared first on Your Horse.

Simon Grieve has always been very open about being prone to nerves and negative thoughts when competing and Defender Burghley has been no different.Disappointment with his dressage test aboard Autograf on Thursday left him doubting his ability to ride at all.I get really nervous, and I get myself into a place where I think I cant do this, I cant do that, and I get very negative. So when that [the dressage test] happened, it really affected me.I had to be really strict with myself and say, right, that is done, we park that on Thursday, and we move on.Simon and Autograf pulled off a clear cross-country round with 18.8 time-faults to add and the rider was visibly delighted.He goes around with his ears pricked. Were a little team and if I screw up, he sorts it out; if he screws up, I sort it out.We just we love each other. Well, I like to think he loves me, I definitely love him, smiled Simon.Flipping the mindsetSimon explained that the way he feels going into cross-country can be hugely influenced by what has happened in the previous phase.Its so dependent on the situation and how Im feeling. Last year, I did a good dressage, and straight away I was in a good mindset, he said.Whereas this time, I did that dressage, and it had such an impact on me that I was like, oh my god, that was rubbish, and its all my fault.Actually, it was probably the atmosphere and the situation, but in my head, its all my fault. Then that sets itself up in the back of my mind, saying I cant ride, which means I cant jump either. I cant even walk down the road!I had to really work hard to flip that and park it.You spin it out of your bodySimon works with mindset coach Evie Llewellyn-Smith from Cadence Mindset, who gave him some practical exercises to use ahead of his cross-country round.Simon said that some of its a bit crazy, but confirmed it seems to work.She gave me a spinning exercise, where the feeling that you have when youre nervous, really tight in your chest, and you accentuate that feeling, and then you spin it in your mind, spin it out of your body, and then you reverse the spin.You spin it the other way, and then you put it back in your body and reverse spin it the other way, and then its gone.And you know what? It actually works!Simon used another mindset technique while walking the cross-country course this morning.When you get a little tight there [in your chest], you just tap your chest. It doesnt get rid of it completely, and Im not then going, I can take on the world, but you know, it just stops you getting that terrible [feeling].Useful linksLive scoresCross-country timesHow to watch this weeks Defender BurghleyRelated contentThere was swearing!: Gemma Stevens motors into Burghley lead after fast, gutsy clearFrom the courtroom to Burghley: US lawyer lines up for her first British five-starHes a cool dude now hes leading Burghley: action-packed first phase results in some surprisesI am old!: 52-year-old rider fulfils five-star ambition at BurghleyThe post From I cant ride to Burghley clear: how a mindset reset turned the day around for Simon Grieve appeared first on Your Horse.

Gemma Stevens has taken the lead at Defender Burghley after an action-packed clear inside the time aboard Chilli Knight (Alfie).Honestly, it was like a roller coaster. This way round [the course] is so up and down. It feels like youre constantly climbing or going downhill, turning the corner to another humongous Burghley fence, round a corner to another humongous combination, said Gemma.Its so relentless, and I kept being down on my minutes. I was like, oh no, Im never going to get the time. Then I managed to claw it back, and then I was down on the next one, and then I clawed it back again, and I went round the whole course like that.It was not always the smoothest of rounds, but the pair showed huge determination. The biggest uh oh moment came at the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit (24).I thought, I actually think Im on time, and then we had a seriously dodgy moment, confessed Gemma. Alfie just said, Its okay, Ive got you. Im gonna just try my hardest. And he just leapt as far and wide as he possibly could over that corner.Im really sorry to all the people down there, because there was a lot of swearing, and then there was a lot of telling him how much I love him on landing. But thats what a partnerships all about.Come on, little manGemma, second after dressage, will be the last rider to go in tomorrows showjumping finale, which runs in reverse order of merit, after dressage leader Nadja Minder brought her popular veteran, Toblerone, home clear but with 13.2 time-faults to add.Gemma added that there were plenty of moments when Chilli Knight felt fantastic around Derek di Grazias cross-country track.He was super everywhere. It felt like he was really jumping so beautifully, and hes just so straight as well, she said.It never crosses his mind to to be anywhere but do the job, go between the flags, which is the most amazing thing to ride and trust, and you can just get out there and ride your best.I mean, he should never have jumped that fence in the Leaf Pit, but he just said its okay, Mum.Thats years and years of building trust and partnership. Im the only one thats ever ridden him cross-country. He doesnt know any different than going between the flags. I screamed at him, so he said, Okay, mum, Ill take off.Picking herself up after AachenThis Burghley clear comes after a difficult World Championships at Aachen, where Gemma was pathfinder for the gold medal-winning British team but didnt complete the cross-country phase.She admitted that recovering emotionally from that experience has been difficult, but messages from fellow riders, including Piggy March, have helped get her head back in the game.Voice notes from Piggy March, which I can never replay, but it was the most hysterical, amazing voice note Ive ever had in my life. Basically [telling me to] get out there and get on with it, said Gemma.Of course, I do always get out there and want to get on with it, but after such a disappointment in Aachen, when your dreams are completely and utterly crushed, its really hard to pick yourself up after after something like that.I just thought, you know what? Im coming here with this little horse who I adore. Get on with it.Hes only a little guyChilli Knight is a stallion by William Fox-Pitts former Badminton winner, Chilli Morning, and is owned by Christopher and Lisa Stone.Bless that little horse [Alfie]. You know, he is what 16 hands, hes only a little guy, but he just never ever stops trying, added Gemma.Hes got this belief when he gets to a big fence and he grows a pair of wings.If you saw him jump round an open intermediate, youd think, oh my god, you must be mad, but when he gets to a big one, this whole new little man comes out, and says I can do this.Image by Tim WilkinsonUseful linksLive scoresCross-country timesHow to watch this weeks Defender BurghleyRelated contentFrom the courtroom to Burghley: US lawyer lines up for her first British five-starHes a cool dude now hes leading Burghley: action-packed first phase results in some surprisesI am old!: 52-year-old rider fulfils five-star ambition at BurghleyTeacher knows best!: Sam Watsons approach to riding a horse with oodles of energyThe post There was swearing!: Gemma Stevens motors into Burghley lead after fast, gutsy clear appeared first on Your Horse.

A full-time lawyer who rides her horses around the working day is set to tackle her first Defender Burghley cross-country track today (5 September) aboard Chiraz.Ema Klugman, who rides for Australia, is based about an hour north of Washington. She has lived in the US for most of her life, but both her parents are Australian and she holds dual citizenship.I just finished one job, and Im starting another one next week, so thats kind of partly why we came here because the timing worked out pretty well for work, said the 29-year-old, who graduated from The George Washington University Law School in 2024 and now works as a Judicial Law Clerk at the US Court of Federal Claims.With around 10 horses at home, she admits she probably rides less than many of the other riders in the Burghley field.I work as a lawyer in the states and ride the horses around that job.A horse who loves to travelHer Burghley partner is owned by a syndicate and was previously campaigned by Michele Kuchta and Boyd Martin.Michele said, you know, this is really a five-star horse, and she decided she didnt want to be the one to do it, so Im on top now. Hes a wonderful horse, said Ema, who finished 23rd with Chiraz at the Kentucky five-star in April this year.I came to compete at Boekelo with this horse last year, which made this trip a lot less daunting, because he traveled really well then.Its a little complex getting to Europe and then having to ship over to the UK. My wife and I rented a lorry and drove him. It was a very long trip.He likes us, were his people. Hes good friends with a couple of horses at home, but he actually clings onto us, like were his herd when we travel. He whinnies at my wife when she walks at the stable. Hes very cute.Main image by Tim WilkinsonUseful linksTodays cross-country phase gets underway at 11.30am, when Caroline Pamukcu will be first out of the start box aboard HSH Tolan King. Swiss rider Nadja Minder is the overnight leader, aboard the oldest horse in the field, 19-year-old Toblerone.Live scoresCross-country timesHow to watch this weeks Defender BurghleyRelated contentHes a cool dude now hes leading Burghley: action-packed first phase results in some surprisesI am old!: 52-year-old rider fulfils five-star ambition at BurghleyTeacher knows best!: Sam Watsons approach to riding a horse with oodles of energyThe post From the courtroom to Burghley: US lawyer lines up for her first British five-star appeared first on Your Horse.

Getting Tiana Coudrays Defender Burghley partner DArtagnan up to the main arena today was no mean feat the 12-year-old grey, who has an incredible vigor for life, required a fly mask, two leaders on foot, and copious amounts of polo mints.We had a bit of a disaster getting up here yesterday, and I thought this is it, our weekends over, because you have to ride through the middle of the Leaf Pit and Discovery Valley to get here, said the US rider. Thats game over because hes like a spaniel on speed at that point. He was up the hill and into the warm-up at about 700 meters a minute.So, trying to get a dressage test out of him was not looking promising. I didnt have high hopes.For todays trip to the main arena, the horse wore a fly mask, with a person leading on either side, handing out a constant supply of polos.We were force-feeding polos. Every time hed start to look, give polos. I will try anything, she laughed. And actually, to be fair, it did work.If anything, he was maybe a little bit too quiet, which meant he missed some changes, which on another day he wouldnt have, but look, we will take it. He was obedient. He was listening.Lessons learned at BurghamTiana acquired DArtagnan, who is contesting his first five-star, when he was rising eight, and he has quickly climbed the ranks.He just gives you his entire heart and soul. If ever theres a problem, its because hes too enthusiastic, she said. Hes just a dream to train and theres no other horse Id want to be here with.Their preparation has not been completely straightforward, with a difficult run at Burgham a few weeks ago coupled with being named as reserves for the world championships.Burgham was a try-out-things-that-dont-work-in-all-three-phases, tick that box and move on, so weve moved on, explained Tiana.DArtagnan had been practising the dressage test for Aachen, where certain movements including flying changes on the short side were deliberately avoided.But at Burgham, those same changes were required.So he actually did a nice test there, but he completely cocked up both those changes because he was going, Im not allowed; Im not allowed to change, she explained.In the showjumping, Tiana opted to test herself against the clock, anticipating a tight time allowed at the worlds, and they had two fences down.Then came the cross-country.We were just not in the right headspace, and he went one way and I went the other, so all three phases tick tick tick, she said.Tiana added that she has no expectations for Burghley.I just hope to give him the best ride I can, and give him every opportunity to do his job,. Then itll be what itll be, she said.Lifes too shortGetting the horse here has been particularly meaningful for Tiana, who thought he might be sold. I was so lucky. Probably a year-and-a-half ago, there were some offers on him, and Annabelle [James], my groom, who owns him said, No, lifes too short. You need to have fun, and so she turned them down.Co-owner Kyrle Arscott subsequently became involved in the horse in the spring, helping to secure his future at Tianas Swindon yard.Im not saying that if big money came along we wouldnt consider it, but it secured the situation, which has been amazing, and its just been so fun to have her [Kyrle] along.Main image by Tim WilkinsonRelated contentWhy Will Colemans alpha female mare is wearing a nosenet for her five-star debutTeacher knows best!: Sam Watsons approach to riding a horse with oodles of energyHe was her favourite horse: Tim Price pilots Global Quest at Burghley in memory of Georgie CampbellHow to watch Defender Burghley Horse Trials this weekThe post Like a spaniel on speed: how polos saved the day for this excitable Burghley first-timer appeared first on Your Horse.