US rider Caroline Pamukcu got her Defender Burghley debut underway this morning aboard William OBriens HSH Tolan King, a failed sale horse she couldnt sell for $20,000.The 11-year-old gelding was originally bought as a sale prospect, but despite sending him to three separate professionals in the hope that someone would see his potential, the Irish Sport Horse remained unsold.Hes a funny story, said Caroline. He arrived in my yard in 2021, and then when I was based here [in the UK] with Pippa Funnell [in 2022], we didnt bring him, we were just trying to sell him. I sent him to three separate professionals saying, You should take this one. He will be nice, but hes just one of the ones I couldnt sell. So I went to the investor, and said we have so much money in him, why dont we kick on and let me show him up the levels a bit and see what we have. Hes a bit quirky of a horse, but he digs deep. Hes kind of a underdog, which is cool, and hes exceeded all of our expectations.Not the American typeCaroline added that being a slightly quirky, less conventional type made the horse a difficult proposition for the US market.He wouldnt be the American type of horse, she explained. Hes blood, hes a little small; he wouldnt be the flashy, big-jump type of horse, but hes an ideal type for me. I like the smaller, a little bit rogue ones.The rider added that the horse has a lot of Thoroughbred blood, which is ideal for Burghley.Hes high blood percentage. I think hes about 70-80%. He has a full Thoroughbred mare [on his dam Kilmolash Clover Rhodes side] and then his sire is Tolan R. Hes a dig deep, fighter sort of horse.The duo are Burghley pathfinders and will be first out of the cross-country startbox on Saturday, a position they are familiar with having gone first at Kentucky earlier this year and at Maryland.Im so honored to be here. Its been a bucket-list show of mine, but Ive been a big believer in supporting our American five stars and every year I try to have a horse for Kentucky and Maryland, added Caroline. Sadly, this year Maryland is a no-go, so it was a perfect opportunity to come overseas and do Burghley. Hopefully Ill get to a point in my career where I have enough horses to go to Burghley, Maryland, Kentucky, and Luhmuhlen that is my ultimate goal!Everyone chips inCaroline has a big support team with her, including her husband and young daughter, while a wider support crew keep her horses going at home in the US.Ive been away [from home] for five weeks now because I went to the World Championships in Aachen, so Ive been off of my horses at home and trying to focus on the lot that are here. I have an incredible nanny, and my husband, and everyone in the barn, she says. Everyone kind of plays separate roles and chips in when they can. So its a lot.Caroline is also riding a second horse at Burghley, her re-routed Aachen ride HSH Blake. They are due to do their dressage test tomorrow afternoon.Main image by Tim WilkinsonRelated contentA pretty low point in my career: Gemma Stevens bounces back from disappointment to top Burghley leaderboardHe was her favourite horse: Tim Price pilots Global Quest at Burghley in memory of Georgie CampbellHow to watch Defender Burghley Horse Trials this weekHRH The Princess Royal to attend Burghley Horse TrialsThe post From failed sale to Burghley: Caroline Pamukcu makes her debut on unlikely five-star horse appeared first on Your Horse.