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.