Aimee Penny got her Defender Burghley debut underway this morning with PSH Encore, a quirky mare who dislikes large crowds and refuses to have any flatwork lessons.I always describe her as a child that thinks they can cross the road by themselves, but as soon as you get to the road, then you just hold their hand because they dont actually know how, especially in the dressage, said Aimee. Cross-country Im just a passenger and she jumps her way around, but in the dressage, she thinks I can do that and if youre not there for her all hell breaks loose.I cant have lessons with her because she will just stand in the corner for hours and not move. Whatever I learn on the other horses, I just have to put to her. Elimination on the flatAimee confessed that she has held off walking the cross-country course until after the dressage, due to being eliminated in the first phase in the past.Im not a very superstitious person, but I never walk the course until shes done her dressage. She has been eliminated on the flat before, so I I never do that, said Aimee. Im going to go and walk it today quite a few times.The 13-year-old mare is homebred by her owner, Gary Power, and Aimee has produced her. They finished in the top 10 at the Blair Castle CCI4*-L in 2022 and were inside the top 25 at Blenheim last season.Dressage is her hardest phase shes terrified of crowds, added Aimee.I just trusted my system today. Shes done quite a few big events, and shes been getting better and better. Ive had a really good support team around me saying shell be fine, shell be alright. So Im pretty pleased [with her test].She knows shes top dogAimee is based in Shropshire and works for Gary Power at Power Sport Horses, hence the mares prefix PSH.I ride all the Power Sport Horses. Garys bred them all and she [PSH Encore] has been very special and Ive done it from the beginning. She was a bit naughty, so we didnt start until she was eight. Shes a funny character and will do anything for me I deal with her all the time but shes very opinionated. She knows shes top dog, so she gets away with it. Aimee added that she is very excited to be riding at Burghley for the first time and has her family on site to support her.Garys got a great team at the yard, small but mighty, with a load of horses. Theres 25 in work, 50 young horses in the field, so theres a lot to go around.Main image by Tim WilkinsonRelated contentHow to watch Defender BurghleyStrong entry field for Defender Burghley led by the reigning champion and current world number oneDressage judges answer: how can I improve my test score?Complete guide to the dressage arenaThe post Meet the Burghley first-timer on a quirky mare who dislikes large crowds and refuses flatwork lessons appeared first on Your Horse.