Tom Bird is back at Defender Burghley Horse Trials for the second year running, once again riding Cowling Hot Gossip, the first horse he ever backed and rode away at the age of 15.The aim was for Tom to take the 13-year-old British-bred gelding to intermediate level to get some mileage. Its far to say they surpassed that goal, as they jumped clear around their first Badminton in the spring and also Burghley last year.We got him as an unbacked five-year-old from a breeder up in Yorkshire called Myles Nicholson. Weve been on the whole journey together and hes a very special horse to me, said Tom. When he was very young, he used to have a little bit of attitude and would spin and drop his shoulder. Hes kind of grown out of that, though, and hes very well behaved 90% of the time. When hes not, he likes to let everyone know about it.Good breedingThe 23-year-old rider is based in Shipston on Stour in Warwickshire and added that the horse is very personable.He loves to be fussed and the centre of attention, and just a best friend really, said Tom. Cowling Hot Gossip is an SHB(GB)-registered gelding who is owned by Toms mother, Fran, and his aunt, Helen Kerry. He is by Away with the Fairies, a son of the RID Gloun Rover, out of Just Jazz by Welton Ambassador. Just Jazz is also the dam of Cowling High Roller, the horse that competed to four-star level with Sam Gillespie. Tricky changesTom and Cowling Hot Gossip scored 43.2 in the dressage arena today.He doesnt find this phase the easiest, but he went in, stayed relaxed, said Tom.The [flying] changes have always been his weak points. Ive practised them a lot, and possibly, as it turns out, practised them a little bit too much, because he gave them to me a bit early. But thats the way it goes sometimes. Im pleased with him and well move on to Saturday.It [the cross-country course] all looks very rideable, and if youre disciplined with your line, its all there to jump in front of you.Main image by Tim WilkinsonRelated contentDavid Doel in pole position on Thursday lunchtimeMeet the Burghley first-timer on a quirky mare who dislikes large crowds and refuses flatwork lessonsHow to watch Defender BurghleyThe post A very special horse: from unbacked five-year-old with a teenage rider to five-star form appeared first on Your Horse.