- sized adventure
IMAGINE BEING ABLE TO say the immortal words “I’ve ridden around Burghley” — and truly mean it. Now several #hack1000miles challengers can, after completing the SEIB Burghley Sponsored Ride, and they’ve got a shiny medal to prove it. While Kiwi Tim Price showjumped to his first-ever Burghley CCI4* victory in the main arena, nearly 400 riders descended on the cross-country course for a hack. Each one excitedly embraced the opportunity to explore the world-famous turf where some of the best event riders from around the globe had galloped the day before. “It was so much fun,” enthused #hack1000miles challenger Louise Horwood who steered her horse Spearmint around the course. “My favourite parts were going in the water and over the flyover.” Louise won a place on the ride courtesy of Your Horse magazine’s #hack1000miles sponsor SEIB Insurance Brokers. She says hacking at Burghley has really helped to boost her riding confidence, which she’s been struggling with (see box, p12).
Plenty to see
Burghley’s terrain is renowned for being undulating and variable, with twists and turns, plus road crossings, a new flyover and a lake to navigate through. As hacks go, this is a particularly special one. This year’s sponsored ride takes the amount of money raised for charities — including the British Horse Society, Bransby and Gurkha Welfare Trust — to over £250,000 since 2006. The route is around six miles long and follows most of the cross-country course, taking riders through areas of Burghley Park that aren’t normally accessible by members of the public. Each rider gets up close with the 30 cross-country fences. Many baulk at the size of the ditch in the Rolex Combination and gaze in disbelief at the enormous spread on the open corner behind it. Others have to coax their charges into the Land Rover Trout Hatchery. Once in, there are cheers and whoops of joy all round.
From the starting line by Cottesmore Leap (it’s a big one — a Land Rover can fit in the ditch), sponsored riders set off towards the egg boxes at Clarence Court, before passing the old dairy and arriving at the new flyover for the first time. At this point in the course, horses pass through the tunnel. On their way back, they go up and over the top. It takes most combinations a couple of hours to finish — the average pace is much slower compared to yesterday’s race to achieve the 11 minutes 11 seconds optimum time. Today, it’s predominantly walk and trot; cantering is allowed in designated places only. One prime spot on the route is by the lake where a photographer is poised to capture images of horses and riders with Burghley House in the background — a lovely souvenir of the day. A stroll along winners’ avenue, which is aligned with plaques naming the victorious horses and riders for each of Burghley Horse Trials’ 57-year history, takes combinations to the finish line. Smiles all round — and a medal hanging around their neck to boot.