Catching up with Tim Bourke and Lynn Symansky at Burghley

Tim Bourke works Luckaun Quality ahead of the First Horse Inspection at Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials 2015. Photo by Samantha Clark. Tim Bourke works Luckaun Quality ahead of the First Horse Inspection at Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials 2015. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Thursday morning dawned bright and sunny, albeit cool at Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, much to everyone’s surprise and delight, and it’s almost all we can talk about. Almost … I was thrilled to bump into Tim Bourke “chilling out” with Luckaun Quality by the warm-up arena, “This is how we spend a lot of our time, just chilling out!”

In fact, ‘Obie’ did look rather relaxed, standing and taking it all in, so Tim was kind enough to chat, also kind enough to patiently explain how to properly delete old videos from my phone so hopefully from now on no more technical hitches. What I somehow didn’t manage to record was him talking about getting Obie fit since he made the decision to come to Burghley.

“It definitely comes up quickly; getting ready for Fair Hill you have a little more time and the footing in West Virginia has been pretty firm, but thanks to the help of friends we’ve gone and used their gallops and done hillwork, so I’m grateful to them.”

I’m not sure any other rider will describe the Leaf Pit drop as “fun” but Tim is looking forward to Saturday’s cross country, and won’t take anything for granted; he told me he’ll be careful not to go too fast in the beginning of the course, “I’ve heard it’s easy to be tempted to let them really go at the start, and you’ve got that long pull uphill, and they say it’s easy to cook them early on.”

First though, he has to get through the dressage, historically Obie’s most challenging phase, but Tim is grateful to Sharon White and Mara DePuy for all their help with this phase, and says he feels much calmer about it this year.

As for whether he feels American or Irish, Tim replied most definitely American, “I’ve been there ten years now, I’m stabled next to Laine (Ashker), I’m very happy to be with Team USA!”

More Team USA news — who else did I bump into but Lynn Symansky and Bobby Costello?  Lynn did a lovely video for us which you can watch below. Lynn had already been for a canter on Donner, will probably go for another later, and then do a bit of flatwork ahead of her 2pm GB time (9am U.S. eastern) dressage test.

Lynn explained that Donner is very, very fit and is affected by the atmosphere, “He’s slightly overwhelmed by it all here, hacking up to the dressage past the cross country, although he was quite good in the ring familiarisation last night.”  Since Aachen Donner and Lynn have been at Maizey Manor, they had an easy week immediately after and then have just been quietly preparing for this weekend.

Sadly none of Donner’s syndicate members can be here for Burghley, but we will definitely keep everyone updated with lots of USA news, and apologies again for this morning’s technical snafus. Dressage is underway here, and if you’re near your computer please make sure and follow along with the Horse and Hound live blog thanks to Anna Ross Davies and Pippa Roome.

Much more to come from Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials on this sunny first day of dressage. Remember you can watch all the dressage tests soon after they conclude on Burghley TV. Go Team USA and Go Eventing!

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