Photo courtesy of Defender Burghley Horse Trials.
Defender Burghley’s brilliant main-arena Masterclasses are one of the major highlights of the event and 2024 features our most star-studded line-up yet.
Dressage maestro Carl Hester, who is expected to be competing at his seventh Olympics in August, returns to Burghley to present his extremely popular Masterclass during the lunchtime break from the CCI5* action on Friday (September 6); and we are delighted to welcome three fantastic new demonstrations from William and Pippa Funnell, William and Alice Fox-Pitt and Henrietta Knight.
Triple Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Henrietta Knight will present a Masterclass on Re-educating the Racehorse during the lunchtime break on Thursday, September 5.
Henrietta will work with four riders who have retrained their ex-racehorses to achieve success in other disciplines: Katie Dashwood (Minella Rebellion), Amanda Brieditis (Kilmarnock Lad), Sarah Pinfield (Kings Bridge) and Lizzie Harris (Glen Forsa).
After the CCI5* dressage has concluded for the day on Thursday, William and Alice Fox-Pitt will take the stage with their Masterclass titled Preparing for Burghley.
William, who has recently retired from top-level eventing, has a record 14 CCI5* wins to his credit, including an astonishing six at Defender Burghley. ITV Racing presenter Alice Fox-Pitt is the only woman to have completed both Mars Badminton Horse Trials and the Grand National course at Aintree.
In what is sure to be a highly entertaining climax to Burghley’s host of Masterclasses, the illustrious husband-and-wife team of showjumper William and eventer Pippa Funnell – herself a dual Burghley winner – will present show jumping after dressage finishes on Friday afternoon.
Don’t miss the chance to see and hear from some of the biggest names in the sport. Book your tickets and Grandstand seats now.
