Four American Pairs Entered for Burghley CCI4*

Boyd Martin and Steady Eddie at Burghley 2017. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.

Entries closed yesterday for the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, which will take place Aug. 30-Sept. 2 in Stamford, England. We have 98 combinations entered at the closing date, including four American combinations; a maximum of 85 pairs will ultimately be accepted.

Boyd Martin is entered to return with Steady Eddie, a 15-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred (Jetball X Tudnela) owned by George and Gretchen Wintersteen and Denise Lahey and Pierre Colin, who finished 10th last year.

Lillian Heard and LCC Barnaby, her own 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Guy Cavalier X Lady Tanjour, by Rafael), are also entered to return to Burghley for a second consecutive year and are ready for redemption on Capt. Mark Phillips’ cross country course.

Andrea Baxter and her own Indy 500, a 13-year-old Thoroughbred mare (Cromwell X Tens of Thousands, by Spend A Buck), parted ways early on course at Burghley last year and are making a return trip all the way from the West Coast to take another crack at it.

Buck Davidson and Park Trader, a 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Master Imp X Ballyhast Polly, by Highland King) owned by Carl and Cassie Segal, last competed at Burghley in 2013 and did not complete, so they are also looking for redemption.

Many countries have not yet named their teams for the FEI World Equestrian Games, which are two weeks after Burghley, so some horses on the entry list will be making a trip to Tryon International Equestrian Center in the States instead.

Looking to other countries, Britain brings forward a strong contingent, including the entire top four from last year: winners Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class, Piggy French and Vanir Kamira, Gemma Tattersall and Arctic Soul, and Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser.

Australia brings forward local favorite Cooley Lands with Chris Burton, and Lassban Diamond Lift will be one to watch with Bill Levett in the horse’s CCI4* debut following impressive top three finishes at Tattersalls CIC3* and Bramham CCI3* this year.

Badminton and Luhmühlen winner Jonelle Price is notably absent for New Zealand, but Tim Price is entered to return with Ringwood Sky Boy, who finished fifth last year. Andrew Nicholson is is also bringing Jet Set IV and Swallow Springs, and Mark Todd has all three of his top horses entered in Leonidas II, NZB Campino and Kiltubrid Rhapsody.

Ireland, France, Germany and Sweden also have strong entries to give this year’s Burghley field true international flair. Click here to view the full list of entries.

Who will you be cheering for at Burghley this year, EN? Let us know in the comments below. Go Eventing.

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