Rose Nesbitt made the most of being one of the latter riders to take to Burghley’s infamous cross-country course, using the opportunity to learn from her elders and formulate a winning game plan. 

The Ludlow local, 26, successfully guided her 13-year-old gelding around the four mile course to conclude her second event of the competition with a near-clean streak. 

“I watched a few go around before I headed to the start box,” she said, commenting on what it was like to witness some of the competition’s big names fail to complete the course before she took to the stage.

“I made it play to my advantage and I learned quite a lot from just observing. It didn’t make me change my plan but it was interesting to see how the lines rode.

“I got on quite late and didn’t have too much time to think about it in the warm-up. Riding round Burghley is incredible and I don’t think anything prepares you for it. I was nervous beforehand but I did a course walk this morning and just tried to keep my mind busy.”

This year’s Burghley has been pitted as one of the most competitive, with the strongest field of riders in the event’s history lining up to contest the top spot.

Yet some of the biggest names in the sport failed to survive Derek di Grazia’s cleverly designed course, with its unforgiving terrain and awkward fences, including Britain’s Oliver Townend.

Despite having to watch on as some of her fellow competitor’s fell short, Nesbitt credited her long-time companion’s fearless temperament as a key factor in the pair’s endurance test success.

“He’s a mega cross-country horse,” she said. “He’s not built for speed but he keeps digging and keeps trying and fights until the very end. 

“We know each other so well - I’ve had him since he was five-year’s-old. I planned to go long at the Leaf Pit but he hit a bit of a flat spot at the Dairy Mound so I just played it safe. 

“The aim of this year, coming here for my first year, was to get home safe and be clear.” 

Having done just that Nesbitt will now look to execute a clinical performance in the third and final phase of the competition, the show jumping, as the number of competitors left now sits at 43 - almost half that which started.

Defender Burghley Horse Trials (5-8 September 2024) has been a major international sporting and social event for over 50 years. It attracts the world's top equestrians and is attended by vast and enthusiastic crowds. For more information visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk