one day at Burghley and we are totally hooked forever!

Is there anything more quintessentially British than an end of summer family day out at an horse trials event? Especially when the event is The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

It’s been on our family list of things we must do for some time, so this year we made it happen, the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is an annual three-day event held at Burghley House near Stamford, Lincolnshire,

The Land Rover Burghley Horse TrialsIt’s one of the six leading three-day events in the world, others include The Badminton Horse Trials and The Rolex Kentucky Three Day.

The 5 day Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials event is made up of dressage, showjumping & what many consider to be the main event the Cross Country.

the Land Rover Burghley Horse TrialsAs well as the horses the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is famed for its mass shopping village, ranging from London’s Bond Street to bespoke country tailors, there is an eclectic range of shops offering luxury goods, rural crafts, bespoke kitchens, furniture, clothing and every gift idea under the sun – perfect for treating yourself or even starting the Christmas shop!

the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials

Annual Land Rover Tailgate Picnic competition

As well as our family day out, I’m there to assist Adam Henson (star of BBC’s Countryfile) in judging the coveted annual Land Rover Tailgate Picnic competition.

Taken incredibly serious by those who choose to park in the dedicated picnic section of Burghley, the competition is fierce, these aren’t just any picnic’s, freshly baked homemade breads and cakes, Italian meats, french cheeses, scones, expensive champagne, flowers and the finest hand crafted cutlery.

the Land Rover Burghley Horse TrialsOf course picnics aren’t just about the food but in fact the ambiance and the gathering of family and friends and it’s that atmosphere that enabled myself and Adam to crown to eventual winners.

A 4 mile walk around the course was enough to walk off all that food whilst we took in the spectacular beasts that jumped the challenging course designed by Captain Mark Phillips, so challenging in fact that Mark’s daughter, Royal Zara Tindall took a tumble which ended her day.

the Land Rover Burghley Horse TrialsAs well as shopping and the horse spectacular there are a number of other activities taking place across the park, our favourite was the Land Rover off road experience, driven in the brand new Land Rover Discovery not only were we taken to heights that most vehicles could only dream of but also at water depths in which most vehicles would spring a leak.

Our day ends with our own picnic and the back of our Land Rover before we head back north, one day at Burghley and we are totally hooked forever!

The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials will take place between the August 29th – September 2nd in 2018.

www.Burghley-Horse.co.uk