03/07/2024
The 2024 Burghley Young Event Horse Qualifiers are underway for 2024!
Report by Sophie Elton
This year the first Burghley Young Event Horse qualifier was held at Osberton International Horse Trials in Nottinghamshire that was a replacement for Rockingham International Horse Trials which is sadly missed from the eventing calendar this year. Qualifiers are held at events all over the country as well as in Ireland including at some of the biggest events of the season - Badminton, Chatsworth and Bramham to name a few. There are 18 qualifying events this year running from May to August with the final being held at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials in September.
The Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Series is open to four and five year old horses. The aim of this series is to encourage riders, trainers and breeders to produce and present the type of young horse which potentially has the attributes needed to develop into a world class three-day event horse, that one day may compete in the Burghley CCI5*! This hugely popular competition is now in its fourth decade and is proving to be a great success with many young horses going onto competing at the top level of the sport including Lordships Graffalo ridden by Rosalind Canter last year's Badminton winners and Ballaghmor Class ridden by Oliver Townend, last years Burghley winners.
Each combination starts by doing a dressage test which is scored out of 40 marks but unlike a normal dressage test, combinations are not assessed on the current state of training or marked on individual movements. Instead it's on the potential of the paces, the judge is looking for correct, scopy and regular gaits. The marks are on Walk, Trot, Canter, Rideability/Temperament and Sustainability.
Then they move onto the jumping phase, jumping round a course of jumps (90cm for the four year olds and 1.05m for the five year olds). This phase is not necessarily about jumping a clear round, it’s about having a bold athletic horse with good technique over a fence. Straight after finishing the round they gallop down the longside of the arena, showing their potential to lengthen stride as required for cross country, this is marked out of 5. Finally they take the saddle off and present the horse inhand for the Suitability & Type which is marked out of 20. The final marks are out of a possible 100 with the highest score winning. It’s all about the potential to one day be a top class event horse competing at the highest level of the sport.
For some horses it was their first proper competition and it was a lot for them to take in, new environment, banners, flags, other horses, spectators, tannoy, trade stands and more. These classes offer a great experience to get the young horses out but also gives something to aim for and work towards. It also gives riders the opportunity to show off their future stars.
The day started off with the four year olds. 16 combinations presented in front of the judges in this class and 2 qualified for the finals. Max Warburton on one of his many rides of the day took the win in the four year olds class riding Purple Rain on a score of 82.5. Second place went to Rose De Montmorency who is based with Piggy March riding Quantum March, both of which qualified for the prestigious finals in September. Quantum March received the highest mark in the class for the Suitability and Type section scoring an impressive 19 out of 20. Third place went to Holly Woodhead riding Greenanstown Sarahs Lady, who produced a lovely dressage and a super clear in the jumping phase, leading the class for quite a while.
Storm Straker topped the podium twice in one week following her CCI-L 4* win at Ballindenisk last weekend she also took the win in the five year old class aboard Abydos. The pair finished on a score of 90.2 out of 100 and won by over 5 points, last year the pair finished 5th in the four year old finals at Burghley. With 39 entries it was a competitive class to gain one of four qualifying spots. Willa Newton’s top horse out of her three was Frankie Goes to Hollywood I who finished second on a score of 84.6. Hannah Bate and Bartender finished third, on a score of 84.5 just 0.1 behind second, and Susie Berry secured the final qualifying spot riding Madgeslane Harriot. Overall a great day in the sunshine with some great horses for the future, the ground was great and well done to the team for putting on a great day.
Pictured are:
1 Holly Woodhead riding Greannanstown Sarahs Lady
2 Emma Hylsop-Webb and Lottie
3 Rose De Montmorency riding Quantum March
4 Top 3 Podium places in the Five year olds
5 Piggy March riding Cooley Will Do
6 Cerys Macaulay riding Odelia
7 Kristina Hall-Jackson riding Carrowreagh Vivant
8 Lizzie Baugh andTysons up to Trix
9 Willa Newton riding Frankie Goes to Hollywood I
10 Susie Berry riding Madgeslane Harriot
11 Hannah Bates riding Bartender
12 Kristina Hall-Jackson, Chillendale, groom and owners
13 Storm Straker riding Abydos
14 Carrowreagh Vivant
Images by Sophie’s Equine Photography
