FIRST TIME burghley

Many people come back to Burghley year after year but not everybody knows the Event intimately and this quick guide should help you find your feet if this is your First Time Burghley.

What is Burghley Horse Trials?
Burghley is both an equestrian sporting event and a social event.
The competition is called a Three Day Event with three stages taking place, rather confusingly, over four days: Dressage on Thursday and Friday, Cross Country on Saturday and Show Jumping on Sunday. It is a comprehensive test of all-round horsemanship, and involves almost every activity of which the horse is capable. Every competitor must complete each section and their overall score provides the final placing. For more information on the competition, go to the Three Day Event pages.

For a full list of prizes, please click here.

There are also several other competitions taking place in Ring 2 and these are shown on the provisional timetable. This timetable is continuously updated up to and during the Event depending on how many horses start the Show Jumping phase on Sunday. Please refer to your programme and listen for PA announcements at the Event for the latest times.

The social side of Burghley is as varied as the people who attend. Some people take out membership to enjoy forward parking and access to the Members’ Enclosure. Some prefer to come on a season ticket and take advantage of the flexibility of enjoying picnics, the food walk and the food stalls around the showground.

Where is it?
In the beautiful parkland that surrounds Burghley House. The house is widely acknowledged to be the finest Elizabethan stately home in the country and provides the most spectacular backdrop for any Horse Trials in the world. Essentially the entire Event takes place in the park with various structures purpose built for the occasion - the build up of which is likened to creating a small town on grass in only six weeks!

What to wear?
Think practical. High heels are a risk if you want to walk the Cross Country course and you will probably do a lot of walking about as you explore the avenues of shops. If you are going into the Members’ Enclosure or hospitality areas then smart dress is appropriate.

Plan for the weather!
Burghley normally falls between late August and early September when the weather can be anything from a blazing hot sunny day to torrential rain, so please make sure you are wearing appropriate clothing and footwear. If it is hot, we recommend wearing loose, lightweight clothing and consider wearing flat shoes and a hat for walking around and please remember to drink plenty of water. If the weather has been wet or it is likely to rain, please remember that, for 51 weeks of the year, we are little different from grazing land, so it can get muddy and slippery, particularly out on the course!

Where to eat?
There is an excellent selection of opportunities - from a more formal luncheon in the Members’ Enclosure through to worldly delicacies in the food walks and food stalls around the showground
and on the Cross Country course. The Members' Enclosure is open to everyone for breakfast from 8.00 - 9.30 am daily.

Where to park?
The car parks surround the main site so wherever you choose to park you will only be a short walk from the main site. The Cross Country Course also surrounds the main site, so it is only an amble to take your picnic to one of the many beautifully designed Cross Country fences.

Depending on which tickets you buy, the box office will be able to direct you to your car park. There are basically three types of parking: Standard, Forward and Hospitality. In addition to this, on Saturday and Sunday you can purchase a reserved, numbered picnic parking site.

Time to arrive?
The gates open at 7.30 a.m. each day and we recommend that you allow plenty of time to avoid the traffic on Saturday (Cross Country day). Those in the know arrive in time for breakfast in the Members’ Enclosure (open to all from 8.30 - 9.30 am) and many enjoy a drink with friends in the pleasant surroundings at the end of the day to allow the traffic to die down before they leave!

What is the easiest way to book tickets?
Online at www.burghley-horse.co.uk or 01933 304744

Where to get more information?
You’ll find the answer to most questions on this website www.burghley-horse.co.uk or by phoning the Box Office on 01933 304744. There are also information points around the Showground, 'You Are Here' boards and members of staff available to answer questions.

What not to miss?
A difficult question to answer and it depends on what you enjoy and on which day you come. The programme is available to buy at the Event (£5) and this contains all the information you could want! Each day is different for the Three Day Event (Thursday and Friday are Dressage days, Saturday is Cross Country and Sunday is Show Jumping) but Ring 2 also hosts competitions at the same time - Burghley Loddon Young Event Horse, Pony Club Team Jumping and there are also displays in the Main Arena during competition breaks.

If it’s something less horse-orientated you’re after, take the family down to the lakeside to try out the Land Rover Terrapod, bring your dog and test your skills at the Pedigree Dog Agility or enjoy a family picnic by one of the giant screens around the Showground.