Caroline Powell, the former Defender Burghley champion, is back at the iconic event and currently sits sixth after the opening day of dressage in Stamford.
The London 2012 Olympic medallist, who hails from New Zealand but now lives in Newmarket, won the three-day event in 2010 and also has victories at Badminton Horse Trials to her name.
Age is just a number
Despite having already succeeded at the event, the 53-year-old is ready to climb to the top of the rankings once more.
"Each time you come here you're on a different horse, and there are different questions out there and it doesn't get any easier," she said. "You still get the morning nerves and everything but it's nice to know that you have been around and you've done well before.
"And to come here on a horse that's a good jumper and is learning all the time, it is a real honour."
High Time's progress
Powell and her 14-year-old gelding High Time scored 33.9 on the dressage phase to sit sixth overall with plenty more competitors to come. The famed Burghley cross-country course designed by Derek di Grazia comes on Saturday before the podium is decided on Sunday's showjumping test.
Powell and High Time finished eighth on a score of 42.7 last year, having picked up 11.2-time faults in the cross-country phase, but will be looking to remedy that and challenge for the top spot again.
"He can act as though he's had sort of baked beans for lunch sometimes, and it'd be a bit hot," she said. "But he's just getting better, and easier, and nicer.
"He's a long way from being a finished product, but at the moment he's absolutely loving his work, and it's an absolute pleasure to be able to put work into him."
Event details
Defender Burghley Horse Trials (3-6 September 2026) 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.
