Barnard Castle eventer Katie Magee will be expecting a different challenge when she returns to the Defender Burghley Horse Trials next month, following her successful debut at the event last year.
Debut success and recent form
Magee, 44, made her Burghley bow on 12-year-old gelding Treworra and finished a very creditable 20th in a field packed with Olympians and eventing's great and the good.
The combination's results have been even better at Badminton in the last couple of years, with 2025's 11th-place finish being followed up by a brilliant fifth in the standing in May – an outcome that surprised Magee herself.
Preparing for a new challenge
While she has more of an idea what to expect at on her second Burghley appearance between September 3-6, the changes to the cross-country course means not everything will be as it were 12 months ago.
Magee said: "It's weird because you know [what to expect] but it's always different, if that makes sense.
"The course designers do such an amazing job and this year has had its challenges for everybody, due to the weather, and it's nice to know Burghley has that fantastic footing, which is reassuring.
"But it's been challenging trying to prepare in the best possible way without jarring them up and running if we didn't need to.
"Even for the people who've done it a lot more than me, they find it's a new challenge every time."
Consistent performances and a 'true 5* horse'
Magee won the British Open Championship at the 2025 Hartpury International Horse Trials as preparation for Burghley last time out and it has been another successful year on board Treworra so far.
In addition to their brilliant showing at Badminton – their previous 5* event of 2026 – they came fourth at Burnham Market in April and sixth at Burgham in July, both of which are 4* events.
Magee is delighted with how well Treworra has taken to rarefied level he now finds himself at, saying: "He's a true 5* horse.
"I think he's probably one of the rarities in that he would have been able to do the old format – to ride a horse like him in cross-country is a total privilege. He's absolutely amazing.
"He's a lovely boy, he's getting cheekier as he gets older because I think we've all spoiled him rotten and he now knows that he's a superstar – we do have to watch out for the teeth occasionally now!
"But he's still a lovely horse to have around and he's one of those at the yard who just stands out."
Defender Burghley Horse Trials (3-6 September 2025) 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.
