Piggy March holds the lead on day one of dressage at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials with her new ride, MCS Maverick. 

The 2022 Burghley champion took over the ride on the 12-year-old son of Mill Law from Pippa Funnell earlier this year and the pair is contesting their first CCI5* together. 

“He is a beautiful horse and he’s got it all there. He’s had the best training in the world coming from Mrs Funnell so I haven’t got any excuses,” said Piggy.

“The big thing with this horse is getting his brain and that’s just what the two days of being here is.

“We’ve been riding, lunging, riding, lunging, lunging. He’s not the finished article yet.

“His body isn’t really strong where you’d like him to be, but that’s still going to develop a lot over the next couple of years. 

“You can’t work him too hard as he gets sore and fragile in his body,” continued Piggy.

“It’s a bit of work, bit of loose lunging, grazing, seeing people. That test was brilliant for him.

“For our early stages of us being together in an atmosphere like that I’ll take it all day long and I don’t want another go.”

2. Alexander Bragg and Ardeo Premier

Occupying the runners-up spot overnight are Alexander Bragg and Ardeo Premier, a 12-year-old Irish Sports Horse who finished second in the Eventers Grand Prix at Hickstead this year.

The pair is just over three penalties behind the leaders on a score of 28.4.

“He’s really versatile. He’s a real cool dude and multi talented,” said Alex.

“It’s always nerve wracking before you go in [to the dressage arena].

“You put hours and hours of training in to get to that point and you know what the horse is capable of, but actually delivering that and performing on the big stages is tricky, because you’re dealing with the horse’s apprehension from outside distractions and the atmosphere, and you’ve also got to deal with your own and try and remain composed.

“I think if you get a good centre line, that’s always helpful, and I knew which bits I could be brave at with him.” 

Alex said the horse’s extended canter work and flying changes are particularly good and were highlights in today’s test.

“His trot is not so expressive, but the judges at E and M can see those 8m circles. They can see accuracy, so my plan was just don’t drop marks in those areas. 

“My target was around a 70% test, a score of 30, so the fact that he exceeded that just shows his commitment and I’m just thrilled with him.”

3. Will Rawlin and Ballycoog Breaker Boy

Will Rawlin and Ballycoog Breaker Boy round out the podium at this stage on a score of 28.8.

“I’m really chuffed with the test. We delivered what we’re more than capable of doing,” said Will. 

“There were plenty of mistakes in there, a few things to iron out, but the general feeling that he was giving me was spot on.

“What’s exciting is that there’s still so much more for him to deliver. I just think it’s about getting as much practice, getting into big arenas and big atmospheres. I’d like to think we’re only going to get better.”

Will said he has been particularly working on the horse’s flying changes, and described the last one in today’s test as being “diabolical”.

“The changes are such an easy thing to fluff up, but he’s been incredible with them all year and today they didn’t quite pull off.

“I was completely disorganised with the last change. It was diabolical.

“There were a few little bits where I was brave, like in extended canter, he came back to me and then went against me. Generally, though, the rideability of what he’s given me is where I wanted to be going.”

The pair finished 23rd at Badminton in the spring.

4. David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed

David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed ended the first day of dressage in fourth place on 29.6, having led the field after the morning session. 

“That was definitely the best he’s ever gone in the ring. He was really settled, really rideable, and just nailed everything for me. That’s probably about the best he’s going to really ever be able to do. He’s not built to do dressage so I’m absolutely stoked,” said David.

“We’ve worked really hard on his dressage and it’s finally paid off and he’s been able to show everyone what he’s capable of.

“We nailed it today – we lunged and rode him for the right time this morning and he’s feeling the best he’s ever felt in his body. I’ve got to write this all down and remember it for next time.”

David and the 14-year-old KWPN gelding, who is owned by David, Mary Fox and Gillian Jonas, were second here two years ago behind Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class after producing a clear cross-country round inside the time.

5. Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal

Cavalier Crystal, the second of Harry Meade’s three rides this weekend, sits in fifth place on 30.5.

The 15-year-old bay mare is no stranger to success at CCI5* level, having finished fourth here last year and third at Badminton in May.  

“Today I was delighted with her. I felt she’s been in a really sweet place the last few weeks, and then that’s maintained since we got here.

“She felt really good. It was very much a clear round test, but also very much a way of going that was soft and open, and that allowed the freedom,” said Harry.

“She’s a really game horse. Sometimes, if you try too hard on her, she begins to go a little bit sour, so it was very much about keeping her sweet, keeping her enjoying it and she felt very happy in there.”

Harry, who is also in 11th place overnight on his first ride, Et Hop du Matz, will be the final rider into the arena tomorrow on Annaghmore Valoner.

6. Joseph Murphy and Belline Fighting S

Ireland’s Joseph Murphy and Belline Fighting Spirit, who is owned by Richard Ames, Tanya Ames, Alan Bell and Annette O’Callaghan, wound up in sixth position on 30.9.

“I’m really pleased. It certainly wouldn’t be his strongest phase, but he’s a beautiful horse, and now that he’s more on side and I’m a bit more confident with him,” said Joseph, who finished 49th with the 10-year-old gelding at Badminton this year.

7. Caroline Powell and High Time

Former Burghley champion Caroline Powell piloted High Time, a 13-year-old KWPN gelding, into seventh place after they received a score of 31.1 for their dressage test. 

“He’s a lovely horse. I haven’t had him that long so I’m still finding the buttons and problems with him.

“Our partnership has developed quickly and he’s changed a lot, he’s grown up and has been very good,” said the New Zealand rider.

It is a third CCI5* start for the pair, who finished 21st at Badminton earlier this year.

8. Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza

France’s Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza, a bay mare owned by Martin Thurlow and Jane Young, received 31.8 and sit in eighth.

The pair were sixth here last year and the Frenchman took home the prize for the best first timer on that occasion.

“I was quite happy with her; she was very relaxed,” said Gaspard of the 12-year-old mare.

“Yes, we probably wanted to be in the 20s, but she hasn’t run much to be fair.

“She’s pretty much done nothing, but she came here and she knows why she’s here. She actually kept it all together on the test and she was very focused on me, so lots of positives.”

9. Holly Richardson and Ballyneety Silver Service

Occupying ninth place are Holly Richardson and Ballyneety Silver Service on 32.4.

While it’s Holly’s third time at Burghley, the horse is making his CCI5* debut.

“He’s a really smart horse. He’s 10 and he’s sort of taken that long to get to where he is if you know what I mean.

“He’s a galloping machine, so for him to go and sit in the dressage, it was quite hard for him, but we know it’s in there and it’s just a matter of time,” said Holly.

“His medium trot is his strength, so it was really good to pull those mediums and extendeds off. His walk is amazing as well so it was good that he stayed calm enough to actually produce his good walk.”

Ballyneety Silver Service was produced up to CCI3* level by Issy Saxby, the daughter of the Irish gelding’s owner, Fiona Saxby.

Holly took over the ride when Issy went to university and has been riding him for the last two years. 

10. Grace Taylor and Game Changer

Grace Taylor rounds out the top 10 with her mother Ann Taylor’s 13-year-old Irish Sports Horse Game Changer.

“My trainer Lisa White and I have been working on having him much more strong, supple and in front of the leg, and he’s enjoying his dressage more,” said Grace, who represents the USA.

“He was always more of a jumping horse, but I always knew he could do really good dressage test, so I was frustrated with myself that I wasn’t getting the marks, but it’s getting there.”

Top 10 after dressage

The standings at the end of the dressage phase are:

  1. Piggy March and MCS Maverick on 25.7 penalties
  2. Alexander Bragg and Ardeo Premier, 28.4
  3. Will Rawlin and Ballycoog Breaker Boy, 28.8
  4. David Doel and Gallileo Nieuwmoed, 29.6
  5. Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal, 30.5
  6. Joseph Murphy and Belline Fighting Spirit, 30.9
  7. Caroline Powell and High Time, 31.1
  8. Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza, 31.8
  9. Holly Richardson and Ballyneety Silver Service, 32.4
  10. Grace Taylor and Game Changer, 32.4

View the full overnight leaderboard here

Dressage will resume tomorrow, Friday 5 September, at 10am when Alice Casburn and Topspin take to the main arena.  

Images by Tim Wilkinson

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