A full-time lawyer who rides her horses around the working day is set to tackle her first Defender Burghley cross-country track today (5 September) aboard Chiraz.
Ema Klugman, who rides for Australia, is based about an hour north of Washington. She has lived in the US for most of her life, but both her parents are Australian and she holds dual citizenship.
“I just finished one job, and I’m starting another one next week, so that’s kind of partly why we came here because the timing worked out pretty well for work,” said the 29-year-old, who graduated from The George Washington University Law School in 2024 and now works as a Judicial Law Clerk at the US Court of Federal Claims.
With around 10 horses at home, she admits she probably rides less than many of the other riders in the Burghley field.
“I work as a lawyer in the states and ride the horses around that job.”
A horse who loves to travel
Her Burghley partner is owned by a syndicate and was previously campaigned by Michele Kuchta and Boyd Martin.
“Michele said, you know, this is really a five-star horse, and she decided she didn’t want to be the one to do it, so I’m on top now. He’s a wonderful horse,” said Ema, who finished 23rd with Chiraz at the Kentucky five-star in April this year.
“I came to compete at Boekelo with this horse last year, which made this trip a lot less daunting, because he traveled really well then.
“It’s a little complex getting to Europe and then having to ship over to the UK. My wife and I rented a lorry and drove him. It was a very long trip.
“He likes us, we’re his people. He’s good friends with a couple of horses at home, but he actually clings onto us, like we’re his herd when we travel. He whinnies at my wife when she walks at the stable. He’s very cute.”
Main image by Tim Wilkinson
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Today’s cross-country phase gets underway at 11.30am, when Caroline Pamukcu will be first out of the start box aboard HSH Tolan King.
Swiss rider Nadja Minder is the overnight leader, aboard the oldest horse in the field, 19-year-old Toblerone.
