Record Crowds at 50th Burghley Horse Trials

Record spectators and a Royal visit from Princess Anne helped one of the most prestigious horse competitive events in the UK celebrate its 50th birthday. Close to 100,000 visitors flocked to the grounds of Burghley House during the first weekend of September to watch the 50th running of the Burghley Horse Trials.

The three-day event is widely viewed as one of the leading horse event competitions in the world and this year celebrated its 50th anniversary. The competition includes dressage, show-jumping and cross country riding and attracts international and UK based riders.

Helping the 50th anniversary celebrations be an event to remember was the appearance of Princess Anne who won the Burghley event forty years ago. Princess Anne was in attendance to watch recently married daughter Zara Phillips compete and then presented trophies to the winning riders.

The 2011 Burghley Horse Trials event was won by Britain’s William Fox-Pitt. Riding Parklane Hawk, Pitt became the first six-time winner at Burghley. Zara Phillips completed the event in tenth place.

Event spokeswoman Bridget Jennings commented: “we have had record crowds all weekend, which has been fantastic...It has been an amazing competition, with a brilliant and challenging cross country course designed by Captain Phillips on Saturday. It was good to see all the competitors complete the course in good time.”

In addition to the huge number of spectators, many exhibitors attended the event. Exhibitors included Stevenson Brothers Rocking Horses. The renowned rocking horse makers commented that they “thoroughly enjoyed the fantastic 50th birthday celebrations at Burghley over the weekend.”

Burghley Horse Trials Celebrates 50 Fantastic Years

Record crowds and a Royal visit from Princess Anne helped one of the most renowned horse competitions in the UK celebrate its 50th anniversary. Close to 100,000 visitors travelled to to the grounds of Burghley House during the first weekend in September to enjoy the 50th running of the Burghley Horse Trials.

The three day event is widely acknowledged as one of the leading horse event competitions in the world and this year celebrated its 50th birthday. The competition includes dressage, show-jumping and cross country riding and attracts UK and international riders.

Helping the 50th birthday festivities be a memorable weekend was the appearance of Princess Anne who won the Burghley Horse Trials 40 years ago. Princess Anne attended to watch newly-married daughter Zara Phillips take part in the event and then presented trophies to the winning riders.

This year’s event was won by Britain’s William Fox-Pitt. Riding Parklane Hawk, Pitt became the 1st six-time champion at Burghley. Zara Phillips finished in 10th place.

Event spokeswoman Bridget Jennings commented: “we have had record crowds all weekend, which has been fantastic...It has been an amazing competition, with a brilliant and challenging cross country course designed by Captain Phillips on Saturday. It was good to see all the competitors complete the course in good time.”

Along with the impressive number of attendees, many exhibitors attended the event. These included Stevenson Brothers Rocking Horses. The company, renowned for making the world's finest wooden rocking horses commented that they “thoroughly enjoyed the fantastic 50th birthday celebrations at Burghley over the weekend.”

I went to the zoo and I saw...a rocking zebra!

I absolutely adore this and desperately want one for my house! This rocking zebra is made by the famous Stevenson Brothers rocking horse makers in Kent. Entirely handmade and absolutely stunning, this has been on my wish-list for quite some time.

This was further re-inforced when I visited Port Lympne the other weekend and saw the zebra on safari drinking by the watering hole. One of my all-time favourite creatures, this rocking zebra would look fab in the conservatory and could always remind me of my real African safari a few years back in Hluhuwe and of my weekend safari with the girlies.