NEWYHS444

#Hack1000miles
- sized
adventure
Imagine being able to say the
immortal words “I’ve ridden around
Burghley” — and truly mean it.
Now several #hack1000miles
challengers can, after completing
the SEIB Burghley Sponsored Ride, and
they’ve got a shiny medal to prove it.
While Kiwi Tim Price showjumped to
his first-ever Burghley CCI4* victory in the
main arena, nearly 400 riders descended on
the cross-country course for a hack. Each
one excitedly embraced the opportunity to
explore the world-famous turf where some
of the best event riders from around the
globe had galloped the day before.
“It was so much fun,” enthused
#hack1000miles challenger Louise
Horwood who steered her horse Spearmint
around the course. “My favourite parts were
going in the water and over the flyover.”
Louise won a place on the ride courtesy
of Your Horse magazine’s #hack1000miles
sponsor SEIB Insurance Brokers. She says
hacking at Burghley has really helped to
boost her riding confidence, which she’s
been struggling with (see box, p12).
Plenty to see
Burghley’s terrain is renowned for being
undulating and variable, with twists and
turns, plus road crossings, a new flyover
and a lake to navigate through. As hacks
go, this is a particularly special one.
This year’s sponsored ride takes the
amount of money raised for charities —
including the British Horse Society,
Bransby and Gurkha Welfare Trust — to
over £250,000 since 2006.
The route is around six miles long and
follows most of the cross-country course,
taking riders through areas of Burghley
Park that aren’t normally accessible by
members of the public.
Each rider gets up close with the 30
cross-country fences. Many baulk at the
size of the ditch in the Rolex Combination
and gaze in disbelief at the enormous
spread on the open corner behind it.
Others have to coax their charges into the
Land Rover Trout Hatchery. Once in, there
are cheers and whoops of joy all round.
Burghley photos: Tom Hook
november 2018 your horse 11