Burghley Course Walk with Nick Turner – Friday 2nd September, 2016

Friday at Burghley dawned dry and clear and not too warm for our course walk with Nick Turner FBHS. This time it actually was a walk and not a march as Nick’s riders had all done their dressage on the Thursday!

Nick presented Katie Partrick with her BHSI certificate with Burghley house in the background so welcome to Katie, well done for all your hard work.

So off we went 4 BHSI’s and their guests with Nick giving us a real insight to the course and to the questions that course designer Captain Mark Phillips had set them. Nick said it was an out and out proper 4* Burghley course and was not at all “soft” as some riders had said (they weren’t riding this year!!)

The technical combinations came thick and fast with some looking almost impossible with the lines that needed to be held. You needed a fit horse not only physically but mentally as well.

We had an insight into the frangible pins and their value including the 11 penalty clause (which was used on Saturday). The mimms clip is also used by BE and FEI but none were used at Burghley.

Thankyou as always to Nick for sharing his views and immense knowledge, with everyone able to ask any questions they wanted.

Written by Ann Bostock.