As part of its programme of ongoing evolution, Defender Burghley Horse Trials (5-8 September) is adding brand new ticket categories for 2024 to help encourage the next generation of horse lovers, plus bookable course-walks for visitors to the event.
NEW Young Person ticket introduced for 2024
This year, parents of children aged between 12-16 may buy brand new Young Person tickets, saving £10 on the full adult price on Thursday, Friday and Sunday of the event, and £15 on the full Saturday entry charge. Children up to the age of four remain free, while children between 5-11 are £5*.
“Building on our long-standing relationship with the Pony Club, we believe it is important to continue to encourage and inspire future generations,” said Event Director Martyn Johnson. “So introducing a Young Person ticket is an appropriate change that we hope will be enjoyed by families, along with the expanded range of fun activities and talks that we have planned.”
The Insights Stage — formerly the Celebrity Talk Area — has a fresh purpose this year and will host a range of talks not only from competitors and big names in equestrian sport, but will also explore fashion, gardening and more with experts and lifestyle influencers.
For younger visitors still, on top of established favourites like dog agility, face painting and the Shetland Pony Grand National, Burghley will host a story-teller, pottery painting and the return of Buddy’s Activity Trail, in which young visitors look for letter clues hidden among fences to solve a riddle to claim a prize.
NEW course-walks
Also new for 2024 are ‘long or short’ format guided course-walks on Thursday and Friday. Visitors may book to join a five-star expert on a guided walk of this year’s cross-country course to learn about the questions this year’s field will face and the particular challenges posed by Burghley’s terrain.
The shorter course-walk will last around one-and-a-half hours and take in at least five feature fences, while the longer one will last around three hours and explore the full course.
“We’re rightly proud of the incredible world-class course that Derek di Grazia designs for us here, and know that visitors glean so much from hearing how riders would tackle them,” said Martyn Johnson.
These guided course-walks may be booked online at the same time as ordering your tickets to visit.
The Flexi-Ticket returns
The Flexi-ticket also returns this year, allowing visitors to buy a ticket that may be redeemed on either Thursday, Friday or Sunday.
E-tickets return after 2023 success
After their hugely positive impact on queuing and entry times last year, e-tickets return this year, allowing those who have pre-purchased their ticket before arrival to enter via dedicated entry lanes.
Improved one-stop ticket shop
The new-look ticket-purchasing page at https://burghley-horse.co.uk/tickets now allows visitors to book other extras in one go, such as breakfast or lunch in the new Avebury Restaurant, a subscription to Burghley TV, and more.
Booking for those that wish to purchase membership opens on Thursday 25 April and for all other tickets from 26 April.
* Terms and conditions apply – please see our website for full details. www.burghley-horse.co.uk.
The attached picture of Alice Casburn competing at Defender Burghley in 2023 is courtesy of DBHT/Will Bailey.
Press release supplied by Defender Burghley Horse Trials
