Burghley is one of my favorite arm chair events. The media around the event are always superb. You can take a virtual course walk with Captain Mark Phillips, peruse the cross country course by viewing the map and reading the course notes or watching an animated tour.

Then, there’s Burghley TV which is FREE and lets you watch watch on demand until the end of September. While I did appreciate all of the equestrian coverage during the Olympics, it was daunting to be faced with hours of footage and no way to sort through it. Burghley TV typically lets you sort by rider.

85 riders from 10 countries will be competing in this year’s Horse Trials. Eight of the riders will compete on two horses.

There are six former winners among the starters vying for the Land Rover perpetual challenge trophy and the £55,000 first prize.

Among the favorites are William Fox-Pitt who is riding last year’s winner Parklane Hawk however no horse has yet to win Burghley in consecutive years and only one horse Priceless – and Ginnie Elliott  – has ever won twice, in 1983 and ’85.

Mary King rides her homebred mare Kings Temptress who is one of just five mares that are on the start list and only two mares have ever won Burghley (Headley Britannia 2006 and Maid Marion 1973).

Nineteen-year-old Comanche will be the oldest horse this year and making a record tenth consecutive appearance on the start list with his rider James Robinson who has owned Comanche for 14-years.

French rider and former World Champion Jean Teulere (58) will be the oldest rider; the three youngest riders, all 22 are Rebecca Crosbie Starling, Peter Hannigan, and Emily Parker.