Succeeding in Horse Trials Style – What I wore to the Defender Burghley Horse Trials, and how I created my outfits! How to achieve the perfect equestrian chic country style!

The Defender Burghley Horse Trials isn’t quite a distant memory yet, and with Blenheim Horse Trials approaching, I am so excited to share with you how I styled up my outfits at this year’s event, to give you some inspiration for the upcoming Blenheim, or other events you might have in the diary!

Known as the greatest CCI5* event, the Defender Burghley Horse Trials is often the pinnacle of events for elite horse and rider combinations, with all competitions dreaming of winning the prestigious event! As one third of the Rolex Grand Slam, Burghley promises all of the thrills and spills of 5* eventing, combining challenging Dressage, Cross County and Showjumping phases. This year, the event ran from 5th – 8th September, next year, it is running from 4th – 7th September 2025.

Burghley is not only known for the incredible sport, but also the shopping and styling that comes with it, with outfits becoming more and more at the forefront of minds for these types of events.

🏇 Horse Trials Style 🏇

When it comes to Burghley Horse Trials, style and practicality must walk hand in hand – think country chic with a dash of timeless elegance. Footwear is always at the top of my list! I cannot stress this enough, but pick something comfortable. There is no time for ‘pain is beauty’ at these events, espesically if you are looking at walking the XC course! I would recommend going for comfy boots, loafers or deck shoes as a starting point! Typically at these Horse Trials events, I start with comfy footwear, and pick the rest of the outfit around it! I always carry plasters in my bag too, if you have picked suitable footwear, you should need them, but it is always better to have them!

Ladies, layers are always going to be key at these events, especially with the weather in September, being as unpredictable as it can be! I would typically pack some sort of jacket or blazer – and you can’t really go wrong with tweed or a wax option. What you wear underneath will entirely depend on the September we are having. You can’t go wrong with a classic shirt if we are graced with warmer weather, or a simple roll neck on those cooler days.

When it comes to accessories, I always consider and plan for the English weather. Hats, sunglasses and waterproofs are all not out of the question, and often you’ll have to just pack. them all, and pick the best option when you get there!

Finally, you’ll want to finish off your outfit with a bag. I would recommend trying to pick something with a cross body or shoulder option, to give your hands and arms a break. Again, if you’re out on the XC course, you want something which is easy to carry around for longer periods of time. Try to opt for something mid sized if you can, big enough for what you need, but not too bulky or heavy!

So, with that being said, here is how I styled my Defender Burghley Horse Trials outfits this year!

Saturday of Defender Burghley HT

My Saturday outfit reflected equestrian elegance, utilising a simple base of black jeans and a black Holland Cooper ruffle top. Building on this, I tied a Clare Haggas silk scarf around my neck, and layered a Schoffel tweed gilet. I finished off the outfit with a Fairfax & Favor cape, boots and bag.

Sunday of Defender Burghley HT

My Sunday outfit moved away from classic neutrals and looked to add some colour! Plum was one of the Fairfax & Favor A/W23 colourways, and it is still one of my favourites. I went for a classic white shirt and tweed skirt base, from here I added the plum Madeline Gilet from Fairfax & Favor, along with a plum hat, belt and boots. I finished by tying a tweed scarf around my neck, having a slight pop of colour coming from the shirt.

I hope you found this blog insightful!

See you in the next blog my Darlings, and if you want to keep up with daily styling, check out my social channels below:

Lots of love, Lucinda xo