Lauren Innes' glittering Burghley showcase proves her five-star prospects are bright

By Lucy Wilde, Sportsbeat

Lauren Innes knows it takes time and patience to shape a horse of 5* quality, but if her Burghley experience has proven anything, it’s that she’s firmly on the path to becoming a regular top-level fixture.

Burghley is the Hampshire local’s fourth appearance at 5* level, after Innes made the jump up from 4* with gelding Global Fision M at the Badminton Horse Trials just last year.

Fast forward one year and the duo finished just a place below their lifetime best 5* finish of 23rd at the prestigious Stamford venue, suggesting that with a tad more time and experience they could be ready to ruffle some feathers at the top of the field.

“My Burghley experience this week has been intense but amazing,” the New Zealand-born rider said after completing the showjumping round, the third and final phase of the Burghley competition.

“We have certainly made massive steps forward from Burghley last year. We had a bit of a breakthrough at Badminton in 2023 and then some improvement this week.

“I know it’s going to be a slow process but we’re heading in the right direction so fingers crossed we can keep that going.”

Innes’ 14-year-old gelding is widely regarded as a cross-country specialist, which she proved by completing a gutsy stamina test in Burghley’s infamously tough four-mile course.

Yet Global Fision, also known as ‘Flipper’, proved his versatility by producing a captivating showjumping effort to secure the pair’s top 20 finish.

That came just a day after the gelding impressed spectators and riders alike, when he continued to clear a cross-country hurdle after his jockey lost control of the reins in the closing stages.

“He lives for the jumping and he always tries his best,” Innes said. “He’s such a warrior and we were really unlucky to catch a pole, but he tried his heart out and he did save the day yesterday.

“I’ve watched that video [of Global Fision M continuing to jump a hurdle without instruction] about a million times, and I still cannot believe that he knew that was the jump because I was absolutely not steering or even looking at it. He’s a pretty incredible horse.”

Innes’ exciting introduction to the big-stage paralleled Olympic champion Ros Canter’s third 5* triumph, as she added a first Burghley title to her eventing CV to continue a spectacular summer in style.

Defender Burghley Horse Trials (5-8 September 2024) has been a major international sporting and social event for over 50 years. It attracts the world's top equestrians and is attended by vast and enthusiastic crowds. For more information visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk