By Ben Hart
Birthday girl Isabella Innes Kerr picked up the perfect present with a clear run on the revered cross-country course at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials.
Kerr, who hails from the Scottish borders but is now based in Hungerford, completed the fiendish four-mile track on just her first Burghley appearance aboard 12-year-old gelding Highway.
Turning 30 on the day of arguably her greatest career achievement to date, Kerr could barely contain her delight.
“I’m over the moon. I actually can’t stop smiling so you won’t get this grin off my face for a while,” she said.
“He’s just some horse and I’ve always thought the world of him as a five-year-old.
“He was quite naughty as a youngster and I always said one day he’ll come good and he’ll show everyone what a machine he is and I feel like today that’s what he did. He means the world to me and my owners and I’m just so delighted that they’ve had a good day with him as well.”
Competitors walked the four-mile course several times before tackling it on a gloomy Saturday in Stamford, with the majority of riders observing it as one of the toughest and biggest they have faced.
But Kerr – on just her third 5* appearance – showed a maturity beyond her years to ensure progression to Sunday’s show-jumping phase, the final leg of the Burghley challenge.
“I absolutely loved it,” she said. I always knew he was the best cross country horse I’ve had so I just had to believe that and trust it.
“It’s always easier said than done, you wake up this morning and think what am I doing? But I woke up, got into a good headspace, had a brilliant course walk on my own, and I just secretly felt quite confident but you never want to admit it until you’re home so I’m glad I can say it now.
“There were a couple of moments where I thought oh my goodness I’m doing quite good here but I took a deep breath and concentrated and when I came to that final fish at the end I said don’t you dare make a mess of this Bella!
“To get through that finish line was a feeling I’ll never forget. It’s the best birthday present, I couldn’t have asked for more. I can’t put it into words, I’m just ecstatic. I’ve got millions of friends here so I was worried I might not give them a good day but we can celebrate together now.”
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