Phil Brown says it was ‘really cool’ to feature at a third successive Defender Burghley Horse Trials.

Brown, 37, lived next door to Burghley for a couple of years before moving back home to north Yorkshire.

He hails from a non-horsey background but says competing at Burghley was a ‘childhood dream’ ahead of his first ride three years ago and insists the novelty hasn’t yet worn off.

“It’s really cool to come here three years on the bounce. It means a lot to have a horse that’s really fit, found and healthy and loving its job,” said Brown, after a dressage score of 39.9 at the famed 5* event.

“He can go a bit tricky in there so we do a bit out here and then I hop on as we go in to try and keep him calm. We’ve done that process for quite a long time because it works for him but as a rider it’s a bit nerve-racking for me.

“He doesn’t find that phase so easy and he takes quite a lot of settling in the morning so for him to go in there and be calm and do what he was supposed to do in the right places, I can’t complain.”

Brown’s 16-year-old stallion was temporarily sold before returning to his care – a reunion which he described as ‘meant to be.’

It will be a tall order pulling off a fairytale finish this year with a record-breaking field of entrants - the strongest on record - with eight 5* winners in the mix.

Saturday’s cross-country phase is often seen as the decisive leg of the Burghley challenge but Brown is merely happy to be a part of one of his sport’s showpiece events.

“When we first came in 2022 I was just over the road, since then we’ve moved back home to Yorkshire, so it’s a bit more of a journey but it’s nice to come back and see everybody,” added Brown.

“It’s what everyone wants to do. You grow up dreaming of this and Badminton. Those are your big goals sir to actually arrive here and do it is incredible.”

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