Andrew Heffernan feared the wrath of his wife after a small hiccup at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials.

Heffernan, 49, returned to Burghley for the second year running with Harthill Phantom, 11 years on from his only other appearance in the event.

But despite his experience at the stunning Stamford venue, Heffernan lost his bearings during Friday’s dressage phase.

“I’m really pleased with that,” said the Cheshire-based rider. “I thought it was really good, a few little mistakes - I went the wrong way which I’m really annoyed about because my wife texted me this morning - she’s taking our little boy to his first couple of days at school, and she said ‘you do know your test don’t you?’

“I said ‘of course darling, I’ve gone through it about 100 times’, so I’m going to be in a bit of trouble.”

It was still a fine start to the famed 5* event for Heffernan, who scored 33.5 in the dressage, 1.7 marks better than they fared last year.

Saturday’s cross-country course has, until now, proven Heffernan’s nemesis, and he is hoping to settle old scores over the weekend.

“I’ve never completed the cross-country here,” he said. “There are a number of different reasons, I came in 2013 and my breastplate snapped in the collecting ring and my horse nearly fell over.

“We started but I felt she wasn’t quite right, she wasn’t her usual self, but now I think maybe it was just Burghley. She’s never been put under that so I half regret that really.

“Then last year I regret that too, this horse ran away from me at the beginning of the course so I pulled him up - I’ve been more of a badminton guy.

“When I was doing teams for the Netherlands, I’ve never been one of those who has had 10 4* and 5* horses, my best horses have always gone to championships and this has always been an event I’ve missed as a result.”

Heffernan represented the Netherlands at London 2012 and has subsequently coached his country’s eventing team.

He wears a third hat in the sport too, as a course designer for Bradwall Horse Trials and Somerford Park Horse Trials and enjoys jumping between the three roles.

“It’s really busy but I’m really lucky, I have a massive support system around me,” he said.

“My owners completely get it, they know I’m not one of those people who have come from a more privileged background. Everything I’ve got I’ve had to try and work for so they understand I’ve got to make a living and I’m quite driven from that respect.

“I like all the roles for different reasons. What I really love is how they all compliment each other. I genuinely believe riding for as long as you can helps your coaching and your designing helps your coaching. I love the designing.

“Probably if somebody said to me you can ride at Burghley or you can design at Burghley, I would say let me design!”

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