Leamington Spa’s Emma Thomas overcame a late injury scare to compete in her second Defender Burghley Horse Trials.

Thomas, 25, finished 18th on debut last year – the last placed rider and thereby securing a share of the prize money – but preparations ahead of her second voyage to Stamford took on a cruel late twist.

She was never going to miss this year’s 5* event, crediting the 2023 addition with changing her life, and scored a respectable 39.1 aboard Icarus in Friday’s dressage phase.

“I got kicked last week by a horse and it’s ruptured my thigh muscle so it’s quite painful,” said Thomas, who missed Wednesday’s trot-up event as a result of her injury.

“I had physio last night and this morning so we’re doing everything we can and actually it’s better when I’m on the horse than when I’m walking.

“I’ve been around the cross-country course very slowly. I underestimated how long it would take me, completely misjudged it, so I ended up out there in the dark. I love it here, it’s like being a kid on Christmas Eve.

“I’m really pleased with our dressage score. He settled as well as I could have hoped for him, I think he finds it quite exciting. I’m a bit annoyed I left a few marks accuracy wise but overall really pleased.”

Attention now turns to Saturday’s cross-country challenge, which is often regarded as the decisive phase in the Burghley challenge.

Thomas however came through unscathed last year and will be drawing on those experiences in her bid to improve her standing.

“It’s big, it’s Burghley but this horse is made to go around this track,” she added.

“He loves it here, he’s been training and dreaming about being back since he came last year I think.

“There’s some really good questions early on I think but if you get through those well it really sets you up for the rest of the way round.”

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