KATE ROCHER-SMITH plans to savour every moment of her upcoming Defender Burghley Horse Trials debut.
The Southam-based rider will compete at the iconic Burghley House in Stamford for the first time, capping off a fruitful career in-and-out of the saddle, having previously founded Dassett Eventing, a producer of event horses worldwide, including Dassett Rock Star, set-to-be ridden by fellow 2025 Defender Burghley competitor Tom Crisp.
For the 40 year-old, her upcoming bow at Burghley House marks the culmination of a lifelong journey and she admitted that the moment cannot come soon enough.
“My late grandmother took me to Burghley when I was a very small girl,” said Rocher-Smith. “I didn’t understand what eventing was and what it all meant but I remember being around it and looking around and to think coming full circle and I’m riding makes it all the more special.
“It’s the pinnacle of the sport and to get there with a horse you produced, you appreciate the enormity of it all and just try to enjoy the process cos the opportunities don’t come around often.
“We sell horses, that’s our business so we’ve had plenty of horses that we’ve sold at Badminton and Burghley before, which has been incredibly rewarding in itself, but this is the first time I’ve ridden at Burghley.
“We’re really lucky that Dassett Eventing is a big team and family. My mum is part-owner of the horse and she’s at nearly event that we go to, big or small and she’ll definitely be there.
“My sister works in the business on the admin side and she’ll be there with family and we’ve got a team of 15-20 people wanting to come for the week to support which is fabulous.”
Yet while Rocher-Smith recognises the scale of the occasion, she is refusing to let herself get carried away just yet.
“You approach it the same,” added Rocher-Smith. “In any situation you have to stick to your training and stick to your program. We know our horses really well and that I think is always a big bonus.
“We’ll see how he feels when he gets going and we’ll see how he is when he gets there.
“There’re so many variables when you’re eventing, the crowd and the venues are different. The only consistency you have is the training and the team around you and that’s what we’ll stick with.”
Leamington rider Emma Thomas will also be taking to the saddle at Burghley.
The 25-year-old will compete on Icarus for the third year in a row, having finished 18th on debut in 2023, and is aiming high again.
She said: “I would love another top 20, or even a top 15 [finish].
“I obviously did quite well on my debut a few years ago at Burghley, and I really feel in a good place at the moment in training.
“It’s my third Burghley and it’s my third season at 5*, and I really feel now I’m starting to get into it a bit more and feeling less overawed by the whole experience.”
Thomas struggled with a ruptured thigh muscle in last year’s event as she battled home to a respectable 36th place.
This year, she is fully fit, and her early success on Icarus is spurring her forward.
“My 2023 success does give me more belief for this year,” Thomas said.
“I don’t remember much of that week, it was such a whirlwind, and it was fairly unexpected to do that well.
“But it gives me belief that we’re more than capable to do really well.”
* Defender Burghley Horse Trials (September 4 to 7) 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.
Visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk for more information.
