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Tom Jackson targets Burghley glory after previous podium finish

Tom Jackson is hoping his hard work and sacrifices will pay off when he bids to return to the podium at the 2026 Defender Burghley Horse Trials with two horses.

Tom Jackson hopes the sacrifices will be made worth it by a return to the prestigious podium at the 2026 Defender Burghley Horse Trials.

Jackson is no stranger to the rostrum at the world s most fearsome 5* event, having finished second in 2023 on Capels Hollow Drift.

He finished 18th in 2025 on Hawk Eye, and returns with the same horse alongside exciting young gelding United 36, who finished fourth at Badminton, for two bites at the cherry in 2026.

It is no easy feat to have one horse in Burghley condition, never mind two, but Jackson is relishing the extra opportunity to take on the jewel of the eventing calendar.

He said: Both horses have real potential to be on the podium. United 36 was very close to the podium at Badminton, so I'm really hoping that at least one, if not both of them, can be right up there.

The horses have probably had their last run cross country-wise. They both had a good run at Bergham, in the 4* short, a couple of weeks ago.

Theyre going to Hartpury for the 4* short but probably won't run cross country.

Then it's just all about keeping up the fitness and getting them here in the best shape that we can to enable them to show everyone what they can do.

Jackson is part of a strong fielded headed to Lincolnshire, for the event that takes place in the grounds of 16th-century Elizabethan Burghley House.

Entries have come in from across the world, with American, Australian, Swiss and French riders joining British and Irish equestrians for the four-day event.

Jackson knows exactly how hard it is to reach each event but believes it is all worth it to compete at the very highest level of evening.

He added: As much as it is lovely to be here, and a glamorous event to be at, it's a lot of hard work, and especially these five stars, in particular, they're a big focus for the whole of the equestrian community.

There's a lot of demand from not only the sporting aspect, but the sponsorship aspect, and things like that, pulling you in different directions, so you become very time poor.

We're slightly different to other sports in the sense that the sporting aspect goes alongside the business aspect we can't solely focus on that.

A lot of us have different aspects of our business to generate income, not solely from competing horses. We're quite fortunate that that is our primary income at the moment.

I do get nervous, because we want to do well, but it's why I do it. I love the cross country and the thrill of the adrenaline.

If I wasn't doing something crazy like that, I'd be doing another extreme sport somewhere else.

Defender Burghley Horse Trials (3-6 September 2025) 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

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