HAZEL Towers may have been eventing since 2002 but the Harrogate rider has never taken on a challenge quite like the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials – until now.

After switching the office for the stables two years ago, the 31-year-old will compete on the historic Lincolnshire course with the wind behind her sails after impressive placings in 2018 at Bramham and Chatsworth International.

Towers rides’ Simply Smart and Simply Clover will be among 100 horses taking to the international four-star event in Burghley Park, Lincolnshire from August 30-September 2 – one of six four-star events in the eventing season.

The three-day event will comprise of dressage and show jumping as well as the world-famous cross country course, requiring a skillset only the world’s best riders can master.

It’s a challenge that’s rapidly approaching and one that marked on the calendar for a long time – not that the gravity of her achievements has sunk in for the brand manager.

“It has not really hit home yet to be honest with you, so it just feels like any event at the moment,” said Towers.

“I am sure in a couple more weeks I will start to get a bit more nervous.

“If you don’t get nervous then it is worrying, and you need to have some nerves to get over those whopping big jumps.

“I am up for the challenge. I have been doing three-star for the last three years and it is really due to bad planning on my part that I haven’t got to four-star sooner. I feel like I am quite comfortable at that level.”

One of six four-star events across the world, the three-day Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials comprises of dressage, cross country and show jumping in the heart of Lincolnshire.

It’s a new experience Towers can go into with positivity, with both Clover and Smart yielding positive results despite their vastly different traits and characteristics.

Her 11-year-old mare Smart won Blair Castle three-star last August and placed well in 2018 with competitive finishes at both Bramham and Chatsworth.

And 13-year-old Clover is no stranger to the big stage with impressive finishes at Chatsworth, Bramham and Belton Park inside the last two years.

Towers said: “They have both progressed up the levels together, so it is quite nice not having all my eggs in one basket.

“They are completely different and polar opposites to each other. I could not have brought more different horses if I tried.

“With it being my first one it is always going to be a learning curve and I am sure in years to come I will look back and it will be a really good experience.

“As long as we all come home safe I’ll be happy with the experience.”

The multi-award-winning Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials from August 30 – September 2 has been established as a major international equestrian and social event in the Autumn Sporting Calendar for over 50 years. For more information visit burghley-horse.co.uk