EVENTER Sian Coleman says it is a dream come true to be competing at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials with her family horse Kilroe Hero.

The 26-year-old, from Lindford, who trained under European silver medallist Piggy French, is aiming to complete her first course in the Grand Slam programme.

She’ll do so on one of 100 horses taking to the international event in Burghley Park, Lincolnshire from August 30 – one of just six four-star events in the world.

Event riders will compete in dressage, cross country and show jumping disciplines, looking to follow in the footsteps of 2017 winner Oliver Townend as well as six-time champion William Fox-Pitt.

And it’s a moment that Coleman has waited to long time to experience, in little doubt at just how much of an impact Kilroe Hero has had on her, in and out of eventing.

“I have been very fortunate to pick up Kilroe Hero and as a ride he has changed my life,” said Coleman.

“I don’t think I would want to be sat on anything else to attempt my first Burghley.

“He is spirited as he is a cult hero which are renown for being hothead horses.

“He just loves to jump and he jumped double clear (in cross country and show jumping) at Tattersalls and Chatsworth three-star this year.

“Hero finds the dressage quite exciting, so it is about trying to keep him calm and do the best test that we can do.

“He gives me so much confidence because he loves to jump, he’s so quick and agile and he just seems not to get tired."

Unlike many other riders, Coleman, based at Kilroe stables in County Cork, had an unnatural rise to the eventing circuit.

But come Burghley she will be amongst world-class field, with the four-star event boasting more prestige than that of an Olympic Games.

She’ll have plenty of people cheering her on the way as well, with Burghley attracting 160,000 spectators in an event that caters for all the family with shopping, food and fun activities.

“I am not from a horsey family so it has always been that bit tougher,” Coleman added.

“I was out hacking out on a pony I had in a livery yard and I saw some people that looked really professional out hacking.

“I followed them and started chatting to the professionals about eventing. They said you should come up and do a bit of riding with us and since then I have been hooked.

“I was invited out hunting in Ireland and I met my very husband Patrick. I moved to Ireland and his uncle Maurice Coleman owns Hero.

“I am hoping that as long I don’t let him down, he will see me through.”

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