Morven Pringle wants the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials to witness the fitness of her family-trained horse as the event returns for the first time since 2019.

The eventing community will descend on Stamford in Lincolnshire once more in September, as the 5* spectacle returns after two missed years due to Covid-19.

Pringle, 27, will be amongst the riders negotiating the famous course after a strong 2022 season including a 19th-place finish at 4* Bramham.

And the Lockerbie-based rider, whose career is supported by mum Gina, is hoping that 15-year-old mare Dunbog Gypsy Rose will punch above her weight against some of the bigger stables. 

“It’s me and my mum, my mum is my number one supporter,” said Pringle, speaking ahead of the event that is back for the first time in two years - due to the Covid-19 pandemic - better than ever, with renewed impetus, a top class field and additional activities on offer.

“She’s the main one behind the scenes.

“We’ve got a small yard, five horses to event. She does the grooming and everything. It’s just me and her most of the time.

“We’ve been doing it for so long now, she knows how everything works.

“She knows when I’m getting a bit nervous before cross-country just to let me get on with it and leave me alone.”

Pringle will take on the world-renowned Burghley course for the first time this September, which requires riders to compete in dressage, cross-country, and show jumping across a gruelling three days.

Set within the grandeur of the 16th-century Burghley House, the Trials is famous for its tough cross-country course but Pringle is hoping her horse’s Caledonian roots can come in handy on the Lincolnshire hills.

“We’re based in Scotland so we’ve got lots of hills here so I’m hoping she’ll be really fit,” added Pringle.

“I wouldn’t change too much in the preparation. It’s just making sure she’s as fit as she’s ever been.

“A lot of fitness work, trying to nail the dressage and trying to keep everything as normal as possible but just making sure we’re both as fit as we can be.

“It’s not just her, I need to make sure I’m on top of my game as well.”

The Scot will not only have to contend with her first-ever 5* event, a group of six events considered the most difficult the world of eventing has to offer.

The 27-year-old must also deal with the roar of the bumper crowd that will amass over the three days to see the return of world class eventing after two missed years.

But Pringle is hoping to channel what will be her biggest-ever crowd into a positive as she looks to soak up the experience.

“I’ve never competed there, so I’m really looking forward to it,” said Pringle.

“I think it’s going to make it even better having the crowd, because it makes it feel like a much bigger thing.

“Obviously it gets the nerves going as well because you’ve got loads of people watching you, but you need to have the spectators there to make big events.

“They really spur you on because they’re always really supportive – it’ll definitely be the biggest crowd I‘ve competed in front of.”

Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (1-4 September 2022) returns after a two-year hiatus, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  A major international sporting and social event for over 50 years it attracts 80 of the world’s top equestrians and over 170,000 visitors.  For more information visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk