...claiming their first Burghley victory with a 13.4-penalty winning margin at the 2026 Defender Burghley Horse Trials –

the biggest winning margin at Burghley since 1998.

After a torrid time at the World Championships last month, she came to Burghley with a renewed sense of purpose and never stopped celebrating as her wonderful Chilli Knight delivered time and time again.

She punched the air after an excellent dressage test put them into second place, she wept after going clear inside the time on Saturday, and she could not disguise her euphoria after consolidating all that with a brilliant clear showjumping round to seal victory today.

They were the only combination to finish on their dressage score, winning by an enormous 13.4 penalties – the biggest winning margin at Burghley since 1998.

“Honestly, to jump a clear round is just so damn cool. I’m so proud of that little horse and proud of myself for holding it together because I was literally shaking down the reins,” Gemma said afterwards.

Chilli Knight has a remarkable story too. His father was the great Chilli Morning – the only stallion ever to win Badminton – while his dam was Kings Gem, whom Gemma evented to five-star level. Both were owned by Christopher and Lisa Stone, who have done so much for eventing, and who bred Chilli Knight themselves.

What a day this is for them.

This was the first time Gemma had won “one of the big Bs”, as she put it, and she topped an all-female podium.

Continuing the theme of firsts, Britain’s Katie Magee made the Burghley podium for the first time in her career with Treworra, having finished 20th here last year. The USA’s Caroline Pamukcu completed the podium in third with HSH Blake, on her very first visit to Defender Burghley.

The horses have looked sublime,

the emotions have been immeasurable…

and Burghley has, once again, been absolutely brilliant.

Relive Defender Burghley 2026, all over again.

From Thursday and Friday's elegance in the dressage to Saturday’s thrilling cross-country and today’s fascinating showjumping finale…

Every stride, every leap, every moment of the 2026 Defender Burghley is now available to watch back on Burghley TV.

Subscribe for just £25 today and your 12 month package secures exclusive live access to next year’s Defender Burghley Horse Trials, 2–5 September 2026.

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