Which day to go for first time at Burghley?

[squareegg]

Having been a keen pony lover in my yoof and not getting any olympic equestrian tickets I was thinking of going to Burghley this year. But which day would be best?
Generally prefer the cross country when I watch on TV, but surely you don't get much of an overview of the whole course in person? And the show jumping is cheaper...
Any advice for a clueless soul?

[Mirage]

I don't know as we go for the shopping and watch it on tv later. We are planning on going on the course walk this year though,and taking the dds.

[1sassylassy]

We did Badminton last year,went for the cross country,it was fab,got right up close to the fences.Show jumping doesnt interest me,cross country was always my love when I was riding.
We are off to Gatcombe next month,would love to go to Burghley but bit far from where we live.

[buttercupyellow]

Definitely go for the cross country. It's a really nice day out, similar sort of thing to a county show with loads of nice stalls to look round. Then you can walk round the cross country course which is a nice walk in itself and you just stop and watch one or two horses jump every fence. You get to stand really close to the jumps and they are impressive. You can literally smell the sweat of the horses and feel the air rush past as they come past you in places!

Then watch the show jumping on telly on the Sunday

[frostyfingers]

Have a think about going on dressage day - I went to Badminton on one, and then walked the course properly and slowly. The beauty of that is that you can get up close to the fences and see how big they are, quite often you can eavesdrop one of the competitors as they walk the course and all without being squashed and spending a fortune.

Then you can go home and watch it on TV (hopefully) and really appreciate what's being done!

[SilverSky]

Def xc. Offers lots of variety!

[squareegg]

Thank you! Lots to consider, I'll definitely be recording at home whatever

[Butkin]

We never miss - sometimes going on a dressage day just to shop and then returning on XC Day.

For a first timer I'd definitely say XC day but get there early - think about when you want to arrive and then aim to get there an hour before.

If you get there early you beat the crowds and can then do some shopping - enormous - before the XC starts.

We aim to see at least one horse over every fence - sometimes two or 3 if we stop for a picnic. We walk the course backwards to avoid crowds all going same way. If the weather is really bad and they are not getting home be prepared to miss out the last few jumps.

I'm not anti the show jumping day but if you like show jumping then there are more interesting things to go and watch than just that day at Burghley.

[Plomino]

Another voter for the xc day ! Have always gone that day at Badminton , took all 5 kids and they love it, even the unhorse ones . Mind you they thought the best year was the one that Zara hit the deck right in front of them .

[EdithWeston]

I go on a dressage day (to do the Christmas shopping - very good stands), and there are usually also other classes (display events, parades and juniors) going on. Cross country day is lovely, and there's enough movement in the crowd that you see plenty. I've never been on show jumping day.

[DeathByChocolate01]

I love the SJ - being able to watch everything happening in one ring so you don't miss anything, and the tension of it being the final stage... love it! :) I'm going on the XC day for the first time this year and really looking forward to that too. Last year I went on the Thursday, the first day of dressage, just to do some shopping and have a wander - I would have preferred to see more of the actual riding, but I did get to meet Mary King at the Joules stand.

[EcoLady]

Show jumping last year was in non-stop torrential rain. I took DD and 2 of her friends. Poor friends were underdressed and got soaked. You can see it only if you pay for grandstand tickets (just one stand is free and that fills within minutes) or on a few big screens - no use when it's peeing down.

Definitely Saturday for cross country. So much more to see, lots of space and very exciting to get that close to the thundering hooves.

[Mirage]

We were lucky last year and went on the Friday,it was scorching hot.It was hard to believe the difference in the 2 days,weatherwise.