Two legendary Olympians crossed the Ashes equestrian divide to compare notes ahead of the Paris 2024 Games.
British dressage Carl Hester, 57, and Australian eventer Andrew Hoy, 65, came together at Burghley House – the home of Defender Burghley Horse Trials – to discuss their own storied Olympic histories.
Hester will compete at his seventh Games in Paris this month while Hoy represented Australia at eight, winning nine medals between them.
Hoy also won Defender Burghley Horse Trials twice, in 1979 and 2004, a site which has its own slice of Olympic history.
The grandfather of current Burghley House occupant Miranda Rock, Lord David Burghley, competed at the 1924 and 1928 Games, winning 4x400m relay silver at the former and 400m hurdles gold at the latter.
He then founded the world-famous Horse Trials in 1951 after helping bring the Olympics to London for the second time in 1948.
Martyn Johnson, Event Director of Burghley Horse Trials, said: “Burghley has amazing Olympic connections and a whole ‘Olympic corridor’ in the house that celebrates them.
“To welcome two legendary athletes with strong Burghley links ahead of Paris was very special for all of us.”
Both riders will be attending Defender Burghley Horse Trials 2024, which takes place from 5-8 September (www.burghley-horse.co.uk)
