The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is a sporting event and a social event.The competition is called a Three Day Event with three stages taking place, Dressage on Thursday and Friday, Cross Country on Saturday and Show Jumping on Sunday.The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials incorporating the HSBC FEI Classics tm.

It was in 1961 that the Marquess of Exeter, on hearing that the autumn three-day event at Harewood could no longer be held, invited the British Horse Society to transfer the event to his estate. In its second year, 1962, Burghley ran the F.E.I.’s European Championship and this was the beginning of a remarkable record. No other international horse trials site has staged as many Championships, a record ten in all including the first World Championship in 1966.

In total Burghley has run two World Championships in 1966 and 1974, six European Championships in 1962, 1971,1977, 1985, 1989 and 1997. Also one Young Riders European Championship in 1978.

It is the longest continuous running international event.