H&H eventing editor Pippa Roome reflects on the recent tragic death of Sarah Yorke in a cross-country fall, emphasizing the profound impact such incidents have on riders, especially at grassroots levels. While acknowledging the inherent risks of eventing and horse riding, Roome stresses the importance of ongoing safety improvements and the personal decisions riders make weighing risk versus reward. She also highlights the NAF Five Star Hartpury event, noting its value to riders but suggesting it lacks the spectator appeal of events like Gatcombe or the Dublin Horse Show, which benefit from strong public engagement and infrastructure investment.

Looking ahead to the Burghley Horse Trials, Roome discusses the uncertainty surrounding Ros Canter’s participation following her pregnancy announcement and withdrawal from the European Championship selection. Canter and her horse Lordships Graffalo are statistical favorites to defend their title, but her potential withdrawal would open the competition significantly. Roome respects that the decision is deeply personal and invites readers to share their predictions for Burghley, underscoring the ongoing excitement and unpredictability in the sport.