Renowned Lincolnshire horsewoman, Ros Canter, has secured her second consecutive title at the Burghley Horse Trials, a few weeks after happily sharing news of her second pregnancy. Riding the extraordinary Lordships Graffalo, Canter has created a historical moment with this horse being the first to achieve victory at both Badminton and Burghley two times each.
Such a noteworthy accomplishment also attributes to Canter being the first equestrian since 1989 to win these esteemed events in the same year, riding the same horse. Previously achieved by Ginny Leng, this 39-year-old Lincolnshire local expressed her profound appreciation for Lordships Graffalo, stating, “He is the horse of my lifetime, and hopefully, for many people’s lifetimes. I anticipate he’s remembered as an all-time legend of our sport, not only for his performances but also his character.”
Canter’s win was cemented by a solid nine-penalty lead, culminating in a final score of 23.6. This surpassed the Irish equestrian, Austin O’Connor, who achieved second place, while Britain’s Harry Meade took the third position with a commendable performance.
Having first tasted victory at the Burghley trials last season following a gold medal win at the Paris 2024 Olympics with Team GB in team eventing, Canter continues to reaffirm her standing within the equestrian community.
Her unwavering commitment to participate at Burghley, despite stepping aside from the British team for the forthcoming European championships due to her pregnancy, underscores her dedication to the sport and the overwhelming support received from the equestrian fraternity. Canter expresses, “Announcing a pregnancy knowing that you could be participating in a significant event like this is a big deal,” expressing her gratefulness for the extensive support received.
Canter has future aspirations to return to the competitive arena at Badminton next year. Although acknowledging the unpredictable outcomes surrounding childbirth, she remains positive about her continuing participation within the sport.
This article has been revised by The Lincoln Post, which was sourced from original reports by www.bbc.com.
