Jonelle Price believes she has found her horse for the Defender Burghley Horse Trials for the next five years as she prepares to make her return to eventing’s blue-riband competition.
The 45-year-old - who is based in Beaminster, Dorset, but was born in Nelson, New Zealand – sat out the event last year as she watched her husband, Tim, finish sixth with Vitali.
This will be Price’s 10th visit to Burghley where she has recorded four top 10 finishes, with three of those coming on board Classic Moet, including third place in 2016, while the combination won at Badminton in 2018.
Her ride at Lincolnshire between September 3-6 will be 12-year-old gelding Chilli’s Midnight Star who has adapted well in stepping up to 5* events within the last year.
Price said: “I think he’s really suited to these 5* tracks and I’m looking forward to getting there and seeing what we can do.
“I really believe he’s one for the next five years and this year might be a little bit of a taster session just to see what we can do, but I really think he can be a good horse at Burghley for the future.
“Burghley is the Holy Grail of eventing – the fences just look that bit more impressive in stature, the track there is so well respected and I think it is the ultimate endurance test.
“It comes at the time of the season where we’ve already knocked a lot off and you’re coming into your final big run, so there’s always something magical about that time of year, being at the park.”
Price, a four-time Olympian with New Zealand and a team eventing bronze medallist from London 2012, has had some excellent results on board Chilli’s Midnight Star since they were first paired together in competition in 2023.
His 5* debut saw them finish ninth at Maryland, United States, last October and his first run at Badminton in May led to them coming 12th, including clear rounds in cross-country and showjumping.
On his personality, Price said: “He’s a bit of a bull – I’m sure his owner (Nikki Axon) won’t mind me saying that!
“He’s a bolshy bugger, but he does it all with a smile on his face and there’s no malice at all.
“He’s very strong-willed and very strong-minded, so sometimes it’s a case of two strong minds who are battling it out, but he’s a nice guy to have around, albeit determined."
PLEASE LEAVE IN FINAL PAR - Defender Burghley Horse Trials (3-6 September 2025) has been a major international sporting and social event for over 50 years. It attracts the world's top equestrians and is attended by vast and enthusiastic crowds. For more information visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk
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