Horse Hound – 3 September 2026

Summary

Max Warburton and Deerpairc Revelry return to Burghley on the cover of Horse & Hound 3 September 2026 (Volume CXLII Issue 35), under "Burghley ones to watch" and the promise of all the knowledge needed to enjoy this five-star to the max. Nico Morgan Media took the photograph.

The issue carries a full Burghley form guide at page 24, with Martha Terry summarising the chances of every combination. Elsewhere, FEI rule changes put dressage harmony under debate, with British Dressage CEO Jason Brautigam calling harmony fundamental and Professor Natalie Waran saying it is not an indefinable artistic ideal.

Big Buck's gets the people-and-horses cover at p72 for winning over £1m. Digital carnets replace paper for horse travel across 30 countries from 1 June, Galopin Des Champs retires at 10, and the vet clinic asks when clumsiness is in fact wobbler syndrome.

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Content Guide

▸ Burghley

p.24 · Burghley 2026 entries — Vital stats, fun facts and expert form assessment
Martha Terry summarises the chances of every combination, reveals lesser-known facts and stories, and marks out the ones to watch. The cover pairs this with Max Warburton and Deerpairc Revelry, who return after Burghley 2025. Editor-in-Chief Sarah Jenkins opens on the hope that everyone at Defender Burghley Horse Trials, or following at home, has a wonderful week, with a live blog at horseandhound.co.uk. Read the form guide before the first horse leaves the start box.

▸ News

p.4 · Can horse-rider harmony be defined?
British Equestrian, on behalf of British Dressage, called for harmony to be clearly defined amid FEI rule change discussion. BD CEO Jason Brautigam said harmony is fundamental to the purpose of dressage, international judge Isobel Wessels said everyone has their own measure of it, and animal welfare adviser Professor Natalie Waran said evidence shows harmony can be defined well enough to be scored, so it is not an indefinable artistic ideal. The piece is by Becky Murray. Ask what your own test sheet rewards before you ride for a mark.

p.5 · Digital documents may smooth horse travel
Paper ATA carnets for moving horses and kit between Britain and the EU are being replaced by digital versions, with 30 participating countries including the UK, EU members, Norway and Sweden accepting them from 1 June and full global rollout targeted by the end of 2027. Jenna Parker of John Parker International said it will ultimately make life easier if the technology holds up; driver Polly Connell reported teething problems, and the BHC's Jan Rogers backed the move. The piece is by Lucy Elder. Check whether your next crossing needs a digital carnet rather than paper.

Horses in the news
Galopin Des Champs, the two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner owned by Audrey Turley and trained by Willie Mullins, has retired at 10 and is set for a second career in eventing with Isabelle, daughter of Ruby Walsh. Halenza, the eventer owned by Heidi Coy, has died aged 14. Read the retirement before you back any horse in the same stable.

▸ Vet and Features

p.18 · What is a wobbler? Identifying wobbler syndrome and the prognosis for sufferers
The vet clinic cover story identifies wobbler syndrome and the prognosis for sufferers, answering the cover's question about when clumsiness is really wobbler syndrome. Clumsiness in a young horse is too often written off as youth. Film your horse on a circle and down a slope before calling it clumsy.

p.22 · Kit focus — Boots for you, boots for your horse and more
The kit focus covers new boots in the ring, for rider and horse. Boot rules change faster than most riders notice. Check your horse's boots against current rules before the next outing.

▸ Reports and People

p.38 · Eventing — Scone Palace
Scone Palace heads the eventing reports. Reports run from showjumping at Scope Festival and Bicton Arena, showing at Scone Palace and the CHAPS (UK) Championships, and dressage at Sparsholt College. Check one result against your own ante-post selection.

p.72 · Legends of the sport — Remembering Big Buck's amazing career
Big Buck's gets the people-and-horses cover story, with the caption noting he won over £1m and many fans. Career retrospectives are the one place jump racing gets its history told. Watch one Big Buck's race before the next season starts.

p.66 · Hunting — Pride in our puppies
The hunting section covers the pride of seeing a hound you have walked become a star. Walking a hound puppy is the unpaid work hunts depend on. Ask your local hunt whether it needs puppy walkers this season.

p.82 · Foal files — Medal-winning showjumper Highland President
Foal files closes with Highland President's breeding story, the last in the series, following a part-blind dam's foal who was easy from day one. Breeding pages explain the horse behind the name. Look up one sire in your own horse's pedigree this week.

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Editor's Take

The Burghley form guide makes Horse & Hound 3 September 2026 worth keeping, because Martha Terry assessing every combination with vital stats and fun facts is the only kind of preview that survives the event itself. The harmony debate is the best news page, with Jason Brautigam calling it fundamental and Natalie Waran saying it is not indefinable giving both sides a name. Weakest is the middle of the issue, where the Pony Club Championships, showing and kit pages are announced with little detail beyond page numbers, and the Scone Palace and Scope reports read as lists. Next week's promise of Tessa Waugh's hunting diary is the only forward hook. Buy this for Burghley; the rest is for regulars.

Strengths
• Burghley guide covers every combination
• Harmony debate names BD, FEI and a welfare professor
• Wobbler clinic reframes clumsiness
• Big Buck's career captured with over £1m

Weaknesses
• Pony Club and showing pages lack detail
• Event reports run as result lists

Verdict: Recommended — the Burghley form guide and harmony debate earn it.