Horse rider takes next step towards Olympics dream

Alice Casburn will compete in the Burghley Horse Trials for the third time, after finishing fifth and seventh in the last two years.

An event rider who found a passion for the sport during the Covid pandemic said she hoped to compete in the Olympic Games one day.

Alice Casburn developed her skills while working on her family's farm and is about to face the next important step in her career.

The 22-year-old from Corpusty in North Norfolk said she felt in good form ahead of the Burghley Horse Trials in Lincolnshire, which begin on Thursday, but admitted she faced a tough test.

She said: "Saturday's the equivalent to running a marathon and then expecting you to do ballet on the Sunday, that's the best way I can describe it."

Casburn won team gold and individual bronze medals at the Young Rider European Championships

Casburn will compete at the venue for the third time, riding family pet Topspin in front of 180,000 spectators.

Following the dressage events, competitors have a gruelling cross-country test to contend with and a showjumping course the day after.

There is tough competition for places if Casburn wants to make the cut for the Los Angeles games in 2028.

"[Team GB] said this year they could've taken a completely different team and still come back and won gold," she said.

"We're really lucky in this country, we have outstanding facilities, coaches and training venues, it's definitely one of the harder teams to get on."

She works 12-hour days at her family's farm in Norfolk, keeping 15 horses

Eventing is an expensive sport. Riders need to win prize money so they can reinvest for the future.

"It's all about buying younger horses and producing them for the top," the rider said.

"Their career span isn't really that long in the grand scheme of things."

She will compete at Burghley with Topspin, who has a close connection to the family.

"My mum rode his grandmother and his mother - he was bred in the same field and stable, he's definitely a Norfolk boy at heart."

"He's a bit of a character, he's quite protective over me, he absolutely loves the competition, loves getting stuck in."

"I'm only human and he's only an animal, hopefully we see eye to eye on the day, another top 10 would be great."